Before the flames start, let me warn you: This bike has little info and few pictures. So why bother to post it here on RSBFS? Simply because the Ducati 851 SP2 is a noteworthy collector machine. Having achieved success in WSBK with the original 851, Ducati punched out the older mill to 888cc, made a…
Ducati has a long history of creating some very memorable motorcycles, many of which have been considered rolling artwork. They also have perfected the art of the limited edition, with exclusive models wearing limited and unique number plaques on the headstocks. The purpose of the special, super-exclusive badging is to drive demand via the perception…
The Ducati Superlight is one of the bikes that defined the mystique of the Italian brand. An interesting – if not revolutionary – offshoot to the popular Supersport line, the Superlight added lightness to the package via some specially chosen components, and weight to the legend via a sequential number plaque that ensured exclusivity. The…
In the twisted family tree that is the Italian motorcycle community, there are many merges and branches. One interesting area is the history of Cagiva and their relationship with Ducati. While Cagiva owned Ducati in the mid-eighties, they were initially a customer as they purchased engines & transmissions to create their own bikes. Today’s Cagiva…
Behold the wonderous, the cutting edge (while at the same time, archaic) modern interpretation of the new Ducati era. The Pantah represented the next evolution of the already legendary Ducati L-twin, and would being the new phase of the rubber band motor era. Replacing the bevel drive with a toothed belt to drive the desmo…
Update 8.17.2020: This bike has SOLD to an RSBFS reader! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc Putting a numbered plaque and some bling on your moribund sportbike is a time-tested method to generate some buzz. It works especially well if you’re a storied, but slightly skint manufacturer of moribund Italian sportbikes. But parts-bin engineering doesn’t…
The Ducati Superlight I posted up a few days ago was a classic barn-find, with an incredible 300 miles on the odometer and all the dust and neglect you might expect from a bike that has barely turned a wheel in nearly 30 years. The first of today’s two Ducatis is nearly the exact opposite,…
The Ducati Superlight is a far-cry from today’s “limited edition” superbikes like the Superleggera that have a performance envelope well beyond most owners’ ability to fully exploit. The Superlight isn’t a particularly fast bike, but it is very collectible, and rewarding to ride at speeds normal humans can enjoy without risking license, limb, or achieving…