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851 Tricolore

The motorcycle that equips the first desmodromic four-stroke twin-cylinder with liquid cooling, 4 valves per cylinder and electronic fuel injection.

If the Desmoquattro represents a milestone in the history of Ducati engine development, the 851 is its incarnation. Built to conquer the racing world, the 851 Tricolore proudly sports the colors of the Italian flag and is the first representative of a new generation of high-performance road motorcycles produced in the 1990s.

In 1986, based on a design by Gianluigi Mengoli and Massimo Bordi, it is set up the first prototype of a 748 cc twin-cylinder equipped with electronic fuel injection. Two years later the displacement rises to 851 cc, opening a new chapter in Ducati's supersport history.

The technical drawing accompanying the motorcycle that is displayed in the museum depicts the vertical section of the Desmoquattro engine head, where one can clearly distinguish the 4 valves, the desmodromic system and the two shafts camshafts.

Displacement

851 cc

Maximum power

102 hp at 9000 rpm

Maximum speed

234 Km/h

Dry weight

204 Kg

Displacement

851 cc

Maximum power

102 hp at 9000 rpm

Maximum speed

234 Km/h

Dry weight

204 Kg

From the very first track outing, the new 4-valve engine highlights the 851's racing nature. Despite the fact that this is a mass-produced model series, in fact, there are numerous details designed for track use; one example is the quick-release fuel tank system that allows quick access to the mechanical parts underneath during pit stops.

  • Desmoquattro 851
    In the late 1980s, Ducati took a huge step forward from a technical point of view thanks to the design of an engine that left its mark on two decades of motorcycle history. The Desmoquattro 851, built in 1988, is in fact the first twin-cylinder desmodromic four-stroke with cooling by liquid, four valves per cylinder and electronic fuel injection.
    Technologically ahead of its time, this engine boasts such a technical level that, for fifteen years, it is constantly updated, always proving to be beyond competitive with its rivals. In fact, the 851 and its derivatives won numerous races in the World Superbike Championship, totaling eleven manufacturers' titles.
Check out all the models of the era

The road and race bikes that have made Ducati history over the 1988-1999 period. Explore them all.

1988 - 1999 916 F96
1988 - 1999 916 F94
1988 - 1999 888 F92
1988 - 1999 888 F91
1988 - 1999 851 F90
1988 - 1999 900 Superlight
1988 - 1999 916
1988 - 1999 Monster 900
1988 - 1999 Supermono
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Discover it at the Ducati Museum

Past and future, challenges and successes, vision and determination: the Ducati Museum is a journey through the legendary 90-year history of the Company, renowned across the world for its style, performance and the search for perfection.

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