1985 DUCATI 750 F1A
This time period for Ducati was a tough one.
Production of motorcycles were at a all time low from a
high of more than 6,000 bikes in 1981 to less than
2,000 in 1985. On May 1st of that year Cagiva
purchased Ducati from the Italian government for
Three Million Pounds.
The magazine 'Motorcycle International' titled their
article about the 750F1A "Extinction with Distinction"
written by Fraser Stronach (article below). In the
articles closing Fraser writes, "If the Formula 1
Replica is the last Ducati it's a hell of a way for the
name to go out."
Mick Walker wrote about the F1 ... "To the true
believers the F1 represents the last of the real
Ducatis, in other words the traditionally raw-boned
sporting motorcycle, without an ounce of fat to be
seen anywhere. With its razor-sharp styling, the F1
evoked a passion in Ducati Lovers" ... "It was fitting,
therefore, that this model should have been one of the
best ever to come out of the Bologna factory, A
motorcycle in the true Italian tradition. With a chassis
based on the four-times World Championship winning,
F2 racer, it was endowed with road-holding and
handling to match the very best."
Cycle World Magazine said "Ducati must have known
a line was about to be drawn in the history books
and the people there must have wanted to leave a
last entry. Because the F1 is everything an Italian
sports bike is expected to be and so seldom is."
Produced with components from the earlier 650cc
Pantah The 750F1A had the same heads, valves and
crankshaft. The new 750cc size was created by
adding 6mm to the bore. New were the camshafts,
124mm connecting rods, wet clutch and oil cooler.
This motor surprised everyone that it revved so freely.
The 1986 Models, F1B, Santa Monica, Laguna Seca
and Montjuich would all have completely different
motors with different cases, cranks, heads and cams.
This bike is #503 of the 593 made in the first series of
the F1 models (Known as "A") and is in wonderful
condition with less than 10,000miles. The motorcycle
came from Santa Fe, New Mexico from a gentleman
named Ed who could not have been more delightful
(Ed, again thanks for the chips and salsa). When it
arrived by truck it fired and ran incredible. The bike is
completely original and seems only the breather and
air filters have been changed.
Serial number #499 was found in a garage in Santa
Monica, California with 570 Kilometers (361 Miles).
The original owner shortly after buying it promised his
mother that he would no longer ride it and it sat for the
next 22 years in the corner of his garage. When found
it had gas in the aluminum tank from 1985 and was
never registered, so it came with the Manufactures
Certificate of Origin, as it was never titled.
This time period for Ducati was a tough one.
Production of motorcycles were at a all time low from a
high of more than 6,000 bikes in 1981 to less than
2,000 in 1985. On May 1st of that year Cagiva
purchased Ducati from the Italian government for
Three Million Pounds.
The magazine 'Motorcycle International' titled their
article about the 750F1A "Extinction with Distinction"
written by Fraser Stronach (article below). In the
articles closing Fraser writes, "If the Formula 1
Replica is the last Ducati it's a hell of a way for the
name to go out."
Mick Walker wrote about the F1 ... "To the true
believers the F1 represents the last of the real
Ducatis, in other words the traditionally raw-boned
sporting motorcycle, without an ounce of fat to be
seen anywhere. With its razor-sharp styling, the F1
evoked a passion in Ducati Lovers" ... "It was fitting,
therefore, that this model should have been one of the
best ever to come out of the Bologna factory, A
motorcycle in the true Italian tradition. With a chassis
based on the four-times World Championship winning,
F2 racer, it was endowed with road-holding and
handling to match the very best."
Cycle World Magazine said "Ducati must have known
a line was about to be drawn in the history books
and the people there must have wanted to leave a
last entry. Because the F1 is everything an Italian
sports bike is expected to be and so seldom is."
Produced with components from the earlier 650cc
Pantah The 750F1A had the same heads, valves and
crankshaft. The new 750cc size was created by
adding 6mm to the bore. New were the camshafts,
124mm connecting rods, wet clutch and oil cooler.
This motor surprised everyone that it revved so freely.
The 1986 Models, F1B, Santa Monica, Laguna Seca
and Montjuich would all have completely different
motors with different cases, cranks, heads and cams.
This bike is #503 of the 593 made in the first series of
the F1 models (Known as "A") and is in wonderful
condition with less than 10,000miles. The motorcycle
came from Santa Fe, New Mexico from a gentleman
named Ed who could not have been more delightful
(Ed, again thanks for the chips and salsa). When it
arrived by truck it fired and ran incredible. The bike is
completely original and seems only the breather and
air filters have been changed.
Serial number #499 was found in a garage in Santa
Monica, California with 570 Kilometers (361 Miles).
The original owner shortly after buying it promised his
mother that he would no longer ride it and it sat for the
next 22 years in the corner of his garage. When found
it had gas in the aluminum tank from 1985 and was
never registered, so it came with the Manufactures
Certificate of Origin, as it was never titled.
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# 499
# 499
# 503