1979 Ducati 350SD Sport Desmo

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

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.