The Royal Tinto is a special wine, and only exceptional motorcycles are worthy of being featured on the label. For this reason we chose the 1994 Ducati 916, frequently referred to as “the most beautiful motorcycle ever made.” The Ducati 916 is one of the most iconic motorcycles of the last half century. Its predecessors from the late 80s and early 90s were boxy in all aspects; the 916 was given sharper lines, a thin waist, a racing inspired single-sided swingarm, and the signature design piece: a twin exhaust mounted high and tight under the tail. WOW!
The design of the 916 was a synthesis of form and function. The stylish swingarm was designed to make wheel changes faster during races. The underseat exhausts improved aerodynamic performance and gave the bike exceptionally clean lines.
Making its debut in 1994, the Ducati 916 was admired because of both its designs and its outstanding technical features. At the time of introduction, the 916 earned critical acclaim by winning every motorcycle magazine’s Bike of the Year award for 1994. Not surprisingly, Ducati sold out its entire first year of U.S. inventory before any had actually arrived here.
The MotoDoffo Collection’s Ducati 916 was a very early production model as noted by the Cagiva elephant on the gas tank and other body parts. My favorite part of riding our 916 was the power delivery and the silky smooth gearbox. The way the power translated from the twist of the throttle to the rumble of the engine, combined with the linear and predictable power, made this motorcycle an absolute dream machine. The noisy dry clutch rattling at every stop light draws attention like no other. Needless to say, the cool factor is built in when riding this bike. I was very sad to see this motorcycle go, but we know that this impeccable example of a 916 went to a very good home, where it will be enjoyed and revered for years to come.