Classic Bikes Custom Bikes Individual Racing Bikes AJP AJS Aprilia Ariel Avinton / Wakan Bajaj Benelli Beta Bimota BMW Brough Superior BRP Cam-Am BSA Buell / EBR Bultaco Cagiva Campagna CCM CF Moto Combat Motors Derbi Deus Ducati Excelsior GASGAS Ghezzi Brian Gilera GIMA Harley Davidson Hero Highland Honda Horex Husaberg Husqvarna Hyosung Indian Jawa Kawasaki KTM KYMCO Laverda Lazareth Magni Maico Mash Matchless Mondial Moto Guzzi Moto Morini MV Agusta MZ / MuZ NCR Norton NSU Paton Peugeot Piaggio Revival Cycles Roland Sands Royal Enfield Sachs Sherco Sunbeam Suzuki SWM SYM Triumph TVS Ural Velocette Vespa Victory Vincent VOR Voxan Vyrus Walt Siegl Walz Wrenchmonkees Wunderlich XTR / Radical Yamaha Zero Video Technical
Complete Manufacturer List

Ducati 250 Formula 3

Make Model	Ducati 250 Formula 3
Year	1960 - 62
Engine	Four stroke, single cylinder, SOHC, shaft and bevel gear driven, 2 valves per cylinder
Capacity	248.6 cc / 15.2 cu in
Bore x Stroke	74 x 57.8 mm
Compression Ratio	8.5:1
Cooling System	Air cooled
Induction	Dell'Orto SS1 29A carburetor
Ignition	Battery and coil
Starting	Kick
Max Power	17.2 kW / 23 hp @ 8200 rpm
Clutch	Multi wet plate, wet
Transmission	4 Speed
Final Drive	Chain
Frame	Single cradle tubular frame
Front Suspension	Hydraulic telescopic fork
Rear Suspension	Swingarm, dual shocks
Front Brakes	Drum
Rear Brakes	Drum
Front Tyre	2.50 -19
Rear Tyre	2.75 -19

With production of the overhead camshaft singles well underway for 1958 the Formula 3 superseded the Marianna (the Gran Sport's nickname) as a catalogued production racer. Offered initially as a 125 and 175 (and from 1960 as a 250), the F3 was still largely based on the Marianna." Almost nothing from the production street 250s was used in the F3 and as further evidence of this uniqueness, virtually no engine gaskets were interchangeable with the production OHC single. The UK version was known as the 250 Manxman F3.

The frame, although inspired by the road version, was quite different being both lower and lighter, with a lower steering head, shorter 35mm Marzocchi steel fork legs, and shorter swing arm, too. Plus 19 inch wheels for the 250. The 175 motor would not fit the 125 frame, and come to that, the 250 wouldn't go into either. "Although the F3s were genuine factory racing machines they suffered through being too expensive for most privateers, and were penalized by the 4-speed gearbox." Production of all three capacity F3s together was very small, perhaps less than 100, with perhaps only as few as five or six 250s.

Source: Bonhams and Standard Catalog of Ducati Motorcycles, 1946 - 2005, Ian Falloon