‘The Art of Ducati’

By Motorcycle Classics Staff
Published on August 15, 2014
article image
Cover courtesy Ian Faloon
In “The Art of Ducati,” respected motorcycle historian and Ducati expert Ian Falloon teams with renowned British photographer James Mann to present a gorgeously illustrated, wonderfully curated review of more than six decades of Ducati excitement. Drawing from his nearly 40 years of personal experience with the Ducati brand, Falloon has chosen 26 Ducati motorcycles he feels best represent the art and evolution of the famed Bologna maker. From the single-cylinder bikes of the 1950s and 1960s to the bevel-drive twins of the 1970s and early 1980s to the high-performance bikes of the 21st century, The Art of Ducati showcases a motorcycle manufacturer that has never rested on its laurels.

Over 60 years ago in Bologna, Italy, a small company called Ducati began manufacturing simple, inexpensive 50cc motorcycles — really no more than 2-stroke-powered bicycles. Since then, Ducati has evolved into one of the most storied names in the motorcycling world, its lineup of beautiful machines revered for their technical excellence and extreme performance.

In The Art of Ducati, respected motorcycle historian and Ducati expert Ian Falloon teams with renowned British photographer James Mann to present a gorgeously illustrated, wonderfully curated review of more than six decades of Ducati excitement. Drawing from his nearly 40 years of personal experience with the Ducati brand, Falloon has chosen 26 Ducati motorcycles he feels best represent the art and evolution of the famed Bologna maker. From the single-cylinder bikes of the 1950s and 1960s to the bevel-drive twins of the 1970s and early 1980s to the high-performance bikes of the 21st century, The Art of Ducati showcases a motorcycle manufacturer that has never rested on its laurels.

Ducati’s style and technology have constantly evolved, engineering timeless classics. They range from the 175 Sport single to the groundbreaking 750 GT and the 750 Imola racer that Paul Smart famously took to victory in 1972, the 900SS, the Darmah, the Mike Hailwood Replica, 851, 916, Monster, and ST sports touring series, bikes that laid the foundation for today’s cutting-edge models: the Panigale superbike, Multistrada adventure bike, all-new Monster, Hypermotard and Diavel power cruiser.

James Mann’s excellent photography captures the essence of each model profiled, and period photographs and advertisements complement Falloon’s rich narrative as he guides the reader through the important points of each motorcycle.

With a forward written by former Ducati design director Pierre Terblanche, The Art of Ducati pays homage to Ducati’s past six-plus decades of masterful motorcycle engineering. Authoritative and beautifully laid out in a large 9.75-inch by 12-inch format, this is a book that belongs on every Ducatisti’s bookshelf. Motorbooks: 240 pages, $60. Purchase this book in the Motorcycle Classics store: The Art of Ducati. MC

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