DUCATI 500SL Pantah (1981-1982) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1981, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer launched the Ducati 500SL Pantah, a sports bike manufactured from 1980 to 1986. The bike had the exact technical, visual, and performance specifications as the previous model without any significant modifications.

In the visual department, the 1981 model was identical to the previous model, packing standard features like an upper fairing, a round headlight, a large windscreen, a single seat with lumbar support, a dual exhaust system with a muffler mounted on each side, and six-spoke lightweight aluminum wheels.

It was built around a tubular steel trellis frame, packing a 35 mm Marzocchi fork on the front and two Marzocchi three-way adjustable shock absorbers on the rear, acting as suspension.

The braking performance was achieved by two 260 mm discs on the front wheel coupled to dual-piston calipers and a 260 mm disc on the rear wheel tied to a single-piston caliper, offering optimum braking power.

In the performance department, the 1981 Ducati 500SL Pantah had its heartbeat set by a 497cc four-stroke V-twin air-cooled engine with two Dell'Orto carburetors in charge. As for the power figures, the engine delivered 45 hp with maximum strength at 9,050 rpm.

The bike's power was handled by a five-speed manual gearbox fitted with a wet multi-plate clutch and sent to the rear wheel via a final chain drive, pushing the motorcycle to 196 kph (122 mph).