Ducati is 100 in 2026 and they’re marking the occasion with a host of special activities. One of the most significant looks like this Ducati 100 Collection, a range of motorcycles turned art, which will go on sale to devoted Ducatisiti later this year.
To celebrate this 100th anniversary, and following on from the release of the Superleggera V4 Centenario, Ducati is pushing the boat out and one of the big headlines is a run of 1000 exclusive machines – with 100 examples each of 10 of its models – to tell the story of some of the motorcycle division’s greatest successes.
The collection of 10 bikes was unveiled at the weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello, where factory riders Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez rocked a special centenary livery, and will be on display at next month’s World Ducati Week. We’ll be able to see them at the Goodwood Festival of Speed before, in line with Ducati’s view that this a collection of art, they tour museums in the Bologna region.
No prices have been announced for the customer bikes, although we expect the fact that they’ll cost a pretty penny won’t stop them being snapped up immediately by Ducati’s most devoted collectors.
Each model from the contemporary range comes in a livery inspired by an iconic Ducati motorcycle from the brand's history. They all feature an Alcantara or leather seat, complete with an embroidered Ducati 100 logo, and incorporate the Bronzo Centenario colour, which is used on details such as the brake calipers, the identification plate and fuel cap ring.
Although Ducati only started making motorcycles in the 1950s, the company behind it actually set up shop in 1926. Founded by Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons as a manufacturer of components for radio sets, they diversified in the post-war years – making motorcycles which would go on to become icons long after the family left the business. Although the first motorcycles were humble 50cc step-thrus, the inspiration for the collection comes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.
Each motorcycle in the collection comes with a matching rear stand, cover and certificate of authenticity, as well as a pair of numbered art prints signed by artist Ugo Nespolo. One of the most significant figures in the late 20th-century Italian art scene Nespolo has interpreted, in his distinctive, colourful and dynamic style, every model in the 100 Collection alongside the classic motorcycle that inspired its livery.
The V4 models can also be delivered to their owners in a customised wooden case, with Ducati even creating a handover ceremony to the new owners. Owners will also be able to complement their bikes with matching helmets and riding jackets and, frankly, when you go all in on specials like these, the likelihood is that you’ll be shouting ‘open my wallet’ to your local Ducati dealer.
Fancy owning one of these pieces of automotive art? Here are your 10 bikes to choose from:
Panigale V4 S 100
The sparkly silver paint is inspired by arguably Ducati’s most famous bike of all, the Desmo racer which dominated the 1972 Imola 200. The big number ‘16’ pays homage to British rider Paul Smart, who won the race ahead of team-mate Bruno Spaggiari.
Based on the Panigale V4 S superbike, it tips its hat to the machine which introduced the Fabio Taglioni’s V-twin ‘Desmo’ engine and transformed the company’s reputation – setting it off on the path to becoming one of the most desirable makers of superbikes in the world.
Panigale V2 S 100
The yellow livery of the Panigale V2 S 100 is inspired by the graphics of the 750 Super Sport Desmo ridden to the 1975 Italian production championship title by Franco Uncini.
Under the livery is a fully specced version of today’s Panigale V2 S supersport machine, complete with track kit.
Multistrada V4 RS 100
Inspiration for the Multistrada V4 RS 100 comes from the 1979 500 SL Pantah, a bike famous for introducing the trellis frame, which would become a Ducati signature until only a few years ago.
The paint scheme is a time capsule in itself, with the metallic silver backed up with blue and red detailing like that found on the ‘70s original, as well as a recreation of the stylised Ducati logo used in that period.
Streetfighter V4 S 100
Ducati’s modern day supernaked, the Streetfighter V4 S, rocks a 1979 900 Sport Desmo Darmah inspired livery.
The ‘JPS’ style black and gold colours were all the rage in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s and they still look amazing today. The ‘Darmah’ name was made up by Ducati, to sound exotic, and the Streetfighter also features that model’s tiger head logo on the rear undertray – which perhaps hasn’t dated as well as the livery!
Monster 100
The tricolour livery of the Monster 100 is inspired by the graphics of the 2008 Monster S4Rs Tricolore, the ultimate iteration of the first generation Monster – a model which arguably saved Ducati in the 1990s. It looks contemporary today. We’d like to see it on a regular production model please, Ducati!
XDiavel V4 100
The livery of the XDiavel V4 100 is said to be inspired by the modified 750 Super Sport called the "California Hot Rod," the bike on which Cook Neilson made Ducati history by winning at Daytona in 1977. The event marked the first time an Italian motorcycle had won a production race in the United States and, in an era of ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ had a positive impact on Ducati's popularity and sales.
Diavel V4 RS 100
The livery of the Diavel V4 RS 100 is inspired by the graphics of the 1979 900 Mike Hailwood Replica, one of the most iconic motorcycles in Ducati's history – itself a tribute to the great racer’s success at the 1978 Isle of Man TT Races. It’s a shame the Hailwood name isn’t mentioned in the bike’s promo, possibly for licencing reasons, but the look is so legendary we all know what it is without needing to say!
Scrambler 100
It’s no surprise that the livery of the Scrambler 100 is inspired by the graphics of the 1962 250 Scrambler, the first version of the Ducati Scrambler, produced exclusively for the US market at the request of the American distributor.
The limited edition is based on the Nightshift variant of the modern day Scrambler, complete with wire wheels and flat-ish handlebars.
Hypermotard V2 SP 100
The silver and red livery of the Hypermotard V2 SP 100 is inspired by the 860 "24 Horas de Montjuïc" endurance racer from 1975.
Endurance racing was very much the company strategy 50 years ago, and success in the 24 hour race around the Barcelona parkland circuit was a highlight from the era.
DesertX 100
One of the oddest bikes in Ducati’s history was the 1981 Pantah "Ice".
The modified Pantah 500 resembled an ice speedway bike, with studded tyres, extended mudguards and no brakes, and it featured as part of an ice racing meeting held predominantly for Alfa Romeo cars in the Alps.
The yellow colourscheme was one of several used by the ice bikes, and harks back to a time when, like Alfa Romeo, Ducati was an Italian state owned company. It gives off the same vibes as the old Suzuki DR BIG (and that’s a good thing!).
