Ducati Apollo

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The 1964 Ducati Berliner 1260 Apollo was a prototype model of motorcycle, that did not make it into production, yet influenced other production models that followed.

1 The Concept
2 The Mechanicals
3 The Performance
4 The End
5 References

[edit] The Concept

In 1959, the Berliner brothers (Ducati importers in America), spoke to Ducati about creating a rival to the Harley-Davidson to sell to police departments around the U.S. The Berliner’s were enthusiastic. Ducati’s government management was not. It was only when Berliners agreed to underwrite a proportion of the development costs in 1961, that the project went ahead. They decided to call it the Apollo, in honour of the moon mission series of the time.^[1]

Ducati was to produce two prototypes and two extra engines as spares. Today only one survives.

[edit] The Mechanicals

Fabio Taglioni was to develop a bike that conformed to US police specifications, and was bigger than any current model Harley-Davidson. Taglioni decided on an air cooled 1256 cc 90 degree two valve head V4 using a 180 degree crankshaft with roller bearing big ends. That crankshaft fitted into a horizontally split wet sump crankcase with a centre main bearing support. The bore was 84.5 mm, and the stroke 56 mm. Valve actuation was by pushrods and rocker arms. That was the engine.

The engine was also a stressed member of the heavy duty open cradle frame with a central box section front downtube between the forward cylinders. Small car sized starter motor and generator were fitted. Ceriani developed the suspension for both ends of the frame, but riders today would be alarmed by the inadequate front and rear single leading shoe 8.675 inch (220 mm) drum brakes. The stopping distance was huge, and had to be allowed for. It had a 61.2 inch wheelbase, and weighed 596 lb (270 kg) dry. ^[2] Taglioni dismissed the Berliners’ suggestion of shaft drive, and chose chain final drive. The police specification stipulated 16 inch tyres, so there was little choice in that.

[edit] The Performance

Initially it was putting out 100 bhp @ 7000 rpm, and could exceed 120 mph. The Harley of the time made 55 bhp. The first test rider Franco Farne came back from his first ride, and said it “handles like a truck.” Farne normally rode small racers. ^[3] It soon became evident that the tyres of the day were not up to the power of the engine. A tyre disintegrated at speed on the Autostrada, and the test rider rated his survival “a miracle”. The engine was detuned to give 80 bhp. Tyres continued to disintegrate. The engine was brought down to 65 bhp, and the survival rate of the tyres became acceptable. This was late 1963.

In March 1964 a “fully dressed” gold painted prototype was handed over in a formal ceremony. Possibly one of the first Harley imitators.

The reduction in power though meant that it could now be outperformed by the British and BMW twins, which restricted the anticipated market to police forces. The Berliners were prepared to proceed anyway, printing advertising, demonstrating the prototype to Police Chiefs, and genuinely preparing to market the Apollo.

[edit] The End

The Italian government said no, that the limited market did not justify the tooling costs of production, and withdrew project funding. This was a severe blow to Berliners business plans.

It could have been a superbike before its time but the tyre technology was not ready. There were other bikes developed as a result: the 1970 500 cc and 750 cc 90 degree V-twins.