Ducati 125 Regolarita
With Phil Aynsley
So, who knows what the last two-stroke Ducati motorcycle was? *crickets*
![Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-Six-Days-125-ImagePAynsley-4-1024x629.jpg)
It may be a surprise to learn that the company was still producing two-strokes at the same time as the famous bevel-drive twins and even the Pantah were rolling off the assembly lines.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-14-1024x777.jpg)
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-13-1024x683.jpg)
I’ll get to the very last model in a minute but to set the context I need to discuss the model it replaced first – and that was the 125 Regolarita. It was in production from 1975 to 1979 and was the largest capacity two-stroke made by Ducati.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-1-1024x649.jpg)
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-3-683x1024.jpg)
The company had a long history of bringing out “Scrambler” versions of their singles, both two- and four-stroke, in capacities from 49 to 436cc.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-2-1024x726.jpg)
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-4-683x1024.jpg)
For the most part these were more cosmetic makeovers of the road versions rather than serious off road bikes. The Regolarita was a completely new design however and was intended to be a reasonably competent dirt bike.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-8-683x1024.jpg)
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-10-683x1024.jpg)
The piston-port, six-speed motor was a new in-house design and of 123.7cc capacity. A Dell’Orto PHB 30mm carburettor was fitted.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-6-1024x683.jpg)
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-7-1024x683.jpg)
The small six-litre tank held a five per cent oil/petrol premix, no injection. Output was 21.8hp at 9,000rpm. Dry weight was 108kg.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-5-1024x683.jpg)
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-9-683x1024.jpg)
The ancillaries were a confusing mixture – top quality Magura parts such as the throttle assembly (with oiler) and levers with vinyl covers versus an underslung exhaust with fibreglass guard. The tank was also fibreglass.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-12-1024x684.jpg)
The bike wasn’t particularly successful with just under 3,500 being produced. Somewhat strangely about half were sold in France, domestic Italian riders being the other main market.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-15-683x1024.jpg)
The red bike seen here had found its way to NZ before being imported into Oz and is still ridden regularly. The blue bike is also in original unrestored condition.
![Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-Six-Days-125-ImagePAynsley-3-1024x621.jpg)
Given the lukewarm reception that greeted the Regolarita, Ducati realised a more serious effort was required if they were to capture a significant share of the off road market.
![Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-Six-Days-125-ImagePAynsley-5-683x1024.jpg)
Italian 500 motocross champion Italo Forni was employed to refine the design and the 125 Six Days was the result. The frame was rejigged, strengthened and a high level exhaust used. Tank capacity was raised to eight-litres.
![Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-Six-Days-125-ImagePAynsley-6-683x1024.jpg)
The motor also received attention with power increasing to 25hp at 10,250rpm. A 34mm Bing carburettor and 14.5:1 compression (up from 10.5:1) played their part in the increase.
![Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-Six-Days-125-ImagePAynsley-7-683x1024.jpg)
35mm Marzocchi ZTi magnesium forks helped reduce the bike’s dry weight to 97kg.
![Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley Ducati Regolarita Six Days ImagePAynsley](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-Six-Days-125-ImagePAynsley-2-1024x683.jpg)
Despite being a much better off road bike than its predecessor it was all a bit late and only 1,450 were built from 1977 to 1979. So ended Ducati’s long (starting in 1958), but mostly overlooked, two-stroke history.
![Ducati Regolarita ImagePA Ducati Regolarita ImagePA](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ducati-Regolarita-125-ImagePA-11-1024x683.jpg)