The 1959 Ducati 200 Elite is a 200-family single-cylinder motorcycle with an overhead-cam engine of about 204 cc. Published references agree on its basic engine dimensions and 8.5:1 compression ratio, but differ on power and top speed. The figures below are attributed to their sources; they are specifications and historical claims, not results of a modern test.
What is the 1959 Ducati 200 Elite?
Ducati introduced its 200 cc single-cylinder range in 1959 in four versions: the Elite, Super Sport, Americano and Motocross. A compiled model table gives the Elite a 1959–1965 production span, but that range alone cannot verify the year of an individual motorcycle.
A secondary model history describes the Elite and Super Sport as developments of the 175 Sport with a larger carburetor. It distinguishes the Elite and Americano by valanced mudguards and twin silencers, compared with the Super Sport’s single silencer. Treat these details as orientation rather than a definitive originality guide; confirm a particular bike against period documentation and its surviving components.
A 2017 Bonhams auction catalog describes the Elite’s capacity increase from the 175 as resulting from a larger bore and gives frame and engine numbers for the specific motorcycle it cataloged. Those numbers are evidence about that specimen, not a universal serial-number chronology.
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1959 Ducati 200 Elite specifications
| Specification | Published information |
|---|---|
| Engine | Air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder, overhead cam, according to Ducatista.org. |
| Displacement | Approximately 204 cc. Ducati Singles Restoration lists 203.783 cc; Ducatista.org rounds it to 203 cc. |
| Bore × stroke | 67 × 57.8 mm in Ducati Singles Restoration; the stroke is rounded to 57 mm in Ducatista.org. |
| Compression ratio | 8.5:1, reported by both Ducati Singles Restoration and Ducatista.org. |
| Maximum power | Ducati Singles Restoration lists 17 bhp at 7,500 rpm. Ducatista.org lists 13 kW/18 hp at 7,500 rpm. These are differing published figures, not a single settled value. |
| Transmission | Four-speed, according to Ducatista.org. |
| Wheels and brakes | Ducatista.org reports 18-inch wheels and drum brakes. Published tire sizes vary, so confirm rim and tire fitment on the motorcycle before ordering replacements. |
| Rear suspension | Swingarm with twin shocks, according to Ducatista.org. |
| Production span | 1959–1965 in the compiled Ducati Singles Restoration table. This is not proof of an individual bike’s build date. |
How fast was a Ducati 200 Elite?
The published top-speed figures are claims, not independently verified test results. The Italian publication inSella gives 135 km/h and specifies conditions that include no silencer and a tucked rider. Ducatista.org gives 140 km/h without establishing the same conditions. Neither figure should be treated as a guaranteed road speed for a restored motorcycle; condition, setup and configuration matter.
How to distinguish an Elite from other 1959 Ducati 200s
Begin with the variant and equipment rather than relying on a single visual cue. The available secondary history points to mudguard style and exhaust count as differences: it describes the Elite and Americano with valanced mudguards and twin silencers, and the Super Sport with a single silencer. The sources do not provide a complete year-by-year originality guide or enough detail to authenticate every Motocross specification.
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- Compare the motorcycle’s equipment with period documentation for the exact version and year.
- Check engine and frame numbers against documentation relevant to the individual machine; the published Bonhams example is not a serial-number registry.
- For a purchase or restoration, treat a mismatch as a prompt for further verification, not as proof by itself that the motorcycle is or is not an Elite.
Where to find a manual for a 1959 Ducati 200 Elite
The National Motorcycle Museum shop’s Ducati category lists two relevant reproduced manuals: a 1959 instruction manual covering the 200 Elite, Super Sport and Turismo Sport, and a 1959–1961 workshop manual listing the 125 TS, 125 Sport and 200 Elite. The listing establishes these as reference leads, not that copies are currently in stock or that they are original factory printings.
Before buying, ask the seller to confirm the edition, language, completeness and exact model coverage. An instruction manual and a workshop manual serve different purposes, so choose according to whether you need rider information or repair guidance.
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Are parts still available for a 1959 Ducati 200 Elite?
Ducati’s genuine-parts catalog provides a year-and-model lookup, but its support FAQ says downloadable spare-parts catalogs cover models from the last ten years; older catalogs may need to be requested through an authorized dealer. That guidance does not establish current parts availability for a 1959 motorcycle.
For a vintage component, ask Ducati, an authorized dealer or a vintage Ducati specialist to verify the part number and compatibility for the specific machine. Confirm fitment against the actual bike and its configuration before ordering. No particular supplier’s current Elite inventory is established here.
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Sources
- Ducati Singles Restoration: 200 Elite specifications
- Ducatista.org: Ducati 200 Elite model reference
- inSella: Ducati 200 Elite history and speed claim
- Ducati: genuine-parts catalog
- Ducati: support FAQ
- National Motorcycle Museum shop: Ducati manual listings
- Bonhams: 2017 auction catalog entry for a 1959 example
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