Ducati 916

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Ducati 996 resting on a rear wheel stand

The Ducati 916 and is an Italian sports motorcycle manufactured by Ducati from 1993 to 1999. In contrast to Japanese inline four-cylinder competitors of the time, it's V-twin engine produced less outright power, but a more even torque spread. The 916 model was replaced by the 996 model in 1999.

1 Four Valves
2 Ducati 916
- 2.1 Technical Data
3 Racing
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Four Valves

The first development of the 916 model family can be traced back to the development of the 4valve Ducati engine, through racing to the road going 851 and 888 models.

The chief designer of Ducati motorcycles since the 1970s was the late Fabio Taglioni (1920-2001). He introduced the Pantah in 1979; its engine was updated in the 1990s in the SuperSport (SS) series. All modern Ducati engines are derivatives of the Pantah, which uses a set of revolving cams to actuate the engine's valves. This design is specific only to Ducati motorcycles. DESMO is the official name of this system.

[edit] Ducati 916

First released in 1994 (very limited number released in 1993), the Ducati 916 was admired because of its epochally new design and outstanding technical features. Designed by Massimo Tamburini and his team at the Cagiva Research Centre in San Marino, it was a water-cooled version of the 888 that allowed for higher output levels, combined with a striking new bodywork that featured aggressive lines. It was later replaced by the 996 and 998 with similar design but revised engines and even more power.

Design of the Ducati 916 was a balance between function and form:

The single-sided swingarm was beautiful, but designed to make wheel changes faster during races
The underseat exhausts improve aerodynamic performance, and resultantly gave very clean lines. This feature was initially intorduced on Honda NR, however, Ducati popularized it and it is mistakenly considered to be one of the original trademarks of 916 line.

Massimo Tamburini went on to design the MV Agusta F4, the bike which is seen as his replacement for the 916 range, and it shares many similarities with the 916 especially in the tail section.

[edit] Technical Data

two-cylinder, four-stroke four-valve watercooled V engine
113 hp (84 kW) at 9000 rpm
top speed of 265 km/h (164 mph)
Single-sided rear swingarm
Upside-down forks
Underseat exhaust pips

[edit] Racing

Carl Fogarty on his Ducati 916

From the 916 onwards, through the 996 and the 998, the motorcycle campaigned very successfully in the World Superbike competition, winning world championships with Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser, and Troy Bayliss:

Year	Country	Rider	Model
1994	United Kingdom	Carl Fogarty	Ducati 916
1995	United Kingdom	Carl Fogarty	Ducati 916
1996	Australia	Troy Corser	Ducati 916
1998	United Kingdom	Carl Fogarty	Ducati 996
1999	United Kingdom	Carl Fogarty	Ducati 996
2001	Australia	Troy Bayliss	Ducati 996