Ducati's new V4...

That V4 hit me in the eye like a big pizza pie... it's amore!!! I should
fly over to Italy and personally shake Ducati's hand on choosing the
engine configuration with the brightest future... even though they
choked on using word "V4" on their Web site and instead coined it the "4
cylinder in L layout"... not very flattering... could it be the fact
that a V4 was the engine configuration that mostly spoiled their string
of WSB championships??? chow...

(Note click on the word DucatiDesmosediciRR... there are 7 pics under
engine)
http://www.ducati.com/wdw2004/index.html

Larry L
94 RC45 #2
Have a wheelie NICE day...
Lean & Mean it in every corner of your life...
If it wasn't for us the fast lane would rust...
V4'S are music to the seat of my pants...
1952 De Havilland Chipmunk...
Yank and bank your brains loose...
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/-xlax-/
http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/
http://www.fox302.com/index.pl?s=vg&user=netters2

 

speaking of itralyan art pieces... saw this today up at 4 corners (parking
lot at 9&35)...

http://mikeo.smugmug.com/photos/4458103-L.jpg
http://mikeo.smugmug.com/photos/4458104-L.jpg

phew. the owner was about 5'6 and 135 lbs, anyone bigger shouldn't even
bother trying, but man, it was a sweet looking little machine.

 

Could be that since 1971, when they first introduced their 90-degree v-twin,
they've referred to it as an L-twin. 33 years of tradition would indicate that
a 4-cyinder laid out in the same configuration would be referred to as an L-four
or something like that.

 

<yawn> Another museum or 'collector' bike using the shitty desmo valve drive
and at 50.000 euros, silly in the extreme. Buy it if you can to impress your
other dimwit friends and parasites.

-paul

 

At $60,000 per, I doubt it'll have much of a future.

nb

 

ahhhh hahahaha, ridden a buell yet?

 

Oh, I don't know. I like both. Maybe they'll both keeping making stuff that
people like and want to buy. Wouldn't that be a kick?

 

Ah, the subtle irony of it all. Gotta love it!

Tim

 

Perhaps you ought to try opening your mind. It ought not to be any more
difficult than opening your mouth....

 

I know man! It's not like Ducati wins any races or anything... What the hell
are they thinking?

DaveG
03 CBR 1100

 

[V4]

Oh but Ducati has been there & done it already...41 years ago:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/flashback/122_0313_apollo/

But they were gunning for Harley, back then...


cds

 

A rider with 25 years of riding experience, including Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha,
and Suzuki, but mostly Ducati (ranging from a '73 750GT to a '77 900SS and a '92
851 Superbike) and Triumph (including both Meridan and Hinckley machines, the
last six years spent on two Speed Triples) as well as Norton and MZ, multiple
restorations, several customs, plus building, racing, and winning with Kawasaki
and Ducati roadracing machines.

That kind of rider.

I don't see what your religion has to do with your lack of willingness to
entertain the idea that other riders might have different preferences in
motorcycles than yours.

Tim

 

I don't agree with the comments on the desmo valve train -- I too
thought it a quait throwback to the 50's, when metallurgy didn't
permit production of valve springs that could prevent float at
high RPMs. Now I see it as a different evolutionary path for
engine design. There are distinct advantages -- much less
work is required to open the valves, there is no counterforce
against the crank, etc. and of course no float. The disadvantages
seem to be related to lubrication (old Ducatis had low-pressure
systems) and adjustment (the new shim system on the four-valve
engines solves that).

It might make more sense to some if they got competitive with
the MotoGP bike before selling a detuned, street version. Who
knows what they're thinking? Maybe the point of racing is to
advance technology and maybe it's to sell street bikes...

I might rather have 2 999R bikes for the same price.

 

I see a 1972 Lancia Fulvia in your future.

Ron.

 

Thanks for the clarification, Brian. And I know where you're coming from. I've
learned never to say "never" when it comes to brands, styles, country of origin,
etc, of motorcycles!

Tim