Ducati Hyperfighter

13.07.2008 10:16
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Thanks to information from a company insider, we can exclusively reveal that Ducati will be launching an all-new 1098-powered naked streetfighter at the EICMA show in November. The 2009 Ducati Fighter was presented to dealers last week to "stunned silence to the point of awkwardness." There's apparently a lot of confusion as to where the Fighter will fit in the Ducati lineup as it will be priced above the 2009 Ducati Monster 1100's ,000 and closer to the Ducati 1198's ,495. While the pricing has yet to be finalized, the Fighter is estimated to be in the -15,000 range.

The Aprilia Tuono, MV Agusta Brutale 1078RR, Benelli TnT rival will be powered by the outgoing 1099cc water-cooled V-twin from the 1098. That model is being replaced with the larger capacity 1198 for 2009. The Fighter will use a smaller airbox than the donor bike, so will make a little less than that model's 160bhp and 90.4lb/ft of torque.

The Fighter will use a steel trellis frame, as on the 1098, but will have a much more upright riding position. It uses a 1098-style tailpiece, but with dual stacked exhausts mounted on one side, shotgun-style.

We expect lower-gearing for punchier acceleration, making the Fighter a much more suitable bike for city riding than the 1098, but it should retain that model's fully-adjustable USD forks and Showa monoshock for excellent handling. We don't know if the Fighter uses a single-sided swingarm.

The Fighter marks a shift in thinking for Ducati's naked range. The Monster will now use air-cooled engines only (the water-cooled engines won't fit in the new frame) and will remain relatively affordable. The high-end segment of the naked market will now be solely covered by the Fighter.

This marks the third new Ducati model that we've been able to exclusively unveil in the last two weeks. In case you haven't already seen it, make sure you check out our coverage of the 2009 Ducati 1198; 2009 Ducati Monster 1100 and 1100S; and our by-the-numbers comparison of the 1198 with the rest of the 2009 superbikes.

The Fighter will be launched at EICMA on November 4th or 5th. We'll bring you official info and images then.
stary prispevek nize, foto je Desmosedici Monster concept

Ducati's road-going MotoGP replica, the Desmosedici, is the raciest street-legal machine ever available to the public. Its GP-derived 990cc V-Four motor kicks out around 200 horsepower to the rear wheel, creating a top-end surge of power that inhales run-of-the-mill literbikes.

But behind the Desmosedici's aerodynamic bodywork is a riding position that is kindly referred to as "committed." The less-limber among us would describe its ergos as "torturous."

But what if you could get that gloriously devastating motor in a naked sportbike with upright ergos? Well, the Ducati factory briefly toyed with this fanciful idea, according to European contributor Tor Sagen who commissioned this photo rendering from Italian designer Luc1.


Více na www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/ducati/2009-ducati-desmosedici-monster-concept-85065.html