Ducati Motorcycles - History 

I have had and enjoyed 4 japanese bikes , then, got my first Ducati Monster and knew within one weekend i would never go back,... 4 Ducati's and 20 years later ,.my opinion is still the same . Riding a Ducati is a love affair between man,bike,twisty roads..

I have been in Love with Ducati Motorcycles 🏍️ since I was about twenty years old when my roommate sold me his bike that he had for years and took apart every winter and put it back together every spring and I was blessed to have a bike friend who was a ITALIAN RIDER. This Ducati changed my life 🏍️💨💨💨🙏🫵🙏🫵💕

So I’ve had; Monster 750 Dark, 996, ST3. I’ve been President of a local DOC (Ducati Owners Club) that I started in St Louis MO, I’ve been to WDW as a Club President and a DOC President Week in Borgo Panigale. (World Ducati Week) I’ve ridden the Futa Pass and on the test track as part of President Week package. I’ve been to the first Moto GP at Indy as a club President. I’m in my mid 60’s I’ve been a rider since I was ten years old. I’ve got Harley and an Aprilia, Have had Porsche, Corvettes and BMW’s... But nothing compares to Ducati. It’s not a lifestyle, it’s a way of life. Being of Italian descent, I truly understand the mindset of the community members at Ducati who build these machines. It is the expression of love of their company and product, pride, commitment and passion. Nothing beats Ducati. Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, MV Augusta, Moto Morini, Piaggio, Italian companies that breathe the heart and soul of Italy... PASSIONE...

I got my very first Ducati last summer, a used 2017 959, 2 weeks later I hit a curb at night, only thing hurt on me was my pride, a lot of damage was done, had to bring it to a Ducati dealer to get it fixed correctly, praying I can get it back this spring.

I don't understand why so many people that have NEVER OWNED A DUCATI, talk about them being unreliable. Whilst you will find that most Ducati owners say their bikes are very reliable. I only have 2 motorbikes now, (and 4 Lambrettas), and my Ducati ST4 916 has been mine for nearly 10 years. It has NEVER let me done,and while it goes into my local shop once every couple of years for a service, apart from that it is faultless, starts on the button and I've put over 45,000 miles on it.

Just purchased my first Ducati, a dream come true. NEW 2017 1299 Panigale S. The last of the V twin Street riding over 53 years , racing 55 years. Riding Harley's all my life . Had to be the V twin.. Picking it up in a few weeks.

I used to sell, service and repair Ducatis in London for a main dealer in the late 1980s. Did my training in the old factory in Bologna in '89. Amazing factory, amazing machines and a totally committed workforce producing them. Lovely video too. Brought back happy memories.

I was stationed in Italy from 96-99 and saw my first Ducati (916). Oh boy did that steal a piece of my heart! 24 years later, I bought my first Ducati, MSV4 Rally. It’s not a need, but rather an irrational emotional desire. I regret nothing😂

We are DUCATI, the big red family...the best bike maker of the world!!! SEMPRE FORZA DUCATI 💪💪💪✊✊✊

My first bike was a Ducati 160, bought in 1972 from a salvage yard with $75 I earned mowing yards. You had to mow a lot of yards to make $75 in 1972. I was 13. Before I got it running, I would push it to the top of a big hill next to my house, and ride it to the bottom. Over and over.

I’ve followed Ducati’s since the launch of the 916 in 94. I had a picture of it on my art folder at school. I’ve gone all my life (42) without owning one … this year that will change . I’ve ordered a new Troy Baylis v2 panigale . 😀

The 999 was one of my favorites during that era.

As a lifelong motorcyclist I’ll never forget my first sight of a 916. I was on one of the most beautiful highways in America. Interstate 70 just east of Glenwood Springs Colorado, tracing the path of the Colorado River. We pulled off the highway to take in he scenery. There it was, a Red Rocket beckoning me. I had to leave the wife and go talk to the owner and take in every element of it. He could tell I was motorcycle enthusiast by caliber and number of questions I asked. He told me he had been on 10 month waiting list ready to drop his $18k. I had caught him on his first quantifiable road trip and was he stoked. It was and still is my favorite Ducati motorcycle. It to me is like the timeless breathtaking beauty of my 75’ Z1b; just perfection !! Yeah there are things fast now days, but it still never fails to turn heads. 😎🇺🇸

We were a Ducati Dealership throughout the 1960's and early 70's. Prior to 1972 we were selling Single Cylinder Bikes in both 2 and 4 stroke models. I raced a modified version of the 250cc Diana Mark 3 in Dirttrack and Hillclimbing. The Mark 3 was advertised as a 110mph bike right out of the crate using the long Black Roadracing Megaphone that was included in the crate. This was the original Bevel Driven OHC Engine with the 74mm x 57.8 mm bore/stroke. In 1968 I was using an F3 desmodromic Head that our Distributor (Berliner Motors / Hasbrouck Heights,N.J.) had in their parts inventory. This was the same head that was used on a group of desmo RRers (both 250 & 350) sent over from Italy to race in the Daytona Speedweek Events that year. The bikes were banned and never got to race because of a controversy concerning the Desmodromic Valve Train. When we started getting Desmo Street Bikes in both 250 and 350's They were Desmo Valve train but still also retained Hairpin Valvesprings unlike the racing head which just used a small hairpin type closing spring to assist in any valve seating problems. I remember being able to turn the Cam nut opening and closing both valves with just the twist of my thumb and index finger. As any Engine builder knows, The opening pressure of a Valve Spring is the most power robbing function of a 4 stroke engine. Some opening Pressures can be 300+ lbs in racing engines. The Desmodromic Valve actuation elimates this and makes for a quick reving engine. Mercedes was the 1st to try Desmodromic Actuation but quickly abandon it. When Fabio Taglioni came along iin the 50's he perfected it and it has been a Ducati Trade mark ever since in both Street and Racing Engines right up to the GP18 MotoGP Racer which I witnessed reach close to 220mph at the Circuit of America Moto GP Race in Texas last year. Have been associated with Ducati Motorcycles in one way or another for close to 60 yrs. Italian Masterpieces !

I enjoyed this video a lot. This video boosted my respect for Ducati motorcycles. Now, I'd consider owning one. Before, I was pretty sure I never would. I'm still a big shaft drive fan...hint hint, Ducati!

But then I trusted him to restore it for me. He was a master at his Art. When he had financial problems I was able to help with hope for my Ducati’s future in my life. My loss for trusting him. 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹I will always love the Ducati Motorcycle ❣️ and So should you ❣️🇮🇹🙏🫵🙏🫵🇮🇹

in our country Malaysia🇲🇾, our people call ducati, "Ferrari Dua Roda" which meant in Malay Language, Two Wheeled Ferrari's...

My first love of motorcycles was the 916. I was 13 years old when it was launched. I travelled long distance with my father to see it displayed in a show. I still get goosebumps...

I still have Ducati Cucciolo model 48, and it still runs pretty great! Really love it especially because of its high historical value

That Hypermotard was built with one goal in mind- handing drivers licenses to police officers. Such a fun bike.

After 6 years of riding my 821 Hyper, its still my favorite fun bike of many.

Paul Smart’s victory on the 750 at the Imola 200 in 72 was the start of Ducati’s rise to prominence. That bike inspired the 750SS which went on to become a whole family of Super Sports. Yet, not one mention of the family of SSs that it inspired.

It is the imagination that Ducati captures. Decades ago I had a picture of Hailwood on his Ducati winning the IOM TT and since I have wanted a Ducati. I consider myself lucky that later in life I went to the Ducati factory and spent two days. Livio Lodi told me: 'You are like Charlie ina chocolate factory'.. I am on my second Monster now and love it.. All the mechanical clutter is over ridden by my 'imagination'.....

My 1981 Ducati SL500 Pantah is road registered and runs really well. Had it since new. It is their first rubber belt drive Desmo and the ancestor of all contemporary Ducatis.

When H-D made their first V-twin in 1909, they made it 45° because it fitted in the frame. They never thought about vibration or engine dynamics and they still make that ridiculous design today that vibrates itself to pieces. When FT made a twin out of Ducati's single, he made it 90° even though the front cylinder would protrude through the frame and gave us the second smoothest (next to a BMW) twin ever. As a bonus, he also gave us the greatest sound in all of motorcycling. Nothing, absolutely nothing sounds better than a '70s or '80s 750 or 900 SS with Conti pipes winding up.

I still remember the first time I saw a ducati 1098. It was in the window of the ducati dealership in anchorage alaska April of 2008. It blew my mind with its beauty. Even today. to me the 1098 is the best looking bike ever made. I finally got one about a month ago. Just got back into riding this year.

my first ducati I bought is the 2008 848(i still own) and i just bought the 2020 ducati cafe racer. Fell in love with Ducati when my friends dad let me take out his 95 900 Supersport. Prior to that my only motorcycle experience was my 91 GS500e. Talk about going through the worm hole to a distant beautiful galaxy. my next bike is going to a Janus dual sport.

DUCATI’S ARE FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES TO BE ABLE TO BE IN CONTROL ON THE ROAD 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🏍️💕💕💕😎🙏🫵🙏🫵🙏

Ducatis are all I review. Can't get enough of it! 🤘👍

i'm in love with Ducati Panigale 959 and nowdays new v2 v4 same with Enea Bastianini and Francesco Bagnaia

A mate and I did the Ducati factory visit in 2015/6 what an amazing place to walk round and watch the magic happening right in front of you. Luckily I went on to live not too far from the Futa Pass, not ridden all of it sadly, but hopefully in the not too distant future, that will become a reality.

I own an 899 Panigale, it's a great bike, it's light and powerful and, looks stunning. Before that i had a 696 Monster and before that a Honda CB400. I always say that if you want to buy a bike, there's so many choices - but, you buy a Ducati because you want a Ducati.

My favorite Ducati is the 848/1098/1198 some may disagree but I love the body work and how it looks

Amazing people at Ducati. Only those who would willingly do the job for free because they enjoy and love it can make such beautiful machines..

so after watching all these documentaries. World war 2 basically gave us motorcycles

1966 Mach 1 purchased new in Germany, came from the factory in a crate to the Frankfurt train station. Most coveted 250c.c. best cam, clip-on, rear-seat all the good stuff..

Ever since I Love ducati during 90's. I wish to be part of the company to in the assembly line. Ducati motorcycle wakes me up to have passion in motorcycle. Hope i will be given a chance to be in the assembly line. I may not have luck to have this bike for the reason that i cant afford it but maybe to be in the assemble line and work in the italy where the company start there legend bike in history. This is the wish ever since i have in starting to have passion in ducati bikes.

Great to see the passion of a company to build the best they can, not the most. I've loved all the motorcycles I've ever owned, some with over 100,000 miles but the Duc's are always the ones I have the most passion about. I still have my first one, a 1990 851 SB. They call is a production line, I call it a seduction line.

Great story, it's so Italian, it's like fine wine, cheese and bread, it's wonderful.

I don't understand the 999 is a sexy machine why did everyone hate it

Drove a Monster 750 in Asheville , NC at the Honda Hoot in 2000. Fell in love with Ducati.

I quite liked the 999 , wished I’d bought one yrs ago when I had the money 💰

Olde 900 Desmo Super Sport was my only ride back in 1979. Dang I’m Olde.

Ducati monster 😻😻

Ducati makes really beautiful and unique motorcycles. Not for me as I have tried them but are too uncomfortable and too much vibration. I have ridden since 1968 so am not a newbie. My comments are not meant to be negative but as constructive food for thought if any Ducati executives happen to read them. The video keeps referring to “tradition.” My career for decades has been to turn around troubled manufacturing companies and “tradition” taken to extreme is a red flag. I am an engineer who has visited thousands of factories on all continents in many, many industries. The Ducati factory operates like the 70s and this is what underlies the poor quality, reliability, and high cost of their motorcycles. They should hire a group of Japanese engineers to restructure this disaster of a factory to improve quality, reliability, cost, and cycle time. Have seen it done many times. Ducati prides itself as a racing machine. This is true on smooth tracks with runoffs and little real danger and less than top speeds. So why is Ducati absent from the oldest and most important motorcycle race in the world - the Isle of Man TT (they haven’t always been absent)? It is very simple. Despite a 200cc advantage, they are simply not fast enough or reliable enough for this difficult and bumpy road course. Notice that “reliable” comes up again. They simply can’t compete in such a difficult race. Another motorcycle company built on tradition is Harley Davidson. They are losing sales and riders every year and are left with the “gray” riders only. Young people have little or no interest in motorcycles compared with cell phones and social media sites. This is the most important challenge to the entire industry. Ducati should look more to the future and how to attract younger customers or Ducatistas. Without that they will follow the HD model into disaster, albeit some time later. You don’t have to lose “traditional’ values, but at some point you need to make a significant and sometimes difficult change. Witness the Corvette (which I admit I own a C6). They have abandoned their front engine design since 1953 for the first mid-engine Corvette. Not an easy decision, but an essential one. The bikes themselves need to get away from “tradition” as well. Too many have under seat exhausts, which are passé. Almost all other manufacturers have abandoned them for good reasons (just Google the demise of under seat exhausts to find the numerous reasons). As a bike lover and rider of 51 years, I sincerely wish Ducati all the best as it is one of the most unique and important designers and producers in the world and it would be a huge loss to the motorcycle community to lose them. This is not going to happen tomorrow, but sooner or later another tomorrow will arrive. You have a very loyal customer base but have to think more about the future to get the next generation as part of your base. This will not be easy and will take a lot of nerve. All the best to Ducati and its supporters!

I've had Hondas, Suzukis and Kawisakis....but I will have to get a Ducati

If you don't ride, I can't explain it. If you do ride then no explanation is necessary. I have owned a Ducati 1098 and I'm about to buy a Ducati 1200 S Monster Thank you so much DUCATI for believing in the passion that we all share. From the Land of OZ

Well done Ducati

I`ve ridden bikes of all sorts for 40 years and my collection of ducati superbikes is by far the best I`ve owned, they can be cranky and take careful maintenance to get the best out of them, I`ve watched mates riding one of my ducati for the first time out on the open roads and they all react the same way - instantly better riders who fall in love with the easy riding bike they just tried for the first time, Great bikes..

The 851 is still my personal favorite

I have a Yamaha R3 with Ducati racing team fairings. Didn't know it was from Ducati till afterwards. Looks absolutely amazing

Loved this, and will be moving to Italy from UK I'm 47 been Italy many many times pompei is the destination and yes get settled save a bit and you guessed it buy a Ducati x

Troy & Casey. Two Australians that have done so much for the iconic brand. I have a 2001 yellow 900SS.

Amazing video. A must for Ducati owners. Did you see how light that wheel is when he picked it up?

I was expecting the panigale to be at the end of the video. Especially being that the thumb nail has two on🤔

LONG LIVE DUCATI!! By Carmelo Zammitto

I've always liked Ducati, the looks alone ,won me over, I'd really like to have a 916, but a 999 will do, I'm serious,

funny how the 999 and 749 became very desirable bikes, after being so hated on their release. I have to honest, i didn't like them much when they were new but i very much want one now.

MAGNIFICO!!!!🏍⚘👍

Wish I own a Ducatti

Great documentation, good to show also the ugly 999, but the race version is really good

I love my Ducati Monster 1200S

Man I miss my 749 which is the younger brother of the 999

How did they miss the Diavel and xDiavel models?

I've had three Ducati's over the past 25 years, NO reliability issues, and I kick all my friends ass's in the twisty's.

oh my god hypermotard! i love it 👏👏👏

Everyone's gangsta on their ducati Until the engine heat started to kick in

Its a shame that so many people fail to see the 999 for the amazing machine that it is, both mechanically and aesthetically. Most of the disdain seems to come from the centered/stacked headlights being a departure from the pretty dual headlight design of the 916. Unfortunately, this has and still is being beaten so to death in the media and videos online such as this one that its become somewhat of a groupthink mentality and caused people to forget that Ducati even existed before the 916. The 888, 851 and previous bikes all had a single, centered headlight, and people loved them. Sure, they were big, squared units in those days, but the 999 looks to me like an appropriate evolution or modern iteration of those earlier bikes. Its beautiful in its own right. The 916 series is a masterpiece and timelessly beautiful, no doubt about it, but there were many different Ducatis before it too. So, for some people to claim that the 999 has lost its Ducati DNA or that Ducati have lost their way, or even to say they went "back to their roots" (all things I've heard or read) with the 1098, are ridiculous statements in my opinion. The DNA is 100% there, they didn't lose their way (they kicked the sh*t out the competition on the track), and they sure as hell never strayed from their roots in creating the 999. All it takes is to look a little further back at the bikes that came before the 916, and suddenly the 999 starts to make a little more sense. If you're still in doubt, ride one. You'll be hard pressed not to fall in love with it.

The most beautiful bike

BEAUTIFUL. Thank you for the history lesson :)

Loved this video, thank you.

If you look at purely numbers and specs Ducatis dont make sense but you really have to look beyond that. I had two Japanese sport bikes and now own a Monster, its slower than both of the Japanese bikes but man there is something about the Monster just those two other bikes could provide as far as riding enjoyment.

Good doc about a great moto brand.

hypermotard 1100s perhaps the sexiest bike ever!!!!!

troy is a legend -916 too

Not really the history of Ducati. But what Ducati means to a US consumer.

Ferrari version of a motorcycle ❤️🏍

Loved my 916 Strada.. wish I’d never sold it.

love my Monster 1100 EVO - probably going to get a 959 soon!

I don't know if I would trust my face to an electric razor made by Ducati.

In 1967 a friend was sitting on this new bike his dad got him. I looked at the engine and it looked like a human brain, the bevel gear and shaft being the brain stem. I had to have it, I bought it. 2 years later I traded parts with a guy and got a veglia tach, Smiths Chronometric (really cool) All the cams, and the Diana cam as I recall was the best. Maybe the Mk3. Anyhow, I had the factory megaphones and they made that 250 Scrambler louder than a Harley. I put on Ceriani forks and Koni shocks. Then I had a 350 and a 450 Scrambler But I got to say the 250 scrambler was the best one. I did it as a cafe racer, and did it with a 350. Polished old Ducati engine cases look better than polished gold. But then well polished copper looks as good or better than gold, too.

Totally missed Mike Hailwood and his iconic TT wins on a 900 bevel drive desmo. Very disappointing.

How can a documentary of Ducati skip over the Paso model? The Paso is what took Ducati out of financial failure in the early 80's.

You buy a Ducati or an MV Agusta for the same reason you buy a Lamborghini (who owns Ducati under the Audi AG home banner). You buy one, because you want one. Otherwise you get an excellent Moto Guzzi (the oldest continuous motorcycle brand in Europe). HOWEVER the new V4 Panigale may possibly be one of the best motorcycles ever made.....

....."Ducati".....one word says it all.....

Had a laugh at the start nobody needs a bike like this just did 308km on mine today 3.5hrs only 796cc ridden Ducati since 1979.

Great content. What a pity that this has been produced in such low resolution (480p).

...this documentary does not talk about the MH900E the most beautiful sport bike ever made on this planet😍😍😍😘😘😘

Just bought my 19 son a scrambler icon his pick smart kid

Incredible that a history of Ducati makes no mention of the 78 IOM Hailwood win and the subsequent boost to Ducati sales of late 70's early 80's 900SS, MHR and Darmah bikes. Just a few brief glimpses of an NCR machine. Very sad.

I like ducati and all but having to pull the engine to service it. It's a pain. I've had 2 I've put alot of miles on and a timing belt and new gaskets on each for preventive maintainence. Nothing was wrong with eather bike they still run and run strong. Ducati has been an extremely reliable bike for me. 🏅

I`ve watched all the big name brands of this series! The early Ducati bikes were pure sex compared to Japanese style. Just sayin.

I will own a Ducati one day, it will be red. I will never sell it!

The 1098 would be something Ferrari would build IF they were building bikes. Ironically they are owned by Lamborghini which again is owned by Audi, a member of the Volkswagen group. It makes me think Lamborghini and Ducati should work together to create the ultimate car/bike combination. Bella machina....! :)

Had 2 Ducatis,heart bought them,my head sold them!Beautiful to look at,appalling build quality and paranoia built into servicing (belts,valves etc)Should be better built for what they charge,but,i still want a 916!!!

No mention of the Cagiva and AMF connection which is also a Harley connection.

I am not a Ducati fan boy, but I could be.

They are beautiful machines but they stay in the shop! Buddy bought a brand new Pinagale that had an oil leak that they couldnt find. He sold it back to Ducati because he never could truly ride it.

I owned a 900SS in the nineties. Despite the moneypit it was, loved it with every vain in my body.

With time the 999 futuristic look mellowed. I looked not so bad as a race bike from the start without the twin stacked headlights.