The Ducati Singles were single cylinder motorcycles, made by Ducati from 1950 to 1974. Chief Engineer Fabio Taglioni developed a desmodromic valve system in these years, a system that opens and closes the valves using the camshaft, without the need for valve springs. This valve system has become a trademark feature of Ducati motorcycles.
The Singles (1950 - 1973)
In 1926, the brothers Adriano and Marcello Ducati founded Societa Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati, a company in Bologna producing tubes, condensers and other radio components. On June 1, 1935, the cornerstone of a factory in Borgo Panigale was laid. By 1940, the company was engaged in the manufacture of electronic equipment for the military, making the factory a target for Allied bombing. The Ducati factory at Borgo Panigale was hit badly more than once, but maintained production.
Cucciolo
Main article: Ducati CuccioloDuring World War II, Ducati developed a small engine mounted on a bicycle, called the Cucciolo ("little puppy") and in 1950 began producing its own complete 98-pound motorcycle with the same name.
OHV pushrod singles
From the mid-1950s through mid 1960's Ducati produced non-Taglioni-designed OHV singles with conventional pushrod valve operation, such as the 125 Bronco.
Ducati 65 TS and Cruiser
The market was moving though, towards bigger motorcycles and Ducati's IRI management felt diversification was the only answer. Ducati made an impression at the early 1952 Milan Show, introducing the Ducati 65 TS cycle and the Cruiser, the world's first four-stroke scooter. Despite being described as the most interesting new machine at the 1952 show, the Cruiser was not a great success. A couple of thousand were made over a two year period before being withdrawn from production.
In 1953, management decided to split the operation into two separate entities, Ducati Meccanica SpA, and Ducati Elettronica SpA, under separate management. Dr. Giuseppe Montano took over as head of Ducati Meccanica SpA and the old Borgo Panigale factory was modernized, with government assistance.
By 1954, Ducati Meccanica SpA was producing 120 bikes a day, but cheap cars were entering the markets, and sales for many motorcycle manufacturers would decline.
OHC 98 cc Gran Sport
Ducati's single overhead-cam 98 cc Gran Sport, designed by Taglioni, became the blueprint for all future Ducati singles. It had an air-cooled cylinder inclined forward 10 degrees from vertical, gear primary drive, wet-sump lubrication, battery ignition and camshaft drive by vertical shaft and bevel gears. This bike came to dominate its class in Italian racing. In 1956 there was a dohc 125 cc version of the Gran Sport.
In spite of being a government appointed director, Montano was a motorcycle enthusiast and under his direction, Ducati's competitive activities grew. Fabio Taglioni was chief designer and technical director of Ducati from 1954 to 1989, serving longer than many of the managements that were to follow. The company soon developed a full-fledged racing team. Italians were avid racing fans and would buy bikes built by winners. To acquire a competitive image Ducati needed to race successfully. Taglioni’s usual development procedure was to test a motorcycle on the racetrack before releasing it to the public.
125 Desmo Ducati
The high rpm's needed to produce competitive power in a small engine generated valve float, which Taglioni believed could be overcome with a desmodromic cylinder head. The 125 Grand Prix could produce 16 hp at 11,500 rpm, its true rev limit, while the Desmo could crank out 19 hp at 12,500 rpm and could “safely” (bottom end permitting) rev further to 15,000. Big-end life was short at these sorts of revs and new crankshaft bearings were put in for every race.
Desmodromics, were used in the W196 Mercedes-Benz straight-eight Desmo engines that dominated early formula 1 racing. When Mercedes retired from racing, it retired the Mercedes desmo technology, never using it in production models. Taglioni applied it successfully to Ducati motorcycles. As usual, Desmo technology was used first in racing Ducatis and then in Ducati street machines.
The 125 Desmo Ducati won its first race at the 1956 Swedish G.P. at Hedemora, lapping all the other cycles, but then its rider, Gianni Degli Antoni, died during the practice for the next race, the Italian G.P. of Monza. That death dealt a severe blow to the Ducati racing program and it was not until 1958 that their team was able to mount a serious challenge to Italy’s MV Agusta, and their top rider, former 125 cc world champion, Carlo Ubbiali.
In 1958 the Ducati Desmo dominated the racing season and the racing team was soon headed for the World Championship. Unfortunately a mid-season injury to winning Ducati rider Bruno Spaggiani spoilt their run, allowing Ubbiali to narrowly take the title again. Nevertheless, in that season the Desmodromic engine had proved its quality and reliability, in terms of maximizing engine power and as insurance against over-revving damage. These characteristics proved attractive to motorcycle buyers.
The 125 Sport became the 125 Monza. There was also the Monza Super, a further improved version with high-compression piston, modified camshaft, a slightly larger SS1 Dell'Orto racing carburettor, and a straight-through exhaust. The Monza Super was British market only. Oxford’s Ducati dealer, Kings, was pushing Ducati for a 250 cc machine to compete against British and Japanese motorcycles. Ducati began by building a 250 cc racer. The prototype won most of its races in America, many running in conjunction with 500 cc events.
In 1959 Ducati introduced the 200cc Elite and 200SS, which were derived from the very successful 175cc single cylinder shaft driven ohc machine.
The first production Ducati 250 debuted at the Milan Fair in April 1961. It was called the Diana but for some unknown reason was re-named as Daytona in the UK.The 250 was so popular that in 1963 Ducati introduced the Diana Mark 3 Super Sport.
The Berliner Brothers, held the US Ducati franchise in the late 1950s, and because of the brothers' forceful personalities, this began to affect what was produced. Though this ultimately ended up having disastrous consequences for all concerned, in the short run it secured for Ducati a much larger slice of the U.S. market than they would otherwise have had. In 1963 the Berliner brothers suggested that Ducati build a Harley beater, leading to the Ducati Apollo V4, which made it to a tyre shredding prototype stage, but was never manufactured. Two machines were built, one of which can now be seen in the Ducati museum in Bologna.
Ducati Diana Mark 3 Super Sport
Main article: Ducati Mach 1This machine first appeared in 1962 in Europe where it was named the 'Mach 1'. It was derived from the production 250s but was considerably tuned and had 5 gears instead of the 4 of its predecessors. Several European magazines tested it and were able to exceed 100mph, making it by far the fastest production 250 on the market. It was later introduced to the American market where, under the name of Diana Mark 3 Super Sport, it proved again to be the fastest 250 street bike in the world that year. In a carefully monitored Cycle World track test, the Mark 3 did a standing 1/4 mile in 16.5 seconds with a final speed of 79.5 mph. Its top speed was 104 mph. Even a TD-1 Yamaha racer, tested by Cycle World that same year, was unable to match the Ducati's top speed and no other comparably sized registrable production bike that year could compete with its performance.
Ducati motorcycles were selling well in North America and other export markets such as Britain, Australia and Germany. In Italy Ducati was doing well, and not just building motorcycles. By 1965, Ducati Meccanica SpA had become the Italian distributor for Standard-Triumph cars and Leyland vans and trucks.
Two-strokes
Ducati was manufacturing a 50 cc two stroke, with power outputs from 0.92 hp at 4,600 rpm to 4.2 at 8,600 rpm. Some attempts were made to race these 50 cc Ducati two-strokes in Europe, but the 3 speed gearbox and lack of power compared to makes such as Itom meant that there was no success. They also failed to sell in America, their target market, as the US demand just did not exist. Fairly large quantities were sold in Europe and for some years it was the sales of two-strokes that kept the company afloat. In hindsight, Ducati probably would have done better by focussing on its well-developed line of sporting four-strokes, but the company persisted with 50 cc, 80, 90, and finally 100 cc versions of the same two-stroke bikes, despite falling sales. These small 2 strokes were built in all sorts of versions, from mini-racers through trail and scrambler type models even to scooters. Early versions had 3-speed hand change gears but this later became 4-speed foot change. Some versions had fan-cooled engines.
While sufficient members of management wished to persist in production, some engineers were already refusing to work on them, and pursuing other company projects wit
spa equipment information.
Hotels and Discounts -- global discount hotel reservations Spas in Daytona Beach, FL Daytona: NASCAR Trucks - Chevy Driver Quotes from Day Two ... Career Opportunities - Official ...
the palms day spa & salon - Beauty & Make-up in Florida Daytona Beach
the palms day spa & salon details. the palms day spa & salon may serve: Florida Daytona Beach Beauty & Make-up, Beauty ... Audio & Video Equipment: Calligraphy: Caricature: Casino Party ...
The Shores Resort & Spa - A Noble House Resort, Daytona Beach, Florida ...
The Shores Resort & Spa - A Noble House Resort, Daytona Beach ... Beachfront Kiosks Offer Water Sports Equipment ... After A Long Day Of Meetings Or Sightseeing ...
Oasis Day Spa, Arvada, CO 80001, Jefferson, Colorado, 8600 Ralston Rd
alexander pope vi - arvada day oasis spa day essence nashville spa day daytona equipment spa venus day spa day man spa day newburgh spa day spa alaska bellagio day spa day spa in ...
Florida Day Spas presented by Spa Index: Boca Raton, Daytona Beach ...
DAYTONA BEACH DAY SPAS Volusia County ... edge fitness equipment, and personalized attention, we have created an incomparable Miami spa retreat. Day Guests ... All therapy and day spa ...
Pelican Bay Medi Day Spa
The Pelican Bay Day Spa by Cheryl was established in 1993 Voted #1 Five Star Destination Day Spa – Daytona Beach Experienced Professional Technicians State of the Art Equipment and ...
Massage-In-Motion, Day Spa, Day Spas, Spa Resort, Ormond Beach Day Spa ...
Sauna Equipment & Supplies; Skin Care; Spas & Hot Tubs ... Day Spa specializes in Spa Treatments that go beyond ... Area/Cities Served: Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Daytona ...
Equipment | Spa Suppliers Distributors & Manufacturers
Daytona 32114 : Grace Medical Equipment Inc. Grace Medical Equipment provides training and ... Provides a full range of interactive services for day spas and : Giftango - Spa Gift ...
Daytona Beach Hotels, Resorts - Asia Travel Hotels Air Tickets ...
daytona beach, florida usa hotels reservation service, over 50 ... It was named for its founder, Matthias D. Day. In 1886 ... The Shores Resort and Spa : SPECIAL RATE : Instant Confirmation
Daytona Beauty Supply
Florida based provider of retail store equipment, furniture and supplies for salons, barber shops and day spas.