Ducati 500 Pantah vs Ducati 500 S Desmo (1980)

Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Ducati 500 Pantahstacks up against the Ducati 500 S Desmo. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.

Spec comparison

SpecDucati 500 PantahDucati 500 S Desmo
Model year19801978
Price
Engine497 cc497 cc
Horsepower50 hp43 hp
Fuel capacity4.8 L5.0 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission5-speed5-speed
Front brakesDual discDual disc
Rear brakesSingle discSingle disc
Tires3.25-18 / 3.50-18 3.25-18 / 3.50-18

Ducati 500 Pantah vs Ducati 500 S Desmo — which should you buy?

Picking between the Ducati 500 Pantah and the Ducati 500 S Desmo usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Ducati 500 Pantah brings 50 hp, while the Ducati 500 S Desmo counters with 43 hp.

Our spec tables above highlight the winning number on each line. For the full rider-focused reviews including real-world fuel economy, service costs and available colors, click into either bike: