Ducati 350SL

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Ducati-350SL.jpg
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


It could reach a top speed of XL / TL: 170 km/h / 106 mph SL: 180 km/h / 112 mph.

Engine[edit | edit source]

The engine featured a 10.4:1 compression ratio.

Drive[edit | edit source]

Power was moderated via the Wet, multiplate.

Chassis[edit | edit source]

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.

Photos[edit | edit source]

Ducati 350SL Ducati 350SL

Overview[edit | edit source]

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 wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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 bike’s 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 designer’s 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.

It’s 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
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