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Ducati 350 SC

Picture: Bonhams

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Make Model

Ducati 350 SC (Sport Corsa)

Year

1965 - 66

Engine

Four stroke, single cylinder, Desmo SOHC, 2 valve, bevel gear-driven

Capacity

340.2 cc / 20.8 cu-in
Bore x Stroke 76 x 75 mm
Cooling System Air cooled
Compression Ratio 10:1

Induction

Dell'Orto SS1 30

Ignition

Points and coil, 6V 30W generator
Spark Plug 2 x Lodge RL50
Starting Kick

Max Power

30.2 kW / 41 hp @ 10500 rpm

Clutch

Wet, multiplate

Primary Drive

Straight cut gear

Transmission 

5 Speed 
Gear Ratios 1st 43/17 / 2nd 38/22 / 3rd 35/26 / 4th 32/29 / 5th 30/31
Final Drive Chain
Frame Twin cradle, tubular steel

Front Suspension

Marzocchi 32 mm telescopic fork

Rear Suspension

Swingarm, Marzocchi dual shocks

Front Brakes

200 mm Oldani / 230 mm Grimeca

Rear Brakes

200 mm Oldani / 230 mm Grimeca

Front Tyre

19

Rear Tyre

19

Wheelbase

1320 mm / 52.0 in

Dry Weight

117 kg / 258 lbs

Top Speed

200 km/h / 124 mph

The 350 Sport Corsa (or SC) was different mechanically from the production street sport bikes. The engine included sand-cast crankcases with either 250 or 350 SC and an engine number stamped on the left crankcase near the cylinder. It was designed to accommodate the double cradle frame. The cylinder head was sand-cast 350 F3 type, with shorter camshafts than the Mach 1. There was also a close-ratio, 5-speed gearbox that was unique to the SC. Only a half a dozen 350s were built during 1965.
 The Sport Corsa Desmo (or SCD) although obviously related, was more than a Desmo version of the SC. One can assume that each was indeed bespoke, certainly hand assembled one by one and not necessarily in the Ducati factory itself. It is extremely difficult to establish a specification for the series. Even the frames differed from bike to bike – this example has a special twin down tube frame, not the single down tube, which was more common. It has the usual Marzocchi 35mm forks. The 350 Desmo motor is just over square with a 76mm bore and 75mm stroke (as the street motor) and pumps out a quoted 41hp at 10,500 rpm.

These bikes were very expensive with probably less than a dozen made. While the 350 Sport Corsa Desmo may have had little or no advantage over a cheaper and lighter modified production street bike on the track, today it scores massively as a classic work of art for it is rare in the extreme, and handsome to boot.