peterg
02-Aug-2004, 11:44
I have just reurned from my holiday to Tuscany in Italy.
Whilst there we made the 3 hour trip to the Ducati Factory in Bologna.
I expected the factory to be on a huge plot of land, on its own, with Ducati flags and signs outside.
Oh no! It is accesed, by practically turning down a side street, with a cafe on the corner!!!!
Anyway, things soon changed, after parking up and walking through the gate house, and on up to the Ducati Cafe.
All the cafe staff wore red T-Shirts, and the walls have huge pictures of Capirosi.
I was at this point getting very excited.
The tour is split up into different languages, and starts at the engine casing section.
The engine casings are brought in, and machined, were the loose 40 per cent, of there original weight!
Then each engine is assembled by one person.It takes 1 hour to build a 4 valve engine, and at the end of the assembly that person has to sign documents to say that they have built that particular engine.
The engine is then turned over in a testing booth at no more than 2000rpm. If a fault is detected, the engine can then be traced back to who built it. They are then asked to explain why a fault occured, and told to remedy it!!!
Nice to hear,that the engines alone are not just assembled, but care and attention is taken.
Moving throgh the factory you see all the various stages of build and testing. Including a section were the Desmodeci engine are built.
After the factory tour,you are then taken up to the museum.Inside you will see a fantastic collection of Ducatis, starting athe beginning, right up to the latest race bikes.
The star attraction for me was having my picture taken next to Capirosi,s 2003 GP bike.
You can also go to the staff shop, were leathers and bikes can be bought.
They display two prices, one is for visitors, and the other is for staff. We where told that staff, receive 30 per cent discount on everything, including bikes!!
Anyway, if you are thinking about a visit. DO IT.
All this prior to my Red 749 arriving next week, I hope.
Regards
Peter G
Whilst there we made the 3 hour trip to the Ducati Factory in Bologna.
I expected the factory to be on a huge plot of land, on its own, with Ducati flags and signs outside.
Oh no! It is accesed, by practically turning down a side street, with a cafe on the corner!!!!
Anyway, things soon changed, after parking up and walking through the gate house, and on up to the Ducati Cafe.
All the cafe staff wore red T-Shirts, and the walls have huge pictures of Capirosi.
I was at this point getting very excited.
The tour is split up into different languages, and starts at the engine casing section.
The engine casings are brought in, and machined, were the loose 40 per cent, of there original weight!
Then each engine is assembled by one person.It takes 1 hour to build a 4 valve engine, and at the end of the assembly that person has to sign documents to say that they have built that particular engine.
The engine is then turned over in a testing booth at no more than 2000rpm. If a fault is detected, the engine can then be traced back to who built it. They are then asked to explain why a fault occured, and told to remedy it!!!
Nice to hear,that the engines alone are not just assembled, but care and attention is taken.
Moving throgh the factory you see all the various stages of build and testing. Including a section were the Desmodeci engine are built.
After the factory tour,you are then taken up to the museum.Inside you will see a fantastic collection of Ducatis, starting athe beginning, right up to the latest race bikes.
The star attraction for me was having my picture taken next to Capirosi,s 2003 GP bike.
You can also go to the staff shop, were leathers and bikes can be bought.
They display two prices, one is for visitors, and the other is for staff. We where told that staff, receive 30 per cent discount on everything, including bikes!!
Anyway, if you are thinking about a visit. DO IT.
All this prior to my Red 749 arriving next week, I hope.
Regards
Peter G