Ducati singles · 1964–1966
Ducati 250 Mach 1: history and buying advice
The fastest 250 road bike of its time.
History
In 1964 the Mach 1 succeeded the Diana. With higher compression, a 29 mm carburettor and five gears it did well over 160 km/h in standard trim, with lights and silencer. That made it the fastest 250 road bike.
Many Mach 1s were converted into racers. Mike Rogers won the 250 cc production class of the Isle of Man TT on an almost standard machine. Only a few were built: Wikipedia gives a few hundred per year, with only 98 in 1966.
Key data
| Engine | Single-cylinder four-stroke, overhead camshaft via bevel shaft |
|---|---|
| Bore × stroke | 74 × 57.8 mm, 249 cc |
| Compression | 10:1 |
| Carburettor | Dell’Orto SS1 29D |
| Power | 27.6 hp at 8500 rpm |
| Gears | five |
| Top speed | over 160 km/h |
| Weight | 116 kg dry |
What to check when buying
- The Mach 1 is sought after and expensive, and many replicas have been built from Monzas and Dianas. Check the engine number: genuine Mach 1 engines have the prefix DM250M1.
- Note: the same type of engine was also used in some of the early Mark 3s. So the engine number alone proves nothing; look at the frame and the papers too.
- Many examples have been raced. Ask about the history of the engine.
- Check that the tank, seat, clip-ons and rear-sets belong on a Mach 1.
- If in doubt, take an expert from a Ducati club with you.
SourcesWikipedia: Ducati Mach 1 (English)MCNews: Ducati 250 Mach 1 (English)