120 Ducati 500 SD Sports Desmo (1977) VBF 21 S
Ducati 500 SD Sports Desmo (1976-78) Engine 497cc Four Stroke air cooled parellel twin SOHC 2 valve per cylinder
Frame No: 503131
Engine No: 504228
Registration Number VBF 21 S (Stoke on Trent
Ducatis mid-1970s attempt to phase out the single cylinder models and replace them with 350 and 500 parallel twins was based on the theory that if Japanese parellel twins were selling in Iyaly despite high importation taxes surely if they produced their own parellel twins without the taxation they would sell like hot cakes. The 350 made sense as the Government provided a huge tax break for machines under that size and to develope a 500 version would prove inexpensive as the donkey work would have already been done with the smaller bike. The first versions of the parallel twin were designated as GTLs—Gran Turismo Lusso, and the lack lustre engine and styling made for poor sales.
In order to salvage the situation, engineer Fabio Taglioni was asked to beef up the engine, while Leopoldo Tartarini crafted the chassis. Taglioni introduced his desmodromic valve actuation and redesigned the heads and a pair of 30mm Dell’Orto carburetors but never the less the nature of the the overly square engine, meant the power was found only in the last 2,000 rpm. The Tartini redesigned chassis for the Sport Desmo saw a racing styling, with an upturn where a passenger might sit. To add to the sporting image, the footpegs were set back and clip-ons replaced the previous flat handlebar and the tank became more streamlined. The frame was revised with twin downtubes going to the engine, out went the spoked wheels in favour of six spoke Borrani cast-alloy cast alloys and the suspension system was altered. The result a very capable but expensive bike
This bike had been a one owner machine for 40 years and one of a handful that was registered in the UK since new
This bike was offered for sale at the British Motorcycle Museums, HandH Auction 2nd March 2019 selling for £ 2,925
Diolch yn fawr am 69,533,906 o olygfeydd anhygoel, mwynhewch ac arhoswch yn ddiogel
Thank you 69,533,906 amazing views, enjoy and stay safe
Shot 02.03.2019 at the National Motorcycle Museum, H and H Auction Ref 138-120
120 Ducati 500 SD Sports Desmo (1977) VBF 21 S
Ducati 500 SD Sports Desmo (1976-78) Engine 497cc Four Stroke air cooled parellel twin SOHC 2 valve per cylinder
Frame No: 503131
Engine No: 504228
Registration Number VBF 21 S (Stoke on Trent
Ducatis mid-1970s attempt to phase out the single cylinder models and replace them with 350 and 500 parallel twins was based on the theory that if Japanese parellel twins were selling in Iyaly despite high importation taxes surely if they produced their own parellel twins without the taxation they would sell like hot cakes. The 350 made sense as the Government provided a huge tax break for machines under that size and to develope a 500 version would prove inexpensive as the donkey work would have already been done with the smaller bike. The first versions of the parallel twin were designated as GTLs—Gran Turismo Lusso, and the lack lustre engine and styling made for poor sales.
In order to salvage the situation, engineer Fabio Taglioni was asked to beef up the engine, while Leopoldo Tartarini crafted the chassis. Taglioni introduced his desmodromic valve actuation and redesigned the heads and a pair of 30mm Dell’Orto carburetors but never the less the nature of the the overly square engine, meant the power was found only in the last 2,000 rpm. The Tartini redesigned chassis for the Sport Desmo saw a racing styling, with an upturn where a passenger might sit. To add to the sporting image, the footpegs were set back and clip-ons replaced the previous flat handlebar and the tank became more streamlined. The frame was revised with twin downtubes going to the engine, out went the spoked wheels in favour of six spoke Borrani cast-alloy cast alloys and the suspension system was altered. The result a very capable but expensive bike
This bike had been a one owner machine for 40 years and one of a handful that was registered in the UK since new
This bike was offered for sale at the British Motorcycle Museums, HandH Auction 2nd March 2019 selling for £ 2,925
Diolch yn fawr am 69,533,906 o olygfeydd anhygoel, mwynhewch ac arhoswch yn ddiogel
Thank you 69,533,906 amazing views, enjoy and stay safe
Shot 02.03.2019 at the National Motorcycle Museum, H and H Auction Ref 138-120