During the 1950s and 1960s Ducati sought to expand their market by producing a range of lightweight two-stroke motorcycles and mopeds. These included the 48 Sport of 1958, the Brisk, and the Piuma, all but identical to the Brisk but with a 3-speed gearbox. Introduced in 1961, it was marketed as the Puma in the UK.
A Sport model without pedals joined the range in 1962 which had the 12 litre "jellymould" tank mounted between the tank and the seat, giving it the appearance of a motorcycle. It weighed 49kg and could achieve 80kph in unrestricted form. Performance had been improved with the aid of a downdraught carburettor.
1964 saw the introduction of versions using the fan-cooled engine as fitted to the the Brio.
For the US market there was the Falcon, with 18 inch wheels, a larger tank, solo seat and kickstarter.
The 48 Sport Lusso (SL1) arrived in 1964 with 50cc fan-cooled engines derived from the Brio. Named the Cacciotore for the Italian market, it had a larger bore, a four-speed gearbox, and a tank reminiscent of the Mk3 250, with twin filler caps. This model was available with high or low exhaust.
The SL1A followed in 1968, and the next year Ducati presented the SL3, the last of the series. "
Following models were all turismo types - and by comparison, rather pedestrian. The SL1/A came in 1968, and the the last of the line, the SL2 with its very angular fuel tank, in 1969.
Sources: Phil Aynsley, et al
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