The racing world is a part of Ducati’s past. Ducati’s motorcycles were competitive in endurance races from the middle of the 1940s. Ducati was a muscular believer in innovation and the pursuit of perfection. Ducati’s sole passion was motorcycle racing, which earned them admiration from all corners of the globe.
Ducati tried to increase power and acceleration through racing but found that the standard design was not suitable. In 1954, Ducati hired Fabio Taglioni as an engineer to improve the design of the Desmodromic systems. This was the core of ducati v2 exhaust, and it is still used in every model since its first implementation.
Desmodromic system
sport bike wheels were created long before Ducati. They were used by speedboat designers, Grand Prix cars, and even a 1954 Mercedes Benz Formula One car.
It is a technical explanation of the cafe racer wheels. This will help those who are not familiar with the internal workings of an engine. Below is a video that demonstrates how combustion works in an engine. There are four main stages to combustion in an engine.
1. The intake valve opens, and the piston retracts to let air and fuel mixture into the combustion chamber.
2. The intake valve closes, and the piston compresses air and fuel, combined with a spark that creates explosion/combustion.
3. The piston is pushed back due to the explosion that creates the power
4. The Ducati scrambler exhaust valve opens, and the piston returns to the top of the chamber pushing the fuel and spent air out of the chamber.
5. Repeat
The Desmodromic valve is a valve that opens and closes allowing air and fuel to enter the chamber and then, after combustion, to exit it.
The spring is used to bring the valves back to their closed position in traditional systems. This could have been a problem in earlier engine design. Incorrect spring tension or imperfect metals could lead to spring failures that cause valve floating. This could result in significant performance loss or even catastrophic engine failure.
Since the 1950s, every Ducati has had this system. It has won many races not only in Italy but also in MotoGP and World Superbike circuits around the globe.
Drawbacks of the Desmodromic System
The Desmo system had many problems in the past. One was the necessity to conduct frequent valve clearance inspections. Race engines are disassembled and reassembled for every race. Therefore, valve clearances must be adjusted continuously to ensure optimal performance.
Ducati has made engine modifications to its production motorcycles since 2010, to make them more efficient in maintenance. This is because the average consumer will not be riding the motorcycle on a MotoGP track.
Ducati is not going to abandon the Desmodromic system. It’s unique because no other motorcycle manufacturer uses it, which Ducati can be proud of.
Owning a Ducati
Gabriele Del Torchio, CEO Ducati 2007-2013, declared, “If it isn’t sexy it’s probably not Ducati.”
Ducati occasionally produces special editions like the Superleggera, which was sold at $85,000 for a select few. However, the rest of the production line has benefited from the technology created for these special models or MotoGP bikes.
Ducati’s start at $10,000 with models such as the Hypermotard and Monster, Multistrada 959 Panigale, and Supersport, all starting below $20,000 Anyone can now have a piece of the Ducati experience.
