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Ducati 650 Indiana

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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
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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.