Ducati Formula 73 Revealed: Stunning Retro Café Racer We Hope to See on New Zealand Roads

We’ll be the first to admit it — we’re a bit late to this one. But when something this cool drops, it deserves a proper look regardless of the timestamp.

Back in February, Ducati quietly unveiled the Formula 73, and somehow it slipped past the radar. Now that we’ve caught up, it’s safe to say this is one seriously good-looking piece of machinery — the kind of bike that stops you mid-scroll and makes you go back for another look.

Built as a tribute to the legendary Ducati 750 Super Sport Desmo, the Formula 73 blends old-school soul with modern tech in a way Ducati tends to nail better than most. Only 873 numbered units will be produced, which immediately puts it in that “rare and probably unobtainable” category — but also makes it all the more desirable.

And honestly, just look at it.

This thing screams classic café racer, but without feeling like a retro pastiche. The silver and aqua green livery, gold tank stripe, and minimalist fairing all nod back to the 1970s original — itself inspired by Ducati’s iconic Imola race bikes — but it’s been sharpened up with modern finishes and detail. It’s clean, it’s purposeful, and it’s got presence.

Underneath, it’s not just a show pony either.

The Formula 73 runs an 803cc air-cooled L-twin Desmodue engine pushing out 73hp, paired with modern electronics including ride-by-wire, traction control, cornering ABS and a quickshifter. So while it looks like something from another era, it’s built to be ridden like a proper modern machine — whether that’s carving through backroads or just turning heads on a city run.

There’s also a level of detail here that really hits the mark. Billet aluminium components, spoked wheels, a bespoke exhaust developed with Termignoni — it all adds up to a bike that feels just as premium as it looks.

But more than anything, it’s the vibe.

Ducati calls it an “Urban Café Racer”, and that feels about right. It’s not trying to be the fastest or the most aggressive thing in the lineup — it’s about style, heritage, and that connection to one of the most important bikes in the brand’s history.

Look, we know the chances of seeing one of these in the wild — especially down here — are pretty slim. Limited run, global demand, you know how it goes.

But we’d absolutely love to see a few of these make their way onto New Zealand roads. Because bikes like this deserve to be ridden, not just parked up in someone’s collection.

Late to the party or not — this one’s worth celebrating.