Ducati 750 Indiana

Make Model	Ducati 750 Indiana
Year	1987
Engine	Air cooled, 90°“L” twin cylinder, SOHC desmodromic 2 valve per cylinder,
Capacity	748
Bore x Stroke	88 x 61.5 mm
Compression Ratio	9.3:1
Induction	2x 36mm Dell'Orto PHM carbs
Ignition / Starting	Bosch PTZ Electronic / electric
Max Power	53.6 hp @ 7000 rpm
Max Torque	45 Nm
Transmission / Drive	5 Speed / chain
Front Suspension	40mm Marzocchi forks
Rear Suspension	Marzocchi dual shocks swinging arm
Front Brakes	Single 260mm discs
Rear Brakes	Single 280mm disc
Front Tyre	110/90 -18
Rear Tyre	140/90 -15
Dry-Weight	207 kg
Fuel Capacity	13 Litres

The Indiana was the response of Ducati to the US Custom cruiser fashion. Each maker responded to the invasion of Japanese cruisers with a version of the road touring bikes they had at home: Guzzi simply changed the bodywork of its small block series and made the “C” series bikes, then the Florida; Morini built a very extroverted “Excalibur” (Morini had the advantage of having a V engine that looked slightly Harley-Davidson-ish), Ducati took…. The Elefant and modified it. Modifications were few but cunning: away went the progressive single shock, in came two paired chrome plated shocks, the front end was virtually that of the Elefant, but with simpler hydraulics, the wheels were, more or less, those of the later Alazzurra.

The Elefant motor received a pair of Bing CV carbs for better smoothness. A lot of chrome and a very classic American-style looks with a relaxed riding position completed the figure. The result was a bit intriguing: you knew from the start that this was not an ordinary cruiser.

A Ducati desmo motor on a sedate cruiser? Sedate it was not. Despite all attempts of Ducati to make it slow, and hard steering, the Indiana was a fast, quick steering bike, in cruiser terms of course, and it had a mighty engine. It could easily outrun any cruiser of the same capacity, and most cruisers of any capacity.