The name Ducati is synonymous with speed and high quality. The Italian motorcycle brand is among the most acclaimed in the world, with over 70 years of producing high-quality bikes that have won a slew of competitions and events. While the company has suffered through economic hardships and changes in ownership, it remains at the top of the motorcycle world. Take a look below at the brand's history and the defining moments that made it one of the most sought-after motorcycles by riders.
Ducati was founded by brothers Bruno Cavalieri Ducati, Marcello Cavalieri Ducati, and Adriana Cavalieri Ducati in the northern city of Bologna in 1926. The three brothers founded the Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati to manufacture the radio and electric components, capitalizing on the electronic fervor that swept through the country and world when Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi sent the first wireless telegraph in 1897. By the mid-1930s, Ducati was the largest employer in Bologna, employing thousands. The factory was heavily damaged during an Allied bombing raid in 1944.
By the end of World War II, Italy experienced a post-war economic boom, with particular emphasis on the expansion of technology. Lifestyles and habits changed, geared towards consumerism and convenience. Finding easy ways to move around became one of the most sought-after luxuries by those who could afford it. In 1950, Ducato officially launched their first motorcycle, the Ducati Cuccioli (meaning puppy,) which was a tricked-out bicycle fitted with a microengine. Motorcycles and scooters were considered cheap and reliable modes of transport, but increased motorcycle street races hinted at the growing need for speed.
In 1956, the Desmo Ducati 125 won its first race in Sweden in a Grand Prix where the motorcycle ran laps around all competitors. By the 1960s, several new models had been introduced to the public, each one sleeker and faster than the next. In 1987, it launched the 851 Tricolore, a model that helped cement the Ducati as one of the best motorcycles in the world. It quickly became one of the most sought-after bikes for its 851cc V-twin engine that was capable of a top speed of 280 kilometers per hour (173 miles per hour.)
Over the decades, Ducati has produced a range of models, each of which continues to top speeds while being incredibly light and easily maneuverable. Ducati’s motorcycles have won numerous competitions and have earned the enduring loyalty of their riders, as well as general fans of the brand, known as “Ducatisti.”
Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba is a trilingual freelance journalist from Rome, Italy. In the past, her work on culture, travel, and history has been published in The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. In her free time, Asia enjoys traveling home to Italy to spend time with family and friends, drinking Hugo Spritzes, and making her nonna's homemade cavatelli.