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A motorcycle catalog labels a specific Ducati 100 Sport “1965,” but two model references place 100 Sport production from 1958 through 1960. The catalog entry does not verify when that individual bike was built, so 1965 should be treated as the listing’s designation—not a confirmed production year.
Why is it called a 1965 Ducati 100 Sport?
The year appears in a Classic Driver auction record titled “1965 – 100 Sport.” The entry identifies the motorcycle by chassis number DM 250748 and engine number DM 250926. A Ducati singles reference dates the 100 Sport to 1958–1960, while MCNews says the model was produced through 1960. The available records therefore conflict: the auction title documents how that motorcycle was cataloged, but does not establish its manufacture date.
No factory serial-number documentation in the available sources decodes those identifiers. Ducati’s 125 Sport heritage page offers useful context on the Taglioni-designed bevel-drive road singles, but it does not confirm a 1965 100 Sport.
Ducati 100 Sport specifications
The catalog and technical references report the following. These are published figures, not measurements from a test of the auction motorcycle.
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| Specification | Reported detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and displacement | 98 cc, single-cylinder, SOHC | Classic Driver auction catalog, 2012 |
| Transmission | Four speeds | Classic Driver auction catalog, 2012 |
| Power | 8 bhp at 8,500 rpm | Ducati Singles Restoration |
| Dry weight | 100 kg | Ducati Singles Restoration |
| Lubrication | Wet sump | Ducati Singles Restoration |
| Listed top speed | 65 mph | Cycle World retrospective, December 1966 |
| Chassis and engine numbers | DM 250748; DM 250926 | Classic Driver auction catalog, 2012 |
Cycle World’s 1966 retrospective also gives output as 8 hp at 8,500 rpm. The references differ in how they express the power unit, so it is best to retain each source’s stated figure rather than imply a fresh measurement.
How to distinguish the 100 Sport from the 125 Sport
A Ducati singles model-change reference describes the 100 Sport as closely related to the 125 Sport, with the 100’s bore reduced to 49 mm. It identifies some visible differences that can help with an initial inspection:
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- The 100 Sport used a Ducati Meccanica transfer where the 125 Sport had a metal tank badge.
- The 100 Sport had a smooth headlamp rim; the 125 Sport’s rim was peaked.
Published specifications also distinguish the two: the same technical reference lists the 100 Sport at 8 bhp and the 125 Sport at 10 bhp, and dates their model ranges to 1958–1960 and 1958–1965 respectively. Ducati’s heritage page gives the 125 Sport as 124.4 cc and 10 hp at 8,500 rpm. These comparisons help identify the models; they do not establish the date of a particular machine.
What to check on a restored example
Appearance alone cannot prove that a motorcycle is original or correctly restored. MCNews’s account of one restored 100 Sport notes a missing speedometer and concerns involving the sump and drain plugs, battery-strap color, seat shape, and horn. That is a case-specific example, not a definitive checklist for every production variation.
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For a purchase or identification, compare the frame and engine numbers with reliable model-specific records, then verify visible components against a detailed parts reference. The auction numbers are useful identifiers, but the sources here do not decode them into a factory build date.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Published tappet clearances
Ducati Singles Restoration lists these tappet clearances for the 100 Sport:
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- Inlet: 0.05 mm
- Exhaust: 0.07 mm
A feeler gauge is a general tool used to check clearances, but the reference does not endorse a particular product. Confirm the adjustment procedure and applicable specification for the motorcycle in hand before carrying out maintenance.
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