Ducati’s ‘Polizia Urbana’ 600TL Pantah
With Phil Aynsley
![Ducati also have a history of providing police bikes...](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-006-1024x910.jpg)
Following on from the Police bike theme in the previous column, here’s a Ducati themed version…
![Ducati's success with these machines with largely due to local sales in Italy](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-012-1024x683.jpg)
While not as big a supplier of police bike as Moto Guzzi, Ducati did market a range of bikes over many years. Perhaps not unexpectedly the local Bolognese forces were the major customer!
![100 of these 600TL Pantah models were produced](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-003-1024x728.jpg)
Approximately 100 Polizia Urbana versions of the 600TL Pantah were made during 1983-1984. 33 were bought by the Bologna Municipal Police.
![These police machines also included 30mm longer front forks](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-009-683x1024.jpg)
They were equipped with 30mm longer front forks compared to a standard TL, and a Ducati RT 731M two-way radio and loudspeaker (let Guzzi try to match that!), panniers and siren were fitted.
![A Ducati RT 731M two-way radio and loudspeaker was also fitted](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-010-1024x683.jpg)
The dry weight (without radio equipment or siren) was 194kg. The output of 61hp at 9100rpm provided a top speed of 165km/h.
![Four of these ex-police machines was imported by Gowanloch in the '90s](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-011-1024x863.jpg)
Four of these ex-police bikes were imported by Ian Gowanloch in the 1990s, with this one being the only one to survive as a Polizia Urbana. It has recently been beautifully restored by Michael Fuller.
![This is the last of these models existing in Polizia Urbana form in Australia](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-002-1024x695.jpg)
One Polizia Urbana was officially imported by Frasers in 1983 and displayed at the Sydney Motorcycle Show, however its fate is currently unknown.
![The Ducati 'Polizia Urbana' 600TL Pantah](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-022-1024x683.jpg)
The following police model (1986) from Ducati was based on the Indiana cruiser and available in 350, 650 and 750cc capacities.
![The Ducati 'Polizia Urbana' 600TL Pantah](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-008-714x1024.jpg)
![Police panniers fitted](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-004-683x1024.jpg)
![Dual disc brakes fitted on the front](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-005-683x1024.jpg)
![The Ducati 'Polizia Urbana' 600TL Pantah](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PA-Ducati-Polizia-Urbana-600TL-Pantah-014-1024x708.jpg)