The 8 Best Ducati Motorcycles Ever Made

Ducati is a storied Italian motorcycle manufacturer that has been creating some of the most desirable and significant motorcycles in the world, including scores of bikes for the street and the track. Although it is today owned by Audi, the company was formed in the early 20th century when three brothers banded together to form a company to build radios. It would not be until the aftermath of WWII and the decimation of their factory that Ducati changed over to producing two-wheeled transportation, according to the company.

For the second half of the century, Ducati made motorcycles that showcased the clever engineering and competitive spirit of the Italian people with some of the fastest and most attractive motorcycles on the market. Ducati's first engine, the Cucciolo, (Italian for puppy), was a clip-on engine for bicycles that sold well and set the path for future motorcycle development. Ducati was also involved in racing from the start, creating many bikes expressly for breaking speed records (via Run Moto Run).

The Ducati name is now synonymous with the finest quality and best-performing motorcycles on the market. They still win races and their reputation allows Ducati bikes to sell for a premium, with top models being more expensive than some cars. Ducati does not let its reputation carry the brand and is still a center for innovative engineering and Italian styling. Although there are dozens to choose from, these are, in no particular order, the best eight Ducatis ever made.

The story of the Ducati Monster stems from a need for the niche motorcycle manufacturer to bring in much-needed revenue. Producing a model that was affordable and more apt for everyday driving is what was needed and the Monster fit the bill. The first monster was a 900cc air-cooled twin nestled into a more basic and paired-down frame than the superbikes of the eighties for which Ducati was known. Later years offered a smaller 600cc and a short-lived 750cc model for those who were fine with trading off big power for a lower price. It became the everyman's Ducati to the extent a high-end Italian motorcycle could be (via Visor Down).

Various upgrades have been applied to the line including single swingarms, water-cooling, and upswept exhaust. But through the line, the Monster has retained its core function of being a basic version of an excellent motorcycle. Now having three decades under its belt, the Ducati, according to Hagerty, is a bit more sophisticated and has a larger engine but, at $12,000, is still affordable, especially considering how much you can spend on top-line Ducatis. As long as the success of this model continues, the Monster probably has more decades to come.

Everyone has to start somewhere, even radio manufacturers breaking into motor manufacturing. As such, the first Ducati engine came out in 1946. The company had already been successfully selling its Cucciolo engines affixed to bicycles in post-war Italy and took the next step to build a frame also, coming up with the Ducati 60 in 1949. This primitive Ducati was in reality not much more than a Caproni bicycle fitted with a Ducati engine but done by Ducati at their factory, thus creating the first Ducati motorcycle (via Motorcycle Classic).

It may not be much to look at today, but it was the start of what would become an incredible motorcycle maker. However, in post-war Italy, anything would do for the population trying to rebuild their country and their lives. Cheap transportation was in great demand and those companies that could supply it at the time would see enough profits to pursue grander ventures. It just so happens that Ducati used its profits for racing and that gave way to some of the fastest and greatest bikes on the planet, all thanks to the diminutive little puppy-powered bicycle called 60.

Most motorcycles of the early sixties had much smaller engines that would be seen a decade later. Aside from Harley-Davidson and some BMW bikes, 500cc engines were huge compared to most. This was the time when Ducati produced some pretty amazing 250cc bikes, including the Mach 1. Contrary to what some modern minds may think, a 250cc Ducati was not an entry-level bike in the sixties, and Ducati made these to win races, and they did. Motor Biscuit reports that, while its 250 engine produced a scant 28 horsepower, it was capable of hitting 106 mph.

The desmodromic valve system used by Ducati then and now allows its engine to rev higher and extend the top end of the power curve. Although the Mach 1 was a relatively powerful machine with a high top-end, it would not see a race win until 1969, after production had ended. However, while it was not the race-day winner, it led to future bikes that would take home many victories for Ducati. Today, the Mach 1 is an attractive classic bike that will turn heads wherever it goes.

[Featured image by Daniel Hartwig via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0]

While Ducati may have once been called the "Ferrari of Motorcycles," it can now literally be called the "Lamborghini of Motorcycles" due to its collaborative tie-in with the Italian performance manufacturer. The collaboration makes sense as both manufacturers fall under the same corporate owner, VW. Deciding what factors to use considering which Ducati is the best can be a bit subjective, but if brute force power alone were to decide, the 208-horsepower Streetfighter would win hands-down. According to the manufacturer, this bike comes from the combination of Ducati's proven success in motorcycle engineering paired with Lamborghini's flamboyant styling department, creating a motorcycle that exceeds the boundaries of power and aesthetics. This bike is also a limited run with a total of 630 copies being made and listed for sale at $68,000.

This is not the first collaboration between the two companies, but that makes this bike any less special. Cycle World reports that, in addition to the 630 units planned, an additional 63 special edition bikes will be made with custom-tailored options for buyers. The number 63 is significant as it is the number worn by Ducati Corse racer Francesco Bagnaia, who has ridden the team to multiple first-place wins. The Streetfighter engine is a V4 engine with a displacement of 1,103 complemented by the best engine management technology and suspension equipment to make it one of a kind. The high cost of ownership will not be the only thing preventing you from owning one either. They sold out in a matter of hours.