Ducati 350SL
It could reach a top speed of XL / TL: 170 km/h / 106 mph SL: 180 km/h / 112 mph.
Ducati 350SL | |
Manufacturer | |
---|---|
Production | 1983-85 |
Engine | Four stroke, 90°L twin cylinder, Desmo SOHC, belt driven |
Compression ratio | 10.4:1 |
Top Speed | XL / TL: 170 km/h / 106 mph SL: 180 km/h / 112 mph |
Ignition | Bosch BTZ electronic |
Spark Plug | Champion L82Y |
Battery | Yuasa 12V 14Ah |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Suspension | Front: 35 mm Paioli or Marzocchi fork Rear: Swingarm, Paioli twin shock, 3-way adjustable |
Brakes | Front: 2 x 260 mm Discs Rear: Single 260 mm disc |
Front Tire | 3.00-18 |
Rear Tire | 3.50-18 |
Wheelbase | 1450 mm / 57.1 in |
Seat Height | XL / TL: 760 mm / 29.9 in SL: 740 mm / 29.1 in |
Weight | XL / TL: 177 kg / 390 lbs SL: 176 kg / 389 lbs (dry), |
Fuel Capacity | 18 L / 4.8 US gal / 4.0 Imp gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
EngineEdit
The engine featured a 10.4:1 compression ratio.
DriveEdit
Power was moderated via the Wet, multiplate.
ChassisEdit
It came with a 3.00-18 front tire and a 3.50-18 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2 x 260 mm Discs in the front and a Single 260 mm disc in the rear. The front suspension was a 35 mm Paioli or Marzocchi fork while the rear was equipped with a Swingarm, Paioli twin shock, 3-way adjustable. The 350SL was fitted with a 18 L / 4.8 US gal / 4.0 Imp gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just XL / TL: 177 kg / 390 lbs SL: 176 kg / 389 lbs. The wheelbase was 1450 mm / 57.1 in long.
PhotosEdit
OverviewEdit
Ducati 350SL / TL / XL Pantah
The Pantah XL was a simplified
version of the fully faired Pantah SL 350, aimed mainly at the Italian market.
It was sold in Spain and Greece as well but I am not aware it ever reached the
bigger English-speaking markets.
The Italian law offered several advantages to 350 cc bikes: lower VAT purchase tax, lower insurance and road tax, and they could be ridden at 18 years of age, while one had to be 21 to ride a bigger capacity bike. So, most Italian bikes that were born 500 cc were also made in 350 cc versions: the Laverda 8 valve twin, the Guzzi small block series and the Ducati parallel twin among them. With the XL Ducati went a little further than just fitting an underbored engine to a big bike: the fixed fairing was removed and a small nose fairing identical to that of the TL model was fitted, some accessories were removed or replaced with cheaper ones to lower the price: there wasnt the pillion seat cover, the brake discs were solid, the rear shocks were the cheaper Paioli without external reservoir, slightly raised handlebars took the place of the clip-ons All in all a good bike with a powerful little engine that loved to rev high: max power was claimed to be 38 hp @ 11500 RPM!
But it was more expensive than the Morini 3 1/2 Sport and of the Guzzi Imola, and it wasnt all that quicker after all. But most of all it was very heavy to be a 350 so sales were never outstanding. Despite being less sophisticated, The Morini was a proper 350 and not a bored down 500, so it offered the kind of performance 18 years old wanted (it was nearly 20 kg lighter than the Ducati XL!!). And the Guzzi Imola had that little Le Mans aura around it that gave it that extra appeal
The TL was the first attempt to make a touring bike from the Pantah. Although the Pantah was launched as a sport touring bike to be ridden two up, it certainly wasnt and the need for a more sedate and comfortable bike was felt. So a more comfortable riding position and milder cams were designed for the Touring L model. Unfortunately, also a new bodywork was designed. The most positive definition that comes to my mind for this bikes cosmetics is perplexing. The seat and tank are ordinary looking at best, the little nose fairing is something already seen on some Japanese bike of the time. But the long sidepanels that hide the top cylinder are a designers bad dream. They hide the vertical cylinder so that motor looks like a horizontal single, Aermacchi style, and the whole bodywork looks heavy and tall. The whole bike reminds of a large semi-bodied scooter. Removing the sidepanels, or hiding them under a proper fairing made things a little better.
Its a real pity that the TL was so ugly, because it was a good bike. Despite being tuned down from the SL 600, it was fast enough to compete in its class (which included the Guzzi V65, the BMW R60 and the Yamaha XZ 550) and had all the stability and handling virtues of the SL600. The TL was built in 350 and 600 cc versions and was the starting base for the Alazzurra with which it shares more than one can imagine. For example the whole footpegs and pedal compartment is identical.
Make Model | Ducati 350 SL / TL / XL |
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Year | 1983-85 |
Engine Type | Four stroke, 90°L twin cylinder, Desmo SOHC, belt driven |
Displacement | 348.9 cc / 21.3 cu in |
Bore X Stroke | 66 x 51 mm |
Compression | 10.4:1 |
Induction | Dell'Orto PHF30A |
Spark Plug | Champion L82Y |
Ignition | Bosch BTZ electronic |
Battery | Yuasa 12V 14Ah |
Starting | Electric |
Max Power | 29.1 kW / 40 hp @ 9600 rpm |
Clutch | Wet, multiplate |
Transmission | 5 Speed |
Gear Ratios | 1st 2.500 / 2nd 1.714 / 3rd 1.333 / 4th 1.074 / 5th 0.931:1 |
Final Drive | Chain |
Final Drive Ratio | 3.143:1 (14/44) |
Front Suspension | 35 mm Paioli or Marzocchi fork |
Rear Suspension | Swingarm, Paioli twin shock, 3-way adjustable |
Front Brakes | 2 x 260 mm Discs |
Rear Brakes | Single 260 mm disc |
Front Tire | 3.00-18 |
Rear Tire | 3.50-18 |
Dimensions | Length: XL / TL: 2160 mm / 85.0 in. SL: 2150 mm / 84.6 in Width: XL / TL: 710 mm / 28.0 in. SL 670 mm / 26.4 in |
Wheelbase | 1450 mm / 57.1 in |
Seat Height | XL / TL: 760 mm / 29.9 in SL: 740 mm / 29.1 in |
Dry Weight | XL / TL: 177 kg / 390 lbs SL: 176 kg / 389 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 18 L / 4.8 US gal / 4.0 Imp gal |
Top Speed | XL / TL: 170 km/h / 106 mph SL: 180 km/h / 112 mph |