The philosophy, as I read it
Ducati treats engineering as romance and the corner as a confession. Desmodromic valves, the trellis frame, the L-twin, and now the counter-rotating V4 are all technical choices that were harder than the alternatives and were made anyway, because they felt right. Ducati's modern reliability and its electronics leadership prove that romance and rigour can share a garage.
History in a paragraph
Founded in Bologna in 1926 making radio components, Ducati built its first engine, the Cucciolo, in 1946. Fabio Taglioni's desmodromic valve system arrived in 1956, the 750 SS won Imola in 1972, and the 916 of 1994 is the most beautiful motorcycle ever made. Owned by Audi since 2012, Ducati has become the dominant force in MotoGP and the leader in production-bike electronics.
On the track
Four consecutive MotoGP riders' titles from 2022 to 2025 and a decade of World Superbike success.
Reviewed
The Ducati bikes we have ridden
Ducati · 2026
Monster
The naked bike that invented the category, now with an aluminium front frame.
Ducati · 2026
Panigale V4
The seventh-generation Panigale: double-sided swingarm, 216 hp, and the most advanced electronics on the road.