What was the Cucciolo?

In this world there is always a process. Likewise, a big motorcycle manufacturer like Ducati, of course there is the beginning period. And did you know that Cucciolo was the forerunner of Desmodromic, the most respected Ducati's engine in the worlds today?

The story begins in 1944, in that time was born the Cucciolo, a 4-stroke clip-on engine for motorized bicycles that made by Aldo Farinelli, a lawyer in Turin, Italy and developed with a self-taught engineer, Aldo Leoni. To smooth their desire, they work closely with a small firm in Turin named Siata (Societa Italiana per Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie).

The Cucciolo engine, a 4-stroke clip-on engine for motorized bicycles. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1s2M9U1)

Cucciolo first appeared on the streets of Turin in the Autumn of 1944. This bike is called the Cucciolo (in English mean 'little puppy') because its exhaust sounds like the barking puppy. The bike and its engine has a weight about 17 pounds or 7.7 kg, with highly economical fuel consumption ie 77 km/liter.

1950 Ducati Vilar Cucciolo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/10kURqe)

Cucciolo eventually sold openly to the public in July 1944. Many of the businessman is interested and bought the machine which is then fitted to their bikes. That was the first time a new design in the automotive's world appeared in Europe during the 2nd World War.

1954 Ducati Cucciolo 48. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1wwtWVe)

At that time a lot of demand but not supported by the Siata's production strength makes the company have to think hard. Besides, they experienced a limited funds and then forced them to collaborate with the Ducati, a manufacturing factory in Borgo Panigale, near Bologna. In that time, Ducati is an electronics and appliances factory that established in 1926. Incidentally, they were looking for facilities and employees, so that a bussiness agreement finally happened between between Siata and Ducati.

The Ducati 60, the first concept of an inexpensive and reliable moped. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1s2M9U1)

Production rose from 15 units in 1946 to over 25,000 in the following years, when Ducati reached an exclusive agreement for the production. In 1952, with 200,000 Cucciolos already sold, Ducati finally offered its own complete moped based on the successful little pull rod engine, removing the pedals and adding a 3 speed gearbox, creating the model 48 (produced until 1954) and model 55E and 55R. The model 48's fuel tank was integrated into the frame, and a swingarm type rear suspension.

As time goes by, Ducati continue to improve their bikes. The following models were becoming more and more real motorcycles, with pressed-steel frames. The engine capacity grew to 60 cc, models 60 and 60 Sport, and finally to 65 cc, 65 Sport, 65T, 65TL and 65TS.

Cucciolo engine eventually gradually replaced by a model of '98'. Based on the company's analysis and survey that the '65' models have not meet the wishes of the majority of consumers in 1956 who wants a more powerful motorcycles. The Ducati motorcycles production process is accompanied by the development in the world of racing.

In 1956, Fabio Taglioni designed the first Gran Premio 125 equipped with the Desmodromic system (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1s2M9U1)

History records in the same year, Ducati was able to create a racing motorcycle that uses a DOHC engine with a capacity of 125 cc, and is able to generate power of 19 hp through the Desmodromic cylinder head technology so that the machine is capable of spinning up to 15,000 rpm. While at that time the other competitors with the same engine's capacity has an average output power is only about 16 hp with a maximum rotation of 12,500 rpm.

As a result in the Hedemora Sweden GP (1956), the Ducati racing motorcycles overtake all opponents with ease. That is the first time the Ducati racing motorcycles won in the racing world. But unfortunately when the team's key riders, Gianni Degli Antoni were killed in a motorcycle accident at the Monza GP which resulted in the development of the Ducati racing project faltered thus making the MV Agusta dominated the racing world until 1958.

Ducati has now been transformed into the most successful Italian motorcycle manufacturer. Currently as a motorcycle manufacturer that is under the management of the Volkswagen group, Ducati is venerable. Although when viewed now, the results are still poor in the MotoGP world, but all believe that the time will surely come. Unfortunately their competitors, especially the Japanese manufacturer such as Honda and Yamaha are tough opponents, so it takes hard work to conquer them. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DUCATI | WIKIPEDIA]

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