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Ducati 350SD Sport Desmo

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Make Model

Ducati 350 Sport Desmo

Year

1979 -

Engine

Four stroke, parallel twin cylinder, SOHC, 2 valve per cylinder

Capacity

349.6cc / 21.3 cu un
Bore x Stroke 71.8 x 43.2 mm
Compression Ratio 9.6:1
Cooling System Air cooled

Induction

Dell'Orto VHB 26 FS/FD carburetor

Ignition 

Points and coil, 12V 150W generator

Spark Plug

Champion L81

Starting

Electric

Max Power

19 kW / 26 hp @ 8000 rpm

Clutch

Wet, multiplate

Transmission

5 Speed
Gear Ratios 1st 2.500 / 2nd 1.714 / 3rd 1.333 / 4th 1.074 / 5th 1.900:1
Final Drive Ratio 2.923 (13/38)

Final Drive

Chain

Frame

Double downtube, tubular steel

Front Suspension

35mm Paioli fork

Rear Suspension

Swingarm, dual Marzocchi shocks, 3-way adjustable

Front Brakes

2 x 256 mm Brembo discs

Rear Brakes

Single 257 mm Brembo disc

Front Tyre

3.25-18

Rear Tyre

3.50-18
Dimensions Length: 2050 mm / 80.7 in
Width:     710 mm / 28.0 in
Height:  1060 mm / 41.7 in
Wheelbase 1400 mm / 55.1 in
Seat Height 760 mm / 29.9 in

Dry Weight

181 kg / 399 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

12 Litres / 3.17 US gal

Top Speed

148 km/h / 92 mph
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Some would say that the Ducati 350 Sport Desmo, together with the 500 Sport Desmo, was a bike that vindicated Ducati, especially after its predecessors failed to capture the market’s imagination the way Ducati wanted them to.

Following in the reins of the disappointing GTL models, the 350 Sport Desmo featured a plethora of upgrades, including the addition of Borrani rims, Marzocchi forks, and Brembo brakes. On top of that, the bike also came with a 350 cc SOHC Desmo parallel-twin engine that was mated to a five-speed transmission.

The bike was successful enough that Ducati even launched the 500 Sport Desmo and the racing 500 Super Sport in 1977, marking a return to form that only Ducati could have pulled of.