RE: PH2: Audi buys Ducati

[sprinter1050]

I believe Srob posted on here that somebody else did desmo valves way way back so I doubt it's an exclusive patent to Ducati & hence of no "hidden value" for Audi.

[VictorMeldrew]

sprinter1050 said:

I believe Srob posted on here that somebody else did desmo valves way way back so I doubt it's an exclusive patent to Ducati & hence of no "hidden value" for Audi.

Yes, a bit of googling reveals Mercedes have had some success with it as well, but generally it is more trouble than it's worth in terms of weight and servicing requirements. Damn, the prospect of a V10 with a 12,000 rpm redline nestling in an Audi engine bay was a nice thought for a while!

[srob]

sprinter1050 said:

I believe Srob posted on here that somebody else did desmo valves way way back so I doubt it's an exclusive patent to Ducati & hence of no "hidden value" for Audi.

Some obscure manufacturers used it, and as mentioned, Mercedes used desmo' valves - and Norton experimented with it in a Manx engine at the 1959 TT:



So no patent for Ducati I guess, they're just the only ones that stuck with it.

[Sway]

That refinement experience may be worth something though...