autoevolution
 

DUCATI 500 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 9
First production year: 1971
DUCATI 500SL Pantah photo gallery

In 1982, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer launched the Ducati 500SL Pantha, a sports motorcycle in its third year of production. The bike could handle both the busy city traffic of the urban jungle as well as longer hauls on the highway.

The 1982 motorcycle came with the same package as the previous model, packing the exact technical, visual, and performance specifications without any significant modifications whatsoever.

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 characterized the bike's appearance.

In the performance department, the 1982 Ducati 500SL Pantah had its soul brought to life by a 497cc four-stroke V-twin air-cooled engine fed by two Dell'Orto carburetors, delivering 45 hp with maximum strength at 9,050 rpm.

The bike's power was transferred to 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).

The bike's wheels were fitted with 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, handling the stopping power.

As for suspension, the motorcycle packed a 35 mm Marzocchi fork on the front and two Marzocchi three-way adjustable shock absorbers on the rear.

full description and technical specifications
DUCATI 500SL Pantah photo gallery

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).

full description and technical specifications
DUCATI 500SL Pantah photo gallery

The Ducati Pantah was an Italian motorcycle with a 90-degree V-twin engine manufactured by Ducati from 1980 to 1986. Compared to its predecessors with a bevel-gear OHC engine, the Pantah was the first Ducati motorcycle fitted with a belt-driven camshaft engine.

The bike was introduced at the Milan Bike Show in 1979 and released into the market under the 500SL designation. The last one in the series was named 600SL and ended production in 1986. The bike was light, with a short wheelbase and a trellis frame that became a Ducati trademark feature.

Visually, the bike packed a roundish upper fairing with a round headlight, a large windscreen, a single seat with lumbar support, side-mounted rear shocks, a dual exhaust system with a silencer on each side, and six-spoke aluminum wheels.

Underneath its fuel tank, the 1980 Ducati 500SL Pantah had installed a 497cc air-cooled four-stroke V-twin engine managed by two Dell'Orto carburetors, delivering an output power of 45 hp with a peak force at 9,050 rpm.

Suspension-wise, the motorcycle packed a 35 mm Marzocchi telescopic fork on the front end and twin adjustable shock absorbers on the rear, providing optimum suspension performance and handling.

As for the braking performance, the bike was handled by two 260 mm discs on the front tied to dual-piston calipers and a 260 mm disc on the rear with a single-piston caliper, offering optimum stopping power.

full description and technical specifications
DUCATI 500 Desmo photo gallery

In 1978, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer launched the Ducati 500 Desmo, a milder version of the 500 series, suitable for those riders who prefer comfort over raw strength. The bike came with the same package as the previous model with minor modifications.

The Ducati 500 Sport Desmo started production in 1976, and in 1977, a smaller 350cc version was introduced in a black and yellow color scheme. Most motorcycles were manufactured at the Italjet factory, with engines supplied by Ducati.

In the visual department, the bike packed a rectangular headlight up front, a small fly screen, a one-piece dual seat, side-mounted rear shocks, a dual chromed exhaust system, and five-spoke cast-aluminum wheels.

The style was handled by Leopoldo Tartarini. It featured a down tube frame, a 14-liter fiberglass fuel tank with a matching seat, FPS cast-aluminum wheels, and a rear disc brake. It was finished in red and white with a black exhaust system.

The bike was built around a tubular steel frame with a 35 mm Paioli telescopic fork on the front and twin side-mounted three-way adjustable Marzocchi shocks on the rear, providing optimum suspension performance and handling.

The 1978 Ducati 500 Desmo had its soul brought to life by a 497cc four-stroke air-cooled parallel-twin engine managed by two Dell'Orto carburetors, delivering 50 hp with a maximum peak force at 8,500 rpm.

With a five-speed manual transmission controlled by a wet multi-plate clutch and a final chain drive, the bike reached a top speed of 185 kph (115 mph).

full description and technical specifications
DUCATI 500 Sport Desmo photo gallery

Franco Zaiubouri replaced De Eccher as Ducati's General Manager in 1975 and was set to revive the brand. The sales of the parallel twins were very poor, so the new manager planned to introduce a new model to make the twins more attractive to buyers.

The 1977 Ducati 500 Sport Desmo was introduced with a desmodromic head designed by Taglioni that raised the power to 50 hp but gave the motorcycle a narrow powerband. Some minor modifications were made to the engine.

The style was handled by Leopoldo Tartarini. It featured a down tube frame, a 14-liter fiberglass fuel tank with a matching seat, FPS cast-aluminum wheels, and a rear disc brake. It was finished in red and white with a black exhaust system.

The Ducati 500 Sport Desmo started production in 1976, and in 1977, a smaller 350cc version was introduced in a black and yellow finish. Most Sport Desmo motorcycles were manufactured at the Italjet factory, with engines supplied by Ducati.

The 1977 Ducati 500 Sport Desmo had its heartbeat set by a 497cc four-stroke parallel-twin air-cooled engine with two Dell'Orto carburetors in charge, boasting 50 hp with a peak force at 8,500 rpm.

The engine was married to a five-speed manual transmission with a wet multi-disc clutch and sent the power to the rear axle through a final chain drive.

full description and technical specifications
DUCATI 500GTV photo gallery

The Ducati Parallel Twins was a series of 350cc and 500cc standard motorcycles produced by Ducati from 1975 to 1981. The Ducati 500GTV was first shown at the 1977 Milan Shown and manufactured from 1977 to 1981.

Unlike its 500GTL sibling, the 1977 Ducati 500GTV was designed for superior performance instead of comfort, being essentially a Desmo model fitted with a GTL engine. In 1977, 453 units were produced.

In the visual department, the bike packed standard features, such as a large, round Bosch headlight up front, Japanese switchgear, a touring handlebar, a one-piece dual seat, side-mounted rear shocks, a dual chromed exhaust system, and six-spoke aluminum wheels.

The bike was built around a tubular double-cradle steel frame with a 35 mm Marzocchi fork on the front and twin side-mounted Marzocchi shock absorbers on the rear, offering optimum suspension performance.

As for the braking performance, the bike's wheels were fitted with two 260 mm discs on the front and a 260 mm disc on the rear, providing optimum stopping power.

As for the power figures, the 1977 Ducati 500GTV had installed a 497cc four-stroke air-cooled parallel-twin engine with two Dell'Orto carburetors in charge, delivering an output power of 36 hp with maximum peak force at 7,500 rpm.

The bike was set in motion by a five-speed manual transmission with a wet multi-plate clutch that sent the power to the rear wheel through a final chain drive.

full description and technical specifications
DUCATI 500 Twin photo gallery

The Ducati Parallel Twins was a series of standard motorcycles made by Ducati from 1975 to 1981. The bikes were powered by 350cc and 500cc air-cooled OHC twin-cylinder engines. Unfortunately, the sales didn't go as planned due to their unreliability, earning the nickname of paralyzed twins.

The bikes were available in several versions, including the 500GTL, 350GTL, 500 Sport Desmo, 350 Sport Desmo, 500GTV, and 350 GTV. The engine was unreliable, lacking oil feed to the camshaft, and its poor built quality also caused reliability problems.

In the visual department, the 500cc model packed a large, round headlight with analog instruments mounted on top, a one-piece dual seat, twin side-mounted rear shocks, a dual chromed exhaust system, and six-spoke cast-aluminum wheels.

It was built around a single down tube frame, using the engine as a stressed member, and was fitted with a Marzocchi fork on the front and a swingarm with twin Marzocchi shocks on the rear.

The braking performance was handled by two 260 mm discs on the front wheel coupled to dual-piston calipers and a 260 mm drum braking unit on the rear as on the 350cc model.

In the performance department, the 1976 Ducati 500 Twin had installed a 497cc four-stroke air-cooled parallel-twin engine underneath its fuel tank, delivering 35 hp with maximum strength at 6,500 rpm.

full description and technical specifications
DUCATI 500GTL photo gallery

The Ducati Parallel Twins was a series of 350cc and 500cc standard motorcycles manufactured by Ducati from 1975 to 1981. The Ducati 500GTL was made for only two years, from 1975 to 1977.

The Ducati 500GTL was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro and used the same angular design as the 860GT. Besides some insignificant modifications like headlight brackets, the bike remained unchanged over its production period.

Visually, the bike had standard features, such as a large, round headlight up front with British Smiths instruments mounted on top, a one-piece dual seat, a dual chromed exhaust system, side-mounted rear shocks, and wire-spoke wheels.

The bike was built around a single down tube frame that used the engine as a stressed member and was fitted with a Marzocchi fork on the front and a swingarm with twin Marzocchi shocks on the rear.

In the braking department, the bike packed two 260 mm discs on the front wheel coupled to dual-piston calipers and a 260 mm drum braking unit on the rear that was also fitted on the 350cc model.

As for the power figures, the 1976 Ducati 500GTL had its soul brought to life by a 497cc four-stroke air-cooled parallel-twin engine with two Dell'Orto carburetors in charge, boasting 35 hp with maximum strength at 6,500 rpm.

As for transmission, the bike packed a five-speed with a wet clutch and a final chain drive that pushed the motorcycle to a top speed of 170 kph (110 mph).

full description and technical specifications
DUCATI 500 GP photo gallery

In 1971, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer launched the Ducati 500GP, a competition motorcycle similar to the Kawasaki 500H1R, LinTo 500 GP, MV Agusta, Paton 500GP, and Suzuki TR 500.

In the early seventies, Ducati's general management came with the request for a 500 Grand Prix motorcycle to re-enter the racing world abandoned at the end of the 1958 season. Fabio Taglioni took up two ideas already tested in the past, such as the bevel gear system and the 1962 prototype of the Apollo used on the 90-degree V engine.

The result was the 1971 Ducati 500 GP, a racing motorcycle packing a roundish full fairing with a large windscreen, a large fuel tank, a single seat, side-mounted shocks on the rear, and wire-spoke wheels.

Underneath its fuel tank, the racing machine packed a 498cc four-stroke air-cooled V-twin engine managed by two Dell'Orto carburetors, delivering an output power of 72 hp with maximum strength at 11,000 rpm.

The engine was married to a six-speed manual transmission with a dry multi-plate clutch, sending power to the rear end through a final chain drive, pushing the motorcycle to a top speed of 250 kph (155 mph).

The bike was built around a double-cradle steel tube frame with a telehydraulic Ceriani fork on the front and dual side-mounted Ceriani shocks on the rear, acting as suspension.

The braking power was achieved by a 280 mm disc on the front wheel coupled to a dual-piston caliper and a 280 mm disc on the rear tied to a dual-piston caliper.

full description and technical specifications