1981 Ducati TT2

Frame no. DM600SL 000022 Engine no. DM600SL 700128

Previewing in Los Angeles, California by appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.

As a racing machine, the Taglioni-designed TT2 was light and athletic, and had a wide powerband. It was a nearly perfect balance of power and weight. The ultra-light chromoly trellis frame weighed only 16 lb. It was heavily triangulated for strength and very compact. Nimbleness came from a wheelbase so short that riders of a taller stature found the TT2 somewhat of a challenge to ride effectively – not that anybody complained too much after their first ride on the landmark machine. That the bike was fabulous-looking in its yellow-and-red livery was a bonus. Originally street-based, the TT2's 81 x 85mm Pantah engine was made over as a pure factory racer. While the compression ratio was a moderate 10:1, larger valves operated by Ducati's desmodromic camshafts provided improved engine breathing. Additional weight-saving features included exposed camshafts belts, a magnesium primary drive cover and a hydraulically operated clutch; plus a Marzocchi magnesium front fork and a cantilever Paioli monoshock at the rear, Campagnolo cast wheels, twin 280mm Brembo front discs and a single rear. Most of the gears were also drilled for lightness.

More so than any other American motorcycle magazine, Cycle was clued into Ducati. In the TT2, the editors correctly foretold a bright future for it: "More than anything else, the TT2 is fun to ride fast," they wrote. "It's a crime you can't ride this motorcycle on the street – and it would be a crime if you did. There's one hell of a supersport motorcycle here, lurking about a millimeter below the surface of that red paint. What this motorcycle needs is a 750 engine and street equipment." The TT2 played a significant role in Ducati's racing heritage and authentic examples are rarely available for sale. In addition to being eligible as the centerpiece of any serious Ducati collection, the TT2 is eligible for vintage motorcycle events worldwide.

TT2 no. 022, this machine, was on display at the factory's Museo Ducati in Bologna for years until purchased in 1998 by Daniele Casolari of Feel Racing srl, who was then working with Ducati Special Parts. He maintained the bike at the Museum in Bologna until it was purchased in 2012 by the vendor. Of note, at that time, the bike was delivered to Rino Caracchi (the "C" in NCR) who recognized the bike as one he was contracted to produce for the Ducati factory racing efforts in the 1980s. The bike comes with a signed statement from him testifying to that fact. Caracchi then did a final service and basic restoration on the bike at that time. Since 2012 it has been maintained in a private collection. It is featured in the book, Ducati: The Official Racing History by Marco Masetti. It is an amazing example of an important bike in the history of Ducati's racing efforts.