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With Phil Aynsley
The Spanish Mototrans company was formed in 1958 with the merging of the Maquitrans and Cliper concerns who imported the Ducati Cucciolo and 98 cc bikes respectively.
Ducati ‘Mototrans’ 250 24 Horas
Mototrans was licensed to manufacture Ducati motorcycles and began with the 125 Sport in 1959.
Mototrans were licensed to produce Ducati motorcycles
The company went on to become an important part of Ducati’s growth during the 1960s with many race wins as well as building a range of models that were sold by Ducati, as Ducatis.
Mototrans models were directly as Ducatis
In fact Mototrans entered bikes won the Barcelona 24 Hour race ten times – the most by any manufacturer!
Mototrans actually held the record for wins at the Barcelona 24 Hour
It was as a result of one of these wins, by a 283 cc single prototype in 1964, that the company decided to capitalise on the favourable publicity by introducing their top of the line sports machine, the 250 24 Horas (Hours) at the Barcelona Show the following year.
Mototrans sucess saw the introduction of this model, produced from 1966-1974
The bike differed from contemporary Ducati singles in several ways, the most fundamental being a change to a 69 x 66 mm bore and stroke from Ducati’s traditional 74 x 57.8 mm.
Ducati ‘Mototrans’ 250 24 Horas
The motor was also based on the earlier ‘narrow case’ design rather than the ‘wide case’ then being used by Ducati.
Ducati ‘Mototrans’ 250 24 Horas – Amal carb
Other features were a 10:1 compression ratio, higher lift camshaft and a Spanish made Amal 27 mm carburettor. In a first for the company a five-speed gearbox was used.
Ducati ‘Mototrans’ 250 24 Horas – Rear drum brake
Three series were produced before manufacture finished around 1973. This is a late production Series 3 bike.
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