Italia Connections' New Ducatis
New for 98/99
Ducati will use singlesided swingarms front and rear on a new hubcentre-steered superbike that will take the firm into a whole new era.
The high-tech 140bhp beast will replace the sexy 916 in World superbikes and MCN British superbikes, but the 916 will remain on sale-much as the 888 remained available when the 916 arrived.
Hub-centre systemes ditch conventional forks. They seperate the braking and steering forces in a bid to make the bike more stable. The suspension copes with vertical movement without affecting the steering, resulting in better handling and the ability to brake harder-in theory.
Ducati engineers plan to use a single-sided front swingarm with a rosejointed double wishbone assembley and a steering linkage connected to a normal headstork and handlebars.
They believe the rider will get both great control and excellent feedback. But a similar system used on the Bimota Tesi was slated for its lack of feedback and Yamaha's GTS tourer was a sales flop when it was introduced with hub-centre steering in 1993.
But British bike builder Andy Stevenson proved hub-centre steering could offer good levels of feedback with his one-off Yamaha Thunderace-powerd ASP, tested by MCN this year. Ducati will need to design in plenty of feedback, especially for competition where racers need to feel when a bike is right on itslimit.
The sporty 996cc 916SPS engine will be boosted from 124bhp to a Yamaha R1-rivalling 140bhp at the rear wheel with the addition of a Desmodromic variable valve system. Sourses claim it willuse an electronically-operated, computer-controlled valve system to raise power throughout the rev range.
BMW is developing variable valve technology for its next generation sports cars and U.S.based MCM engineering claims a well-designed system could boost a 1000cc V-twin bike engine to well over 200bhp.
The new 996 will cost around UKp 12,500 and boast the same red colour scheme and flowing lines as the standard 916, called the Biposto. It will also boast a similar single-sided rear swingarm and fully-adjustable Showa shock and underseat exhaust system. It will have a carbon-fibre chainguard to shave weight.
Weight is a priority and Ducati's engineers want it to significantly undercut the now relatively lardy 202kg (444lbs) of the 916. They are targeting 175kg (385lb) for the roadbike.
Ducati design guru Pierre Terblanche said: "Weight-saving is definitely the way to go with sports bikes. It helps improve the handling."
The 916 will use the same steel trellis frame found on the 916 with minor modifications to save weight.
The 916's distinctive twin front headlights will be changed for tiny spotlights to leave the front fairing clean for a race-bred aggressive look.
Terblanche said: "We will definitely be sticking with a V-twin engine with Desmodromic valves."
When you look at Ducati's product range there are some models which are obviously coming up for renewal - they are approaching the end of their intended lifecycle. The 916 and Monster range are both ageing. Ducati is working flat-out on new modles now.
"Whatever Ducati replaces the 916 with will need to be at least as spectacular again as the 916 was when it was first launched in 1993."
Ducati is ready to enter a whole new era with American bankers the American Texas Pacific Group, taking total control. It has just bought out the remaining 49 per cent of the firm from Cagiva and MV owmers, the Castigioni brothers.
Ducati will release a super-powerful version of its 916 Biposto at the Munich Show next month, using a 996cc SPS engine! The standard 916 Biposto suspension and bodywork will remain unchanged. It is expected to go on sale alongside the standard 916 but cost around UKp 14,500.
Piccies of the Ducati 1998 model line up:
Biposto 916
Sport Production 748
DUCATI is releasing 100 limited edition silver 748s. Standard 748's are red and the sporty SP models come in yellow.
The bikes will be sold exclusively through the Neiman Marcus mail order catalogue in the U.S. and comes with an exclusive leather jacket designed by fashion giant DKNY, a set of Dainese gloves and a host of carbon fibre extras.
Unofficial importers are hatching plans to bring some of the bikes to the UK. It retails for £9090 in the states, but imports could cost more and are unlikely to come with the free jacket and gloves.
1998 900SS
DUCATI is targeting sports bike fans with an ultra-exclusive limited edition version- which will fill the gap before its totally restyled 900ss goes on sale next April. Fewer than 100 of the 500 900FE bikes being built will come to the UK
Monster 900
Super Turismo 944 ST2
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