Ducati Formula 73 launched in India at Rs 20 lakh: Limited to 873 units worldwide

Ducati has launched the Formula 73 in India at Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom). It is a cafe racer-styled limited edition model. It pays tribute to one of Ducati's most iconic bikes, the 750 Super Sport Desmo from 1973. It will be produced in a numbered series limited to 873 units globally. All units allocated for the Indian market are sold out, and it is no longer available for new bookings.

The Formula 73 celebrates the 750 Super Sport Desmo, the first Ducati Road bike equipped with a desmodromic valve timing system. The Super Sport was in fact a replica of the 750 Imola Desmo with which Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari triumphed in the 1972 200 Miglia di Imola, the first European competition for production-derived motorcycles.

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Commenting on the launch, Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India, said, "The Formula 73 is a rolling masterpiece that pays homage to one of the most significant motorcycles in our history, the 1973 750 Super Sport Desmo. We are incredibly proud to secure a highly exclusive allocation of these limited-edition motorcycles for our passionate Ducatisti in India."

Design
The Formula 73 wears a silver and aqua-green livery based on the original Super Sport. A vertical gold stripe runs down the tank. It nods to the unpainted strip on the Imola Desmo. That strip let the team check the fuel level without a gauge. The bike gets other cafe racer touches too. You see clip-on handlebars with bar-end mirrors, a short fairing and a tapered tail. The levers, footpegs and Rizoma fuel cap are made of billet aluminium.

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Engine and hardware
An 803cc Desmodue L-twin powers the bike. It makes 73hp at 8,250rpm and 65.2Nm at 7,000rpm. A Termignoni exhaust, developed just for this model, comes fitted. The chassis uses a steel trellis frame. The suspension has a 41mm KYB USD fork and a preload-adjustable KYB monoshock. The bike weighs 183kg wet without fuel. It rides on 17-inch spoked wheels with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres.

Electronics
You get cornering ABS, traction control, a quickshifter and two riding modes. The bike also has a 4.3-inch TFT display and full-LED lighting. Heated grips and turn-by-turn navigation are available as accessories.

Collector touches
Each of the 873 bikes features the model's name and serial number on the steering plate. It also comes with a certificate of authenticity. Ducati includes a box with period images and sketches from the Ducati Style Centre.