In the late 1980s, screaming four-cylinder Japanese motorcycles were the soundtrack of superbike racing success. But by the end of the decade, they were being passed by Italian bikes with a deep bellowing sound. Those Italian machines were full-race versions of the exquisite Ducati 851, like the one recently for sale on eBay.
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The Bike That Saved Ducati
The arrival of fast and reliable four-cylinder bikes from Japan was one of the great seismic shifts in motorcycle history. Global motorcycle makers had yet to reply, and builders had too much pride to merely copy the dominant machines from the East.
The British industry could not recover from the advent of the Japanese superbike. This left the Italians, specifically Ducati, as the only likely challengers. Ducati bikes had steel trellis frames and V-twin motors rather than the aluminum frames and high-winding four-cylinder power preferred by the Japanese.
Ducati’s answer to Japanese speed was innovation. Engineer Massimo Bordi developed four-valve cylinder heads for the new 52-degree V-twin. Four valves were not new, but four valves that opened and closed via mechanical operation with no springs needed (Desmodromic valve operation) was a neat trick. This enhanced the engine’s ability to breathe at high rpm, as did the addition of fuel injection, another incredible development. Fuel injection was a distraction in the motorcycle world, but Ducati made it work.
Ducati’s first year of racing in 1988 saw a lot of development and a steady fifth place in the rider’s championship. In 1989, France’s Raymond Roche secured third place overall on a Ducati. In 1990, he won the World Superbike title.
That era marked the start of Ducati’s World Superbike program and the beginning of road riders wanting an exotic Italian bike. That love for Ducati continues to this day.
A Few Caveats
The Ducati 851 is widely considered one of the great 1980s superbikes. It holds a special place in the marque’s history despite being outscored by Japanese contemporaries for reliability.
Contemporary reviewers note a tiny steering angle and heavy throttle-clutch operation. There’s not much room for taller riders. The Ducati 851 has relatively brief service intervals—and servicing can be highly specialized. None of these are ideal traits for a commuter motorcycle.
That said, if the 851 is serviced and set up correctly, it is an absolute joy to ride.
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Every Ducati sports twin will one day become a classic. The 851 is no exception. It arguably saved the company and provided much-needed excitement and competition in the superbike world.
The Ducati 851 offered on eBay was produced the same year the company snatched the World Superbike title away from the esteemed Japanese manufacturers. The seller describes it as a “stunning example,” and the detailed photographs seem to bear this out.
Although not perfect, it clearly benefited from owners who understood how to care for one of these coveted bikes. A new set of tires would be a good idea for a performance machine like this. These bikes have also responded well to fresh front fork seals and fork oil. But apart from a few perishable items, this one is ready to be experienced.
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