Ducati has fast become one of the most recognizable brands on the planet, let alone the automotive industry. Built upon the foundations of incredible success on the track, the relatively young motorcycle company has gone from strength to strength since being acquired by the Volkswagen Group and is no longer mainly known for producing unreliable sportbikes.
Although the company has changed hands several times, one obvious consistency all their bikes exhibit is their uncompromising approach to performance and style. Creating some of the most beautiful bikes on the planet backed by irresistible power, they have inspired generations of enthusiasts.
10 Founded in 1926
It is pretty easy to check when the company was founded, but the one thing many might overlook is the fact that it was in no way shape, or form a motorcycle company back then.
Back then it was a small family business that focussed on making radios and radio components. Quite a different business than making some of the world's most desirable superbikes.
9 First Factory Bombed In WWII
This proved to be a pivotal turning point in the history of the company. After their factory was leveled they recognized the need for basic transportation post-war, and when they rebuilt their factory dedicated part of it to manufacturing small gasoline engines.
This first 4-stroke engine was called the Ducati Cucciolo, a moped engine that you could fit to a bicycle and terrifyingly reach speeds of up to 40mph, with almost zero braking power.
8 Only Made Their First Motorcycle In 1950
After experiencing some success with the Cucciolo they expanded their operations and developed their very first actual motorcycle; the Cucciolo.
It was, like a lot of motorcycles back then, pretty much still a bicycle with an engine. Not long after the design was improved, and they expanded to two distinct models, the 55M and 65T.
7 All Ducati Motorcycles Are Handmade
It is understandable that these bikes would have been made by hand back in the 50s, but Ducati has kept this tradition alive and still makes their bikes by hand today.
It is what gives their bikes their soul, sadly, with the inevitable human error coming into the mix it also gives them their checkered reliability record.
6 300,000 Monsters And Counting
It is fair to say that by the early 90s the company was in some financial trouble with its parent company at the time, Cagiva, all but gone under, and they needed something to keep them afloat.
That came in the form of their biggest sales success stories, the Monster. It is their most accessible model, and for many years was their only entry-level offering and has been credited for single-handedly saving the company.
5 Over 400 Race Wins Between SBK And MotoGP
Anyone who has been to a track, or even just watched a motorcycle race would have noticed that there is always a Ducati there, and they are usually near the front.
Ever since a certain TT champion, Mike Hailwood, came out of retirement and rode one of their machines to the title they have been ever-present in motorcycle racing of all kinds, primarily focussing on the premier classes of MotoGP and SBK.
4 Owned By An American Company For 9 Years
In a truly bizarre turn of events, the company based in Bologna, which desperately needed funding after Cagiva’s collapse got bought by the Texas-Pacific Group.
It was during this period that they created some of their most iconic motorcycles including the 2nd generation Monster, the 916, and towards the end of the relationship, the Multistrada.
3 916 Regarded As A Modern Classic
Every time anyone starts talking about the most beautiful motorcycles, it is impossible to ignore the 916.
Designed by Massimo Tamburini, it was hailed as an instant classic, with timeless lines, track-proven pedigree, and real-world performance to match.
2 Now Owned By Lamborghini, Technically
In 2012 the Volkswagen Group paid close to $1 billion for the company, which it then put under its Lamborghini brand, which is under the Audi Group…
Confused, we certainly are. What matters is that they are funded by one of the biggest companies in the world, and as long as they keep making them money they will likely never need a new home again.
1 Fastest Ever MotoGP Bike
After accumulating a long list of SBK titles, Ducati wanted a piece of the MotoGP action and subsequently took their first title back in 2007.
Since then, they have not seen as much success as they would like, but this year they have the fastest bike ever, with their bike reaching 225mph in Doha.