Ducati's big announcement: PH2
Is this the end of Ducati's V-twin sports bikes?
It is no secret that Ducati is working on replacing the current Panigale, to be powered by a brand new V4 motor. The firm's General Manager, Claudio Domenicali, confirmed at last year's Milan Motorcycle Show that "We will see something in the future that is different than just two cylinders" and later went on to hint very strongly at a forthcoming V4 superbike using MotoGP technology. So will we see this released at Laguna? Sadly, PH2 is guessing probably not.
Those of you who are Ducati fans will be more than aware of the firm's tendency to released Final Edition (FE) models before they kill off a range. There was a 998FE and also a 900SS FE and they usually have some reference to the Italian flag on them. The bike shown in the press release has a green tail unit, hinting at a 1299 Panigale Tricolore model to be called the FE. Obviously the cynical will say that's just Ducati creating a limited edition model to shift old stock as the 1299 Panigale is not Euro4 homologated and therefore can't be sold in 2018, which is true, but PH2 also reckons that Ducati will use the unveiling of this bike to officially confirm the existence of the V4 but not actually show it. How else can they explain away a Final Edition model? Why do this?
Fans of the V-twin, and collectors, will certainly snap up the FE model as it is the end of an era that has seen Ducati win 14 WSB titles using V-twin motors. However the one question remains to be answered: will the V4 be as popular, or as successful, as the quintessentially Ducati engine it replaces? 2018 will be very interesting for Ducati's sporting fans not only in WSB with a new V4 superbike, but also MotoGP as it looks like it has finally turned a corner with this V4 as well...
In order to survive they have to keep up with emissions targets. Whether they can protect their soul along the way, only time will tell, surely?
And if you ever heard their V4 engines MotoGP in the flesh its sounds utterly amazing, if the road bike sounded anything like it would be epic
FFS, seriously? Euro 4 was needed in everything else from 2005. Is there a good reason bikes should be SO far behind?
Plenty of bikes suffered badly from Euro 3 emissions compliance with snatchy fueling etc. which must have made the manufacturers of the piggyback fuel controllers (e.g. Dynojet Power commander) very happy.
Also the Panigale name will continue, just not in 1299 guise.
Presumably the range topper will be the V4 and the junior Superbike will remain a 959 Panigale (at least for a year or two after the V4 arrives)
I didn't go for a Superleggera Mk2. having owned a Mk.1. However the base 1299 I've currently got will be replaced by one of these.
Countdown to the 7th Jul starts here.
Rumors and reports continue to swirl around Ducati, as the Italian manufacturer is linked to one brand or another for a potential divestiture from the Volkswagen Group. And now, the latest name being thrown into the hat is none other than iconic American brand Harley-Davidson.
In a report by Reuters, Harley-Davidson is linked to buying Ducati by unnamed sources, with a purchase price that is pegged around €1.5 billion, a number that has been put together by the bean-counting minds at Goldman Sachs.
Volkswagen is said to be taking bids on Ducati this July, which means the fate of the Italian motorcycle brand could be decided by the end of this year.
Continue Reading
Rumors and reports continue to swirl around Ducati, as the Italian manufacturer is linked to one brand or another for a potential divestiture from the Volkswagen Group. And now, the latest name being thrown into the hat is none other than iconic American brand Harley-Davidson.
In a report by Reuters, Harley-Davidson is linked to buying Ducati by unnamed sources, with a purchase price that is pegged around €1.5 billion, a number that has been put together by the bean-counting minds at Goldman Sachs.
Volkswagen is said to be taking bids on Ducati this July, which means the fate of the Italian motorcycle brand could be decided by the end of this year.
Continue Reading
Presumably you get my point.
Electronics package from the Anniversario not the Superleggera.
Ohlins NIX 30 up front.
168kg dry so 13kg up on the Superleggera. It's got a Li-on battery so no saving to be had there. I've got a set of OZ wheels to throw at it, will save 4/5kg. Pierobon subframe another 1/1.5kg perhaps. And the difference from there would be marginal gains.
Would help if I dropped from 100kg to 83/4 sometime soon no doubt.
It's not like V twin Ducatis are short on power for road use.. V4 will weigh more, do better at WSB, great, but will it be a better road bike?
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