Ducati Indiana servicing
1986 to 1988 · 350cc to 750cc belt-drive Desmo V-twin cruiser · Greenwich, London
Ray Petty Meccanica services, repairs and restores the Ducati Indiana cruiser in 350, 650 and 750 form (built 1986 to 1988) at its independent Ducati workshop in Greenwich, London. Behind the custom styling is a belt-driven Desmo V-twin from the Pantah family, so an Indiana needs the same cam belt and valve clearance care as the sports Ducatis of its day.
About the Indiana
The Indiana was Cagiva's attempt, soon after buying Ducati in 1985, to sell a Ducati-engined cruiser in the United States against bikes such as Yamaha's Virago. It used the Pantah-derived 90° V-twin from the Cagiva Alazzurra and Elefant, in a double-cradle steel tube frame based on the Elefant's, with an 18-inch front wheel, a 15-inch rear and twin rear shocks. The 650 has a 649cc engine, the same 82 x 61.5mm bore and stroke as the Pantah 650 SL, and a five-speed gearbox with chain final drive. About 2,300 were built in all: 800 of the 350, about 1,000 of the 650 and about 500 of the 750. Only about 500 sold in the US, and clearing the remaining stock took a couple of years.
Servicing your Indiana
The Indiana's engine is looked after like any belt-drive Ducati twin: a toothed cam belt for each cylinder, replaced by age, and Desmodromic valves whose opening and closing clearances are checked and set with shims. Ducati detuned it for low-down pull with milder cams and Bing carburettors, where the Alazzurra and Elefant used 36mm Dell'Ortos, and the Bings sit between the cylinders. Cleaning and setting them up is a large part of recommissioning an Indiana that has stood. RPM also sources parts for old Ducatis, low-volume models like this one included, and agrees any work with the owner before it starts.
Book your Indiana in
Tell us what it needs, or how long it's been off the road, and we'll take it from there.
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Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday and Monday: closed