Gizmo
Forum Geek
Stolen from Ducati News Today's facebook page a link to Phil Aynsley's wonderful website with a few new additions after his recent visits to the USA and Spain to capture some rare and beautiful Ducatis.
The opening photo is a 1958 Ducati 125GP racer known as the Bialbero. This bike is just one of 50 ever made and is significant for being the first model with Desmodromic valve operation and the first Ducati GP winner in 1958. In 1959 it also gave an up and coming young racer his first ever victory. His name? Mike Hailwood. The DOHC, bevel drive, Desmo single produced 19bhp and revved to 14,000rpm in ultimate form. You can see more of the Ducati Bialbero here.
The next bike is also a GP racer, this time one of just two bikes commissioned by Stan Hailwood for his son Mike (two 350s were also made, the first for Ken Kavanagh and the second for Hailwood). The 250cc twin was essentially a doubled 125 single and was fast with a top speed of 135mph but was too heavy and never as successful as the singles in competition. Mike Hailwood raced the bike in 1960 and ’61 before the bikes were sold to John Surtees (he also bought both the 350s). The bike never handled well and had several different frames made for it. It is seen here in its final form with a Ken Sprayson designed frame. When first announced it had a claimed 43bhp at 11,600rpm. You can see more of the 1960 Ducati 250GP twin here.
Lastly we have an original, unrestored 1977 Ducati 900SD Darmah. The Darmah is the unsung hero of the bevel twin model range, being produced in far greater numbers than the various Supersport models and provided the most affordable taste of Ducati desmodromic performance. In effect it was the Monster of its time for the five year period 1977-82. You can see more of the Darmah here.
I've mentioned Phil's book in the past, his website is worth spending time trawling through if you are interested in older bikes
http://www.philaphoto.com/imageLibrary/index.php?cat=3
Enjoy
The opening photo is a 1958 Ducati 125GP racer known as the Bialbero. This bike is just one of 50 ever made and is significant for being the first model with Desmodromic valve operation and the first Ducati GP winner in 1958. In 1959 it also gave an up and coming young racer his first ever victory. His name? Mike Hailwood. The DOHC, bevel drive, Desmo single produced 19bhp and revved to 14,000rpm in ultimate form. You can see more of the Ducati Bialbero here.
The next bike is also a GP racer, this time one of just two bikes commissioned by Stan Hailwood for his son Mike (two 350s were also made, the first for Ken Kavanagh and the second for Hailwood). The 250cc twin was essentially a doubled 125 single and was fast with a top speed of 135mph but was too heavy and never as successful as the singles in competition. Mike Hailwood raced the bike in 1960 and ’61 before the bikes were sold to John Surtees (he also bought both the 350s). The bike never handled well and had several different frames made for it. It is seen here in its final form with a Ken Sprayson designed frame. When first announced it had a claimed 43bhp at 11,600rpm. You can see more of the 1960 Ducati 250GP twin here.
Lastly we have an original, unrestored 1977 Ducati 900SD Darmah. The Darmah is the unsung hero of the bevel twin model range, being produced in far greater numbers than the various Supersport models and provided the most affordable taste of Ducati desmodromic performance. In effect it was the Monster of its time for the five year period 1977-82. You can see more of the Darmah here.
I've mentioned Phil's book in the past, his website is worth spending time trawling through if you are interested in older bikes
http://www.philaphoto.com/imageLibrary/index.php?cat=3
Enjoy