Ducati 650 Indiana

Make Model	Ducati 650 Indiana
Year	1986 - 90
Engine	Four stroke, 90°“L”twin cylinder, SOHC, desmodromic 2 valves per cylinder, belt driven
Capacity	649cc / 39.6 cu in
Bore x Stroke	82 x 61.5 mm
Compression Ratio	10.0:1
Cooling System	Air cooled
Induction	Bing 64-32/375
Spark Plugs	Champion L82Y
Ignition	Kokusan electronic
Battery	Yuasa 12V 14Ah
Starting	Electric
Max Power	40.0 kW / 53 hp @ 7000 rpm
Max Torque	45 Nm / 4.6 kgf-m / 33.2 ft-lb @ 6000 rpm
Clutch	Dry, multiplate
Transmission	5 Speed
Primary Drive Ratio	1.972:1 (31/71)
Gear Ratios	1st 3.071 / 2nd 1.850 / 3rd 1.333 / 4th 1.074 / 5th0.931:1
Final Drive Ratio	3.066:1 (15/46)
Final Drive	Chain
Front Suspension	40 mm Marzocchi PA 185/40 fork
Rear Suspension	Marzocchi A84 twin shocks
Front Brakes	Single 260 mm disc
Rear Brakes	Single 280 mm disc
Front Tyre	110/90-18
Rear Tyre	140/90-15
Dimensions	Length: 2024 mm / 79.7 in Width: 930 mm / 36.6 in Height: 1400 mm / 55.1 in
Wheelbase	1530 mm / 60.2 in
Seat Height	760 mm / 29.9 in
Dry Weight	180 kg / 396.5 lbs
Fuel Capacity	13 Litres / 3.4 US gal / 2.9 Imp gal

The Indiana was the response of Ducati to the US Custom cruiser fashion. Each maker responded to the invasion of Japanese cruisers with a version of the road touring bikes they had at home: Guzzi simply changed the bodywork of its small block series and made the “C” series bikes, then the Florida; Morini built a very extroverted “Excalibur” (Morini had the advantage of having a V engine that looked slightly Harley-Davidson-ish), Ducati took…. The Elefant and modified it. Modifications were few but cunning: away went the progressive single shock, in came two paired chrome plated shocks, the front end was virtually that of the Elefant, but with simpler hydraulics, the wheels were, more or less, those of the later Alazzurra.

The Elefant motor received a pair of Bing CV carbs for better smoothness. A lot of chrome and a very classic American-style looks with a relaxed riding position completed the figure. The result was a bit intriguing: you knew from the start that this was not an ordinary cruiser.

A Ducati desmo motor on a sedate cruiser? Sedate it was not. Despite all attempts of Ducati to make it slow, and hard steering, the Indiana was a fast, quick steering bike, in cruiser terms of course, and it had a mighty engine. It could easily outrun any cruiser of the same capacity, and most cruisers of any capacity.