Ducati is to motorcycles what Ferrari is to sports cars - expensive, exclusive, thrilling and unapologetically Italian. Being a Ducati owner means being a part of a special society, almost a movement of people who know a thing or two about motorcycles.
It's not a secret why - Ducati is one of the most recognized, famed and respected motorcycle brands in the world. Their recipe for success is strikingly similar to that of Ferrari - Italian craftsmanship, innovative design and long-lasting success in motorsports.
Nevertheless, no car or motorcycle company is without a few dark pages in its history. Ducati is no exception, and being a luxury product company means that the quality of their brand might be even more important than the quality of their motorcycles. In this article, we've decided to address a few facts about Ducati that their execs wouldn't want you to know.
15 Their Roots Are Far From Motorcycles
Founded in Bologna, Italy in 1926, the Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati was a radically different company from the Ducati we know today. Its original product portfolio consisted of radios, radio components, and other electronic appliances, not mouth-watering, beastly motorcycles. It wasn't until the 1960s when Ducati truly made a name for themselves as a motorcycle company.
14 The Factory Was Destroyed In WW2
Here's another fact that from the early history of Ducati that they prefer not to remember. During World War 2, their Bologna factory was almost entirely destroyed by the Allied airforces. Ironically, having to start anew from the ashes helped Ducati to reinvent itself as a motorcycle company. Still, the association with the industry of Fascist Italy is hardly something to be proud of.
13 One Of The Founders Worked With A Nazi Engineer
Speaking of inconvenient WW2-related facts, we bet that Ducati wouldn't want anyone to know that one of the founders of the company worked closely with a Nazi scientist. Not just any scientist, but the rocket engineer Werner Von Braun himself. Sure, at that point Von Braun lived in the U.S. and worked on the space program. But his origins are well-known.
12 The Company Changed Hands Frequently
Just like many other smaller automotive companies, Ducati has had quite a few different owners. In 1985, they were bought by another Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Cagiva. In 1985, Cagiva sold Ducati to Texas Pacific Group, a US-based investment fund. Finally, in 2005 an Italian investment fund bought Ducati out - but didn't keep it for long.
11 Ducati Is Now Owned By THAT Car Company
Yes, by that company we mean Volkswagen. Of course, technically Ducati is now owned by Lamborghini, which is owned by Audi... You get the idea. Being a part of a huge corporation doesn't align very well with Ducati's aura of small-batch Italian craftsmanship. Still, it could've been worse - if Ford or GM had bought them, Ducati would've been long gone and forgotten.
10 Japanese Ducati Buyers Are Missing Out
One would think that all Ducati buyers get the same treatment and the same products, no matter where they come from. Unfortunately, that's not the case with Japan. Due to local regulation of the noise levels of vehicles, Ducati is forced to outfit the bikes meant for Japan with a different, quieter exhaust system. Considering that the passionate exhaust note is one of Ducati's most famed features, that's a real shame!
9 Made In Italy? Not Quite
Ducati is very proud of its Italian roots - as it should be. However, their motorcycles are not produced in Italy only. The company also operates a factory in Thailand and works with a third-party manufacturer in Brazil In all fairness, those contractors only produce motorcycles for their respective markets.
8 Separate Assembly Lines
The geographic peculiarities will only continue if we take a look at Ducati's factory in Bologna. If you get a chance to tour the production area, you might start seeing double. Because Ducati has two separate assembly lines for its motorcycles, with one of them used solely for the bikes that will go to the United States.
7 Their Reliability Is Spotty...
Ducati fans might try to prove you otherwise, but let's be realistic. Everything fast, expensive and Italian is not exactly well-known for its reliability. While it might not be the case as much with the newer bikes, older Ducatis can be a disaster! And if something does break on your Ducati, you'd better have deep pockets - which bring us to the next point.
6 ...And The Maintenance Costs Are High
Ducati bikes are expensive, to begin with - which means that keeping them running is not cheap, either. Yes, they are technologically advanced motorcycles from a famed, exclusive manufacturer, but some numbers just don't make sense. Please send a few prayers to this Redditor. Two thousand dollars for a regular service? Yikes.
5 Can't Escape The Stereotypes
Once you become an owner of a certain car or motorcycle brand, you become a part of a community or culture. And sometimes this community doesn't have the best reputation. We've all heard that BMW drivers are rich, obnoxious and don't use their turn signals. Sadly, the stereotype of a Ducati owner is not that different. Believe us, Ducati would never mention it in a sales brochure.
4 Their Racing Team Fell Off
Ducati's great reputation comes in part from their success in motorcycle racing. Over the course of several decades, Ducati has amassed countless trophies in MotoGP, Superbike World Championship and other competition. Lately, however, they've been out of luck. Their racing team's performance in both MotoGP and SWC has been mixed.
3 The Fuel Tank Lawsuit
This is where things actually get serious. In 2010, the Gibbs Law Group filed a class-action lawsuit against Ducati. The reason? Defective fuel tanks which, according to the owners, would degrade, deform and expand due to the material's incompatibility with fuel. The lawsuit was approved in court, and Ducati had to issue an extended warranty for a big chunk of its lineup.
2 Heat Issues Of The Ducati Scrambler
Don't be hopeful that Ducati's engineering mistakes end with the fuel tanks, though. Apparently, the latest Ducati Scrambler is also affected by poor cooling design which results in the sides of the motorcycle getting too hot. Some owners have even complained about getting thigh burns. Not great for a company that takes pride in its engineering.
1 Cheating In MotoGP
Ducati's lackluster performance in MotoGP was only the tip of the iceberg! The company's reputation in the prestigious racing competition was thwarted even more by a controversial design element of their motorcycles. The part in question is a winglet attached to the side of the bike.
According to Ducati, it was used solely to cool the rear tire. The regulators, however, accused Ducati of using the winglet to generate additional downforce, which is forbidden in MotoGP.