Today’s Ducati 748R was the World Supersport homologation version of Ducati’s famed Tamburini-designed sportbike. Uprated engine internals included lightweight titanium valves and connecting rods, and the bike was fueled by shower-type injectors nestled in a larger two-part airbox, suspended in a lightweight version of the 996 World Superbike’s frame. The bike made 106hp and…
Today’s Ducati 851 Strada represents the humble beginnings of the modern Ducati superbike. Prior to the 851, Ducatis were air-cooled, two-valve bikes famed for their handling, if not their outright power. The two-valve “Pantah” engine was introduced in 1979 and served alongside the later four-valve engine introduced in the 851 well into the 2000s, an…
Much ink and other media has been spilled extolling the virtues of the mighty Ducati 916. It is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful and significant sportbikes of the modern era. It was also expensive, uncomfortable, and maintenance-intensive. Basically, the quintessential Italian sportbike. But a quirk of history led to the Ducati 916 “Varese”…
The Ducati 900SS/CR was a bread-and-butter model for Ducati throughout the 90s, a more affordable option for Ducatisti who didn’t really need the performance or maintenance headaches of the more exotic four-valve bikes like the 851, 888, and 916. Here in the US, we mostly got the 900cc version, but 750 and 600 examples do…
Update 7.2.2022: This bike has SOLD to an RSBFS reader. Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc From RSBFS reader Michael comes this gorgeous, one-owner 2002 Ducati 748. It is no secret that the early Tamburini designs have hit their collector stride in the form of the 916, and the smaller 748 is following suit. Spotless…
Update 8.2.2021: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc The Ducati Supersport line has been wildly successful for the Bologna manufacturer, and it is not difficult to see why. Based more on what is NOT there than what is, the Supersport is about agility and lightness. This is a bike that reduces…
Hot on the heels of the original Italian supermodel, the Ducati 916, came a smaller sibling: the 748. At the time there were a lot of writers who could not understand the exorbitant cost of a 750cc sport bike that could almost run with the 600s of the day. Think of this as a slightly…
The year 2021 has declared open season on the Ducati 851! I can remember few times when so many of these Bologna beasts have come to market – and all in such clean and low mileage condition. This is really a buyer’s market as we have seen a windfall of these liquid cooled, fuel injected,…