Ducati is a world famous motorcycle company with headquarters in Italy in Bologna. The brand’s products are not only of high quality, but also have a unique stylish design. Currently, the Ducati label produces motorcycles and motorcycles belonging to different market segments.
Brand appearance
The company that conquered the whole world began in 1926, when the first workshop was opened in the Italian town of Bologna in the prestigious Borgo Panigale district, in which a variety of radio equipment, as well as parts and accessories for them, were made. Its creators were the brothers Ducati (Ducati) -Adriano (Adriano) and Marcello (Marcello). For the 20s of the last century, there was a high demand for loudspeakers, megaphones and horns, so the brothers were occupied with a rather profitable and promising market niche.
In the period from the 1920s to the 1940s, a small family business flourished and developed successfully, an extensive client base was developed, the first attempts were made to invent some kind of innovative technologies. However, the protracted World War II had a detrimental effect on Ducati, and by the beginning of the 1950s the company was forced to go under the full control of the state. Italy at that time felt an urgent need for cheap and affordable means of transportation, which is why the current leadership decided to re-qualify the company for mass production.
The origins of motorcycle production
The company's new post-war policy was marked by the launch of innovative engines on the market, developed by a talented Italian engineer, Aldo Farinelli. The products managed to quickly win the domestic buyer, which made management think about expanding production.
A long-term contract was signed with Farrinelli, after which he began to actively develop projects for new sports cars. The first cycle car, released by Ducati in collaboration with him, was named "Cucciolo", which translates into Russian as a "puppy".
Cucciolo had significant differences from other cycle vehicles presented on the Italian motor market of that time:
- Possessed a large engine capacity - 50 cm ^ 3;
- It had excellent traction at low speeds.
By the mid-1950s, Ducati had conquered most of the Italian motorbike market. Particularly popular at this time began to gain lightweight motorcycles, and by 1952, Desiring to meet the emerging needs of customers, the company launches Cruiser. This motorcycle model was equipped with a powerful engine with an electric starter and an automatic transmission.
Later, an improved three-speed model of the Cucciolo cycle car was introduced. It was equipped with a 55 cm ^ 3 engine. The Cruiser motorcycle has also undergone some changes. So, its engine capacity changed to 98 cm ^ 3, and it was equipped with telescopic forks, had a spinal-type frame, and also a rear pendulum.
In an effort to expand the boundaries of its influence, the company decided to try itself as a manufacturer of sports motorcycles. So, the revolutionary model “98 Sport”, relevant for that time, appeared. According to the presented characteristics, with a power of 6.5 liters. with. he could pick up speed up to 95 km / h.
Fabio Taglioni in the fate of the company
Ducati owes much of its worldwide success to Fabio Taglioni, a promising Italian engineer who, in 1954, received the position of chief designer of the company.
The first motorcycle, presented by the brand in collaboration with it, the “100 Gran Sport”, had a powerful engine, the volume of which was 98 cm ^ 3. The camshaft was located in a cylindrical head, which made it possible to achieve high power - 9 liters. with. 100 Gran Sport could pick up speed up to 130 km / h with a total weight of 80 kilograms. Such characteristics were innovative for that time, which allowed the motorcycle to quickly gain popularity among professional racers.
Continuing to work hard on the development of new projects and drawings, in 1956 Taglioni invented desmodrome actuators, which were characterized by a mechanism of forced opening and closing of valves. However, this innovation begins to be actively used in the creation of motorcycles only in 1958.
Almost all of the company's development, which was carried out during the period of 1950-1960s, met the requirements of professional racers or just lovers of fast driving. As part of sports policy, Ducati experimented with a variety of engine sizes, using new drives and other innovative technologies. As for the domestic market, here the company mass-produced motorcycles with engine volumes of 175 cm ^ 3 and 200 cm ^ 3.
The beginning of the 60s of the last century was marked for the brand, as the era of the creation of new generation motorcycles. Taglioni was designed and built revolutionary model "Ducati 250". Due to its characteristics (power - 19 hp, engine displacement - 450 cm ^ 3, upper camshaft), she managed to take a leading position in the motor market in record time.
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ducati had already acquired the status of a world famous company whose products were considered indisputable favorites among motorists. The company even concluded a lucrative contract with the public services of the United States of America, according to which Taglioni was to develop a revolutionary engine with a volume of 1300 cm ^ 3. As a result of this cooperation, a four-cylinder engine was created, the power of which was 100 liters. With., he received the name "Apollo."
Taglioni was not going to stop there, and by the end of the 70s of the last century he had made key discoveries in the field of motor-building. So, instead of cast iron in the production of cylinders, he began to introduce a unique alloy of aluminum metals, which was coated with a nickel-silicon mass; and the traditional camshaft, consisting of bevel gears, was replaced by a timing belt.
By 1979, he had developed the "500 Pantah" model, which to this day is considered the fastest with an engine capacity of 500 cm ^ 3.
Despite the fact that throughout the post-war period, Ducati developed exclusively in a progressive direction, constantly improving its techniques and technologies, in the 1980s it found itself in a stage of stagnation, a protracted crisis.
In 1985, Fabio Taglioni, the chief designer of the brand, retired, and the company in which he worked for many decades, becomes the property of another large motto concern, a former competitor - "Cagiva". During this period, mass production of new Cagiva motorcycles, made in the style of "enduro" using 2-cylinder Ducati engines, is launched.
Massimo Bordi in the fate of the company
After leaving Fabio Taglioni, his position was taken by a talented engineer, Massimo Bordi. Under his leadership, the mass production of the line of sports and touring motorcycles based on Pantah engines is being activated. Also, during this period, Ducati began close cooperation with another large Italian company, Termignoni, specializing in the production of exhaust components, parts and systems.
In the first half of the 90s of the twentieth century, the company presents the innovative model of motorcycles "Ducati 916".
The legendary motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini, who is best known for designing motorcycles like the Brutale, Bimota, and MV Agusta, worked on her design. A distinctive feature of the new Ducati motorcycle was the front suspension, which in its appearance resembled an inverted telescope fork.
In 1992, one of the brand's most legendary and revolutionary models was released - "Monster". Its design was developed by a novice designer, Michelle Galutstsi. An absolute innovation was the introduction of a two-cylinder L-shaped engine into the motorcycle design, which was equipped with a two-valve cylinder head and an air-oil cooling system.
This model was followed by the release of a new generation of motorcycles with a liquid cooling system and fuel injection:
- "Ducati 748";
- "Ducati 916".
At the beginning of the 2000s, the presentation of the Testatretta motorcycle took place. It is characterized by a more innovative, improved engine, which reaches a power of 135 liters. with.
To date, Ducati is the property of a major German automobile concern, Audi AG.
