The Complete Book of Ducati Motorcycles: Every Model Since 1946

Description

From the single-cylinder bikes of the 1950s to the high-performance sportbikes of today, The Complete Book of Ducati Motorcycles showcases the entire spectrum of Ducati. Legendary Ducati motorcycles have something of a rags-to-riches story. This Italian motorcycle manufacturer began by selling motorized bicycles to impoverished residents of post-World War II Italy. Today, Ducati is the world's premier manufacturer of street motorcycles whose sales continue to rise year after year. Its svelte, hyper-accelerating motorcycles are two-wheeled wonders that are fluent in the language of speed. The Complete Book of Ducati Motorcycles traces the stunning chronology of the motorcycles dreamed up by Ducati, from the 1950s to present day. Laid out for the first time in encyclopedia form with gorgeous photography and insights from Ducati expert Ian Falloon, this book offers motorcycle enthusiasts a closer look at the craftsmanship, power, and beauty of these extraordinary motorcycles. The book features all of the motorcycles from Ducati's storied history, including the groundbreaking Desmodromic 750 Super Sport, the Mike Hailwood Replica, the Superbike-dominating 916, and the epic Panigale. From the street bikes that gave birth to the very notion of the modern superbike to the racing motorcycles that dominated tracks in Great Britain, Europe, and North America since the latter part of the twentieth century, The Complete Book of Ducati Motorcycles runs the full gamut of sportbikes. It's a collection that demands shelf space in the library of any true motorcycle collector or fan. Cover Title TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 After the War: Cucciolos and Overhead-Valve Singles, 1946–1954 CHAPTER 2 Taglioni's Arrival: The Gran Sport and Desmodromics Overhead Camshaft and Overhead-Valve Singles, 1955–1960 CHAPTER 3 Dubious Proliferation: Overhead Camshaft, Overhead-Valve Singles, and Two-Strokes, 1961–1970 CHAPTER 4 Ducati's First Superbike: The 750 Singles and Twins, 1971–1974 CHAPTER 5 Economic Rationalization: The 860, 900, Parallel Twin, and Pantah, 1975–1984 CHAPTER 6 The Cagiva Era: The Paso, 851, and 888, 1986–1993 CHAPTER 7 Groundbreaking New Models: The 916 and Monster, 1994–2002 CHAPTER 8 Confused Directions: The 999 and Sport Classic, 2003–2006 CHAPTER 9 Grand Prix Success: MotoGP, Desmosedici, 1098, 2007–2011 CHAPTER 10 A New Lease on Life: Panigale, MotoGP Resurrection, and the Scrambler, 2012–2016 INDEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Z