Ducati CEO clears about their V twin engine strategy

Few months back there were lots of rumers regarding four cylinder powerplant for Ducati's upcoming flagship motorcycle which will be replacement for existing Panigale.

Now it's obvious for one to think like that just because Ducati's legendary L twins motors are leaving their displacement category way ahead of class. because twin needs more displacements to match the performance of four cylinder competitors which revs like hell!

Interestingly romor got some push because Ducati facing restrictions in their bike running in World Superbike series. But that's all over now because Ducati CEO talk with MCN saying 
"I can confirm there is no officially confirmed project at Ducati for a four-cylinder engine to replace the Panigale V-twin. There is no Ducati four-cylinder superbike planned. “We have a V4 MotoGP bike of course. Maybe someone got confused!

That's Domenicali's words as CEO but we already know that replacement for Panigale is already in works.

So at least for this moment it's confirmed that We can't see V4 Ducati's anytime soon, but it will happen for sure, just the way happened with Ducati's Moto GP bike , afterall V4 are no match for V2 no matter that how much modern V twin engine gets either you have to increase displacement which is what Ducati doing right now or get extra cylinders for aggressive powerband.


Source - MCN

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Honda revealed RC213V-S

For last few years Honda have set fire on internet about their Moto GP race replica bike, and here it is RC 213V-S. Now it's like tradition to being race replica bikes sky climbing costly, Looking at the R&D and sophisticated technologies went into it, It's fare to judge their higher prices like Ducati did with their Desmosedici RR. But It's clearly Honda who set brand new benchmark with price tag of $184,000 in USD.

The RC 213V-S is going to hand build in Kumamoto factory at rate of one motorcycle per day. RC 213V-S will be available only in two colors, Plain black carbon fiber texture or HRC Tricolor. RC213V-S is powered by race tune compact 90 degree 999cc V4 engine which sports titanium con-rods.

Like any race bike the RC 213V-S is tightly bind package with mass centralized, underseat fuel compartment and carbon fiber fairing plastic. according to Honda theses parts are directly sourced from their GP machine, RC213V-S is only available through special website from Honda.

The some more parts sourced from GP bike are slipper clutch , Ohline forks, sand cast aluminum crankcase, swingarm, adjustable footrests, magnesium Marchesini wheels (17" inches) as well as Brembo braking components ( steel discs Instead of carbon fiber).

Lets talk about some numbers...

The RC213V-S produces 156.8 bhp in street legal form. And we're not kidding , It's just some 10 more horses than supersports class bike, So sure it's like joke after seeing at huge price tag of RC213V-S and years of hype around it.
 Honda also provides optional circuit kit which will make RC213V-S's V4 motor around 212 bhp , still not even close to racebike.

This replica machine weighs 170 kg in dry road form which isn't impressive considering Ducati 1199 Superleggera weighs only 155 kg dry, furthermore racing sport kit drops weight to 160 kg. The sport kit includes different map ECU , revised ram air intake tubes, and race exhaust system.

Having seen over all specifications we can say RC213V-S is really Moto GP level racing package but only in terms of handling and equipments as far as power is concerns, that's not even closer to regular liter class motorcycles , when Honda says "absolute MotoGP machine for street" you suddenly get's strikes about Yamaha's brand new R1 which is derived from Yamaha's Moto GP M1 Machine. Because R1's price tag makes much more sense. Not only R1 but many European machines such Panigale or HP4 makes tad more horses in street format and could even able to match actual GP machines when fully tuned. But we're sure Honda will have no problems to selling all limited numbers RC213V-S faster than expected

   

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