The 'Centenary' Ducati

With models such as the "851" Ducati took a serious step up to the top level.

This year marks 100 years since Antonio Cavalieri Ducati (1853-1927) and his three sons Bruno, Adriano and Marcello established the Societa Scientifica Brevetti Ducati in Bologna. The company began with the production of radio components and other electrical equipment, and it would be 20 years before the first two-wheeler saw the light of day.

Puppy 48 cc

In 1945 they began developing a small petrol engine, and in 1946 Ducati offered its first complete bike, the 48 cc Cucciolo. In the 1950s they began developing larger and more powerful machines in earnest, and until the first V-twin GT750 arrived in 1971, they mainly produced single-cylinder motorcycles with displacements of up to 450 cc, often with sporty lines.

Engineer Fabio Taglioni (left) in conversation with factory manager Bruno Spaggiari at Imola in 1974

Taglioni and Desmodromic

Ducati's success on and off the racetrack will forever be linked to engineer Fabio Taglioni, often referred to as Doctor T, and the spectacular valve mechanism known as Desmodromic. Although the Bologna factory produced a number of agile and sporty motorcycles throughout the 50s and 60s, Ducati did not make a significant mark on the international motorcycle market until 1971 with the GT750. The sporty 750cc twin set a new course for Ducati , and was quickly followed by the two classics 750 Super Sport and 900 Super Sport.

The GT750 was Ducati's first series-produced v-twin

However, the big sales figures were still to come, because a 750cc with the Ducati emblem on the gas tank had a much higher price tag compared to a Japanese model in the same segment.

Geir Dager from Oslo has been riding the 900SS since 2015, and can't imagine any other motorcycle.

When Ducati entered the 80s, however, the situation would change. From being a marginal motorcycle brand, it now produced machines that literally left their mark on both the road and the racetrack. Models like the 888, 851 and 900SS that came at the end of the decade were no match for their competitors. This year marks 70 years since the first bike left the assembly line in Bologna, and Ducati has become for many the first choice when it comes to pure, uncompromising sports machines.