Descrição
A rare opportunity to own a true collector's Ducati; the 1986 Mille S2. With just 171 units ever produced, this is a machine that sits high on the list of Ducati's most exclusive factory-built road bikes. This particular Mille S2 has just 19, 850 km on the odometer and is presented in exceptionally original condition. When it arrived, the bike had been repainted in red, so we took the initiative to restore the full bodywork to its correct and striking original livery: the iconic black with orange/ yellow/ red graphics, as it left the factory.
The bike has just undergone a full recent service in our workshop and is running beautifully. From idle to redline, the 973cc L-twin delivers the kind of raw, mechanical riding experience that only a classic Ducati bevel-drive can offer. A YouTube video showcasing its performance and sound will be uploaded shortly.
In addition, we hope the photographs showcase the bike’s condition in detail – from the flawless paintwork to the well-preserved engine components and frame. Whether you’re a collector seeking an elusive piece of Ducati history, or a rider who appreciates a classic that’s ready to go from day one, this Mille S2 checks every box. It’s not just a showpiece – it’s a rideable classic with immediate road presence and zero excuses needed.
Don’t miss the chance to own one of the rarest Ducatis ever built: a fully sorted, beautifully restored Mille S2 that’s ready for the road or display. For further details, or to arrange a viewing, please contact us.
By the early 1980s, Ducati found itself at a crossroads. The company’s lineup, particularly the 900 ‘Mike Hailwood’ Replica (MHR), was showing its age. Based on a bevel-drive engine design that dated back to the early 1970s and equipped with dual shocks and 18” wheels, the MHR was no longer competitive in a market dominated by cutting-edge Japanese machines. Financial struggles and outdated technology cast a shadow over Ducati’s future—so much so that it was surviving largely through diesel engine production for VM Motori.
Despite this, Ducati remained committed to the bevel-drive concept, even as its more modern Pantah line slowly gained traction. In 1983, legendary engineer Fabio Taglioni, alongside his protégé Massimo Bordi, began developing a new and improved bevel engine, one that would become known as the Mille.
By 1984, this new Mille engine was ready. It featured significant upgrades: a fully pressurized oiling system with a plain-bearing crankshaft, Nikasil-coated aluminum cylinders (973cc with 88x78mm dimensions), and larger 42/ 38mm valves. A new Nippon Denso starter replaced the unreliable Magneti Marelli unit, and an improved clutch design was implemented. The engine was a technical leap forward and vastly more reliable than its predecessors.
However, Ducati didn’t build an entirely new model to showcase this engineering effort. Instead, the Mille engine was installed into familiar chassis platforms—most notably the 900 MHR and the 900 S2. The Mille S2 in particular retained the visual language of its predecessor but received a bold new black/ orange/ yellow livery, marking it out as something special. Only 171 Mille S2s were ever produced, making it one of the rarest factory Ducatis of all time.
Unfortunately, the market didn’t fully appreciate the changes beneath the skin. To most buyers, the Mille S2 and MHR looked like older models with minor updates. Ducati’s failure to communicate the mechanical advancements limited commercial success. In 1985, the company was officially taken over by Cagiva, who quickly pivoted away from the bevel-drive platform. Though Massimo Tamburini briefly explored a new chassis for the Mille, the project was shelved before reaching prototype stage.
The Mille engine would mark the end of an era. By 1986, the bevel-drive Ducati was gone from the catalogue, making way for the newer, Pantah-derived models. In hindsight, the Mille stands as a swan song for Ducati’s bevel-drive legacy—technically refined, visually striking, and mechanically significant.
Today, the Mille S2 is an exceptionally rare and important machine, embodying Ducati’s engineering heritage just before its modern renaissance began. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, it represents the final and most evolved chapter of the bevel-drive story.
