[shash_what]

FIRST POST!

go here for pics first-- http://www.ducati.com/docs_eng/photogallery_races/images/djhtml/02ddc/dr_down.html

 

[jmeyn]

What a concept: a press release with content.

Honda's also working hard in the wind-tunnel; it looks like aeros may be key in saving tires as well as fuel this year.



No more one size fits all, I guess.

 

[NickdaBrick]

Cool! But what's with the exhaust pipes?

They're humongous. Have those clever Ducati engineers figured out how to use expansion chambers on a 4-stroke?

 

[TheFox]

Re: Cool! But what's with the exhaust pipes?

I think it's to save weight yet still comply with the noise restrictions. The old volume vs surface area problem, you know? This way they have just one pipe that is a little lighter than the two small ones put together. In addition, it's probably more aerodynamic - this wide but very low profile can hangs down less from the tail, resulting in less resistance as air comes off the bike.

I think it looks really trick too. Anyone have any idea why the openings in the can are different shapes and sizes?

--Foxy

 

[granny]

Interesting day on which to announce the GP bike

Is April 1 universally regarded as a day for pranks? I Hope not as this is an interesting bike and a break in Ducati tradition. I'd like to see a GP inspired street version but shudder to think of the purchase price and maintenance costs. Currently, Duc's require service every 10KM, the cost of a 30KM service for a 916 is $750 in this locale. The main component of the cost of any scheduled service is the valve lash check/adjust (BTW, $750 is for only 8 valves not 16 - yuk).

 

[evilgenius]

Re: Cool! But what's with the exhaust pipes?

Noise reduction limits have been increased so the design won't include much noise reduction factor.

Personally, I think Ducati wants to retain the 'look' that users are familiar with. But , I'm no engineer and I don't understand the dymanics of exhaust flow/shape/resonance as well as I would like...

 

[Vlad]

We'll all have to wait until this new series of GP bikes competes on the tracks of the world to see who has the fastest, but Ducati has already won one contest - they have created the most beautiful bike. While their competitors looks like clones from the same mold, the Ducati offers dramatically different styling. Now if they could only make a street bike with the new two valve engine that looks like this one they would have me saving up for one, and I think I would have to get in line.



Vlad

 

[fernandopan]

Re: Cool! But what's with the exhaust pipes?

This bike is going to be the coolest on the race track!!

The openings in the can are not different. The angle of the photo makes them look different.

If you look close, you will see that the openings are not perpendicular to the direction of the bike, but in a different angle.

 

[El_Flaco]

I hope that exhaust can is an April Fools' prank... It's pretty ugly and doesn't seem to fit that tail section very well at all. For Italian styling, it seems to be lacking so far- many of the others are far more attractive in my eye.

 

[obandoj]

Jose Obando

If it goes as good as it looks, everybody else will be in trouble, time will tell.

 

[Bryan8252]

Re: Interesting day on which to announce the GP bike

Granny--If you can't afford $750.00 every 6000 miles for service on a Duc, then you are not in your element. People like you should buy Honda Intercepters. Everybody has one and anyone can afford one. Duc's are special. They are built for people who truly appreciate the art of the motorcycle and are willing to pay for the privilage of owning the very best. They are not built for the masses.

Bryan

 

[badsac]

Re: Cool! But what's with the exhaust pipes?

Ha. Good spot.

 

[shash_what]

exhaust canister

Many people seem to be complaining about the exhaust pipe. It's not the pipe that's big, it's the tail-piece that is so svelte which makes the pipe look big in comparision. The canister probably is the same size as the two termignonis together on the 998/748. Personally, I can't comment on the styling before I see the front quarter of the bike, but considering the history of Ducati, I'll expect the thing to be a hard-on-inizer (wow, I gotta apply for a patent on that word).

 

[me_and_the_chicken]

Re: Cool! But what's with the exhaust pipes?

Noise restrictions? I didn't know about those, but it fits with the reasons I was considering. When you get right down to it, the increased volume throughout the system can only do it good by decreasing back pressure.

It would also make more sense than trying to route 4 individual pipes back to the can and saving weight as you said.

My next question is will the team wrap the system with heat tape.

Also, there would be no reason for even considering expansion chambers on a four stroke as there are not the same internal dynamics within the case of the engine (comparing with a two stroke of course).

Later on,

Big Din K.R.

 

[jmeyn]

Re: Cool! But what's with the exhaust pipes?

My guess is it's part of an EXUP type tuning system aimed at smoothing and broadening the power band. With max power at 16K rpm and max torque at 14K they must need some kind of tuning to get managable thrust from 10 to 14K.

There's a question about this posted at www.ducati.com.

 

[jmeyn]

Re: Interesting day on which to announce the GP bike

Don't forget insurance!

Street versions of WSB and AMA Formula Xtreme bikes are pretty insane, when you think about it. But fun insane.

 

[jmeyn]

Re: exhaust canister

Are you talking about the pipe or the canister? It looks like a dual two-into-one system; the two exhaust ports in each bank feed a pipe with a cross-section way greater than twice the port area. About twice the diameter or four times the area.

The canister looks really small compared to the two enormous pipes that fill it although it's much closer to the camera.

 

[grover750]

wow! if only I could be so special...

Did you lift your last two sentences from a Ducati brochure or a HD brochure? I love it when people take a poor feature ($750 every 6000 miles is ridiculous!) and try to turn it into a feature of a status symbol. How much money would I have to throw away to be in the "Ducati element", Bryan?

BTW, I really like Ducatis (and some HDs), but can't stand the attitude that accompanies most riders. BMW riders have over priced bikes also, but they don't seem to have the attitude.

I guess I must be part of the masses. Poor me.

Ride on,

grover750

 

[shash_what]

Re: exhaust canister

The pipe looks really trick. More like an expansion chamber, and I suspect it has been designed to work as one too-- i.e. to regulate the back pressure at various RPMs. What say?

 

[luvmyvfr]

Ducatis are beautiful, but "best"?

Funny,

When I go riding, I see more Ducati's than I do Interceptors (spell it right, for crying out loud), but not even those nearly so much as R1's, CBR's and Ninjas. I would say Interceptors are some of the rarer sport bikes (sport-touring to motorcyclists, but try to tell someone you ride a sport-touring bike and all they hear is sport bike) on the road.

Are you just mad at Interceptors because their motor is the antithesis of a Ducati desmo-whichever, never needing a valve adjustment? Do you have to pick on them because deep down you feel bad about paying $750 every 6000 miles to have your ego/wee-wee replacement/status symbol/work of art (pick whichever suits you the best) adjusted? While I agree that Ducati have some of the prettiest motorcycles, it's hard for me to equate that with being the "best" motorcycles, irrespective of what they've won, or how much they cost. To me "best" means it is perfect, or the most perfect, for me. So far a Ducati would only be my second bike, not my first. Probably because I ride more than the average Duc owner, so position, performance and cost weigh equally with me.

luvmyvfr