1974 Ducati 750 Sport - 6-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article

Description

1974 Ducati 750 Sport - 6-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article
Original, vintage magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm)
Condition: Good
A cafe racer supreme
right off your nearest Ducati
dealer's showroom floor,
if he has one in stock,
which he won't
■ Can talented, knowledgeable people
turn an idea for an exciting, superfast
motorcycle into reality? The Ducati 750
Sport Cafe Racer says it’s still possible.
Most new motorcycles today pass
through endless committees of product
planners and stylists who “broaden the
appeal” and “improve the economics”
of what comes along. We’re stuck with
the result: “me too” motorcycles with a
lot of the original excitement removed.
The Ducati 750 Sport slipped through
unscathed. It’s the most exciting street
bike to come along in a long time.
From the moment I swung my foot
over the side and assumed the classic
road racer position on the Ducati, a lit-
tle light went on inside my head and
something said, “this machine is better
than you are. This machine is fast, pre-
cise, controlled, transportation without
equal.” Do I really want this thing for a
road test? Can I really do the bike jus-
tice or will I drop the Ducati or its beau-
tiful fiberglass side in front of the whole
world. Why am I doing this?
The first time I saw it the Ducati
Sport was sitting in Ashford Engineer-
ing’s showroom in West Chester, Pa.,
glowing softly in the early evening dark-
ness. A small neatly lettered sign reading
“DO NOT TOUCH” sat on the solo
seat. The bike was totally impressive in
its functional elegance and purposeful
style. I was floored.
Sitting in it (not on it), hands out-
stretched to the Tomaselli clip on bars,
feet resting lightly on the rear set pegs
and levers I wondered how anyone
could even ride one of these in this po-
sition, much less race one. Because of
the engine design (90 degree V twin) the
bike is very narrow, and for a 750 it’s
very light (395 pounds). It kick starts
on the right. There’s no electric starter,
and it would be totally out of place on a
bike like this. The lever folds out with a
precise “click”. Starting effort is no...
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