Motorcycle specifications Ducati 800 Formula 73 2026 The big year

Ducati is 100 years old. Throughout a century of adventures, competitions, radio stations, and models, the Italian manufacturer has managed to keep the passion alive. 2026 will be an opportunity for extensive celebrations and commemorative models. Including this very ambiguous Formula 73. A vivid and elegant reminder of one of Bologna's most iconic motorcycles.

The design is striking, bold, and trendy, reminiscent of a stylist or fashion designer. The slender silhouette, modern-classic fork head, and clip-on handlebars give the Formula 73 the look of a café racer. It stands out like an engraving, with a striking appearance and confident posture. With the controls positioned well above the triple clamp, the rider will not suffer from the riding position.

The cornerstone

Like the Scrambler from which it is derived, the cafra immediately grabs your attention with the large X embedded in its headlight. It's as if it thinks it has a time convector in its light. Then, your eye catches the sparkle of its rims, and you allow yourself a fleeting leap into the past. You dive into 1973, witness the birth of Eva Herzigova, the creation of Thanos, are frightened by the Yom Kippur War, hallucinate at the first phone call made from a cell phone, and above all, discover its ancestor , the 1973 Super Sport Desmo.

For it is this sports bike that inspired the Formula 73, just as the Sportclassic 1000 Paul Smart did before it. Ducati thus reminds its fans of the early days of the twin, the introduction of the desmo in its motorcycles, and the whole saga that followed.

An amusing observation: the power of the Formula 73's 803 cc twin-cylinder engine is almost the same as that of the 748 cc engine in the 750 SS. Only one horsepower difference! But at the time, with more than 70 horsepower, you were classified as a heavyweight machine. Today, with its 73 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, the twin is classified as a second-tier machine, between the entry-level (the 500s) and the mid-size bikes. While this engine is the least powerful in the Ducati range, it is also one of the most charming and best suited to this revival model. This is Ducati history: two valves per cylinder, two timing belts, the desmodromic system, fins to cool the whole thing, and all enclosed in steel tubes.

A small detail is that the rake angle is tighter and the wheelbase shorter on this chassis compared to the Scrambler Icon. This will make it even more responsive.

A fashionista and her finery

A few well-chosen parts will justify the personality of this machine. It features rearview mirrors at the end of the handlebars, machined aluminum elements (brake and clutch levers with reservoirs, footrests, and Rizoma fuel cap), a serial number engraved on a plate embedded in the upper triple clamp, a seat cover, a Termignoni exhaust specially designed for it, a more enveloping front fender, spoked wheels, and a certificate of authenticity. It's not enough to be one of the 873 models produced; you have to prove it.

Once you turn the ignition, you'll be transported back to 1973. Because the Formula is a Scrambler, it's a motorcycle with all the latest technology: fuel injection, ride-by-wire, two riding modes, traction control, cornering ABS, a shifter, and a 4.3-inch color TFT dashboard.

The Formula 73 will set you back approximately €16,000 to parade around your living room or the roads in tribute. Ducati also allows you to complete the look with a matching Arai helmet and jacket.

M.B. - Manufacturer photos