Ducati Paso

The Ducati Paso was introduced in 1986 and named for the racer Renzo Pasolini, nicknamed Paso, who died in an accident at the Monza racetrack on 20 May 1973. Cagiva, which had bought Ducati, built it around the belt-drive Pantah desmodromic V-twin and hired Massimo Tamburini, who streamlined the bike and its 750 cc engine in a close-fitting full fairing and reversed the rear cylinder head to meet emissions and noise rules abroad. It had a chromoly square-tube frame, a rear aluminium swingarm with progressive suspension, 16-inch wheels with radial tires and electronic ignition, and it debuted at the 1985 Milan Motorcycle Show. Sales disappointed, with 4,863 Paso 750 units sold worldwide between 1986 and 1988, and an automotive Weber carburetor caused reliability problems. The Paso 906 of 1989 brought a six-speed gearbox, a 904 cc engine and liquid cooling.