Ducati formed in 1926 the Ducati family and other Bolognese investors founded the Società Radio Brevetti Ducati in Bologna. Production of motorcycles began in 1946 with the 48cc overhead-valve clip-on Cucciolo engine. In 1950 Aero Caproni pulled out of the business and Ducati became a name to be remembered. 1954  saw Fabio Taglioni join Ducati and influenced the design of its machines for the next 30 years.  A year later Fabio's first bike, a 98cc overhead-camshaft single appeared.  Later 98cc to 436cc singles were based on this design. Ducati also manufactured another 98cc single with pushrods that was, for its day, a very sport machine. The Desmodromic valve gear which required no valve spring was used for the first time in 1956 on Ducati racing motorcycles and it became a Ducati trademark.  The 1950s and 1960s saw development of single-cylinder bikes continue and twin-cylinder racers and a prototype 1257cc V4 were also produced. The 1964 Mach 1 earned its place in motorcycling history as being the fastest 250cc road bike available. They continue to build sports bike to this day and have won many titles although some would say through unfair super-bike competition regulations, which restricted 4 cylinder bikes to 750cc while the 2 cylinders were 1000cc, although they are now owned by Cagiva.

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1955 98TL
98cc

1957 98TS
98cc

1963 3D Desmo
350cc

1965 Elite 
200cc

1966 Sebring
350cc

1974 GT250
250cc