The names Armani, Ghirardelli, Gucci, Lamborghini and Ducati all bring to mind the best in Italian products. Ducati is arguably the least known on that list, but the company has a longstanding history of producing superlative motorcycles known for stylish frames, high performance and large capacity, four-stroke engines featuring a unique valve configuration. Ducati's enduring legacy was built through unmatched motorcycle engineering, design and community, but the company's infancy was in another industry altogether.

The Ducati family and other local investors founded Società Radio Brevetti Ducati in 1926 in Bologna, Italy. Their mission was to manufacture industrial components for the growing field of radio transmissions. The components were based on Adriano Ducati's patents, and the initial products included tubes and condensers. The first product, the Manens condenser, gave the company worldwide recognition and financial stability. The company soon outgrew its facilities and built a modern factory on the outskirts of Bologna in 1935. They also began developing an international network of production and service facilities during the period, opening offices and subsidiaries in New York, London, Paris, Sydney and Caracas.

The World War II years were devastating yet promising for Ducati. Bombings destroyed the factory, but the Ducati family wisely spent the duration of the war studying and planning new products. Their resolve was proof to the world that the creative spirit can triumph over adversity. The Ducatis surprisingly made the radical decision to abandon production of radio components in favor of transportation, and the first post-war Ducati creation appeared in 1946, the Cucciolo (puppy). The Cucciolo was an engine made to be attached to bicycles. The product was an instant success, and Ducati designers went on to devise a frame meant to be paired with the engine. The Cucciolo graduated from a retrofitted bicycle to a motorcycle by the early 1950s and was soon joined by other Ducati motorcycle models.

One of the company's most ingenious decisions was to hire Fabio Taglioni as chief design engineer in 1954. Taglioni's influence quickly produced a new generation of Ducati motorbikes. His concepts were considered avant garde and non-conformist, and he was instrumental in leading the company onto the racing circuit. Taglioni conceived the desmodromic valve-gear system. Desmodromic is derived from two Greek words, desmos (controlled, linked) and dromos (course, track). The desmodromic system would remain a key feature of the Ducati engine for many years and provide the springboard for the company's racing successes.

Desmodromic valves are controlled with a separate, dedicated cam lobe and lifter instead of the conventional valve springs used in internal-combustion engines. The desmodromic configuration permits cams to open and close valves more quickly without the risk of valve float, which is likely when using a passive closing mechanism. Another way to visualize desmodromic movement is to imagine someone hand-sawing a tree. Pushing and pulling the saw is a desmodromic action. Ducati has used this valve configuration and subsequent variations since 1956 and is the only manufacturer to have applied it to standard production bikes and racing models.

Massimo Bordi joined the company as chief design engineer in 1983 and wasted no time in making his mark on Ducati's racing line. Inspired by Formula 1 racing, Bordi designed a series of high-performance motorcycles by incorporating Taglioni's desmodromic valve and distribution system into a four-valve, air-cooled engine, fittingly named the Desmoquattro. Racing opponents are consistently left in the dust by Ducati, whose motorcycles and drivers have won 14 of the last 16 World Superbike Championships along with an unparalleled string of victories in other competitions.

Most manufacturers use wet clutches with the moving parts coated in oil, but Ducati uses multi-plate dry clutches in almost all its motorcycles. Dry clutches eliminate the power loss from oil viscosity drag on the engine, even though the movement may not be as smooth as with wet clutches and causes dry clutches to wear more rapidly. Many people believe the improved performance is worth the extra maintenance costs. Ducatis even sound different than other motorcycles and one can identify a Ducati even before it appears.

Ducati motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries, with a third of the sales in Italy and about 50 percent in Europe. The sleek product line has been broadened to include sport-touring bikes. Ducati even branched out into the fashion business and now sells clothing and accessories, some of which are designed by Donna Karan. From just three percent of the international market, primarily in Europe and North America, Ducati expects to grow to a ten-percent share in the next few years. The company employs more than 1,100 people today and has been listed on the New York and Milano Stock Exchanges since 1999.

The Ducati phenomenon includes a global community of devotees organized as more than 160 Ducati Desmo Owners Clubs. Their pursuits include communications, events, fairs and riding schools. Members convene annually for World Ducati Week, which draws over 40,000 people who bask in all things Ducati. The company's Web site has over ten million annual visitors and more than 160,000 registered users. The Ducati Museum opened in Bologna in 1998 and attracts thousands each year.

Serious cyclists will tell you that Ducati stands for eccellente motociclette that universally bend the rules. The company's online sentiments proudly underscore Ducati's international allure and presence: You are not alone when you ride a Ducati. There is a bond that joins Ducatisti, no matter the geographic and linguistic borders. Those with the same passion are part of the same tribe.