Ducati have been releasing a lot of info recently on their 2010 range. Earlier in the week we gave you a detailed look at the new Multistrada 1200. Now it is time to bring you up to date with few more machines from the 2010 model line-up.
The 2010 SportClassic family is represented by the 70s-era style of the GT 1000.The GT is powered by the outstanding Desmo 1000 Dual Spark engine. The torquey air-cooled 90º L-Twin is the perfect match to power this Ducati classic bike with a sporting soul.
The cylinders, with their traditional cooling fins and classic ‘L’ configuration, are direct descendents of the original Taglioni design. Slim and exposed for all to see, the latest 2 valve Desmo system, fuel-injection and computer controlled engine management ensure that the 1000 Dual Spark engine is powerful, dependable and thrilling to ride.
The GT 1000 design takes advantage of the beauty of the signature Ducati tubular Trellis frame. The beauty of wire-spoke wheels grace a Ducati road bike once again. Starting with an alloy hub, the wheels use 36 chromed stainless steel spokes.
The GT 1000 is fitted with classic 17” chrome rims. Mounted to these rims are modern interpretations of classic sport tyres, replicating the original patterns, but with modern radial construction techniques and rubber compounds.
The alloy hubs mount dual 320mm brake discs up front and a 245mm disc in the rear, both using lightweight black Brembo floating callipers to provide extra stopping power.
The Hypermotard family expands for 2010 with the addition of the exciting new Hypermotard 796.
At 825mm, the seat height of the 796 is 20mm lower than the 1100 and weighs in at just 167kg, partly achieved by a lightweight engine, but also by continued chassis development that includes redesigned top and bottom fork clamps and an improved frame layout which eliminates almost all of the forged elements previously used with the 1100. The lightened frame retains its torsional strength to become even more agile and easier to handle than before, while 17″ wheels by Enkei are produced in lightweight aluminium to keep the unsprung weight low and handling, braking and acceleration performances high. The same 3.50 front and 5.50 rear rim sizes as the 1100 are used with Bridgestone tyres.
Suspension duties up front are taken care of by a pair of very capable 43mm Marzocchi forks, while the rear is managed by a Sachs suspension unit featuring adjustable spring preload and return damping, allowing adjustments for riding style or load. The rear operates through a similar progressive link to the 1100 and uses the signature Hypermotard single-sided swingarm.
Twin 305mm semi-floating discs gripped by radially mounted 4-piston Brembo callipers provide powerful and progressive front-end braking with that all-important rider-friendly ‘feeling’, while the rear is equipped with a 245mm disc and 2-piston calliper, also by Brembo.
The 796 engine isn’t just a ‘stroked’ 696 – it’s a completely brand new Desmodue power unit. A new crankshaft designed around lightweight 848-type flywheels, spins with a 66mm stroke instead of the 696’s 57.2mm, helping to maximise power to an impressive 59.6kW @ 8000rpm and torque to 75.5Nm @ 6250rpm while maintaining the smooth and enjoyable character, famous of all Desmodromic L-Twins. To protect power delivery and maintain optimum efficiency, an oil cooler similar to the 1100 is used, adding even more family resemblance to its bigger brother.
An APTC ‘wet’ clutch gives a ‘slipper’ type action that prevents destabilising of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting and also gives the extra benefit of a super-light feel at the lever, a great benefit in stop-start city traffic or during longer journeys. The new Hypermotard 796 engine combines all recent advances in Ducati’s ongoing design, manufacture and production quality campaigns to offer competitive service intervals of 12,000 kilometres
Monster
MY2010 sees the Monster 696 with new exhaust guards, new engine crankcases and adjustable levers in addition to a brand new ABS version. While the 1100 also get new exhaust guards and ABS it benefits from the addition of a single-sided swingarm.
The 2010 version of the Monster 696 maintains the same design and technical specifications as the original that debuted in 2008. Up front 43mm Showa inverted forks offer a compliant 120mm of finely controlled travel. At the rear, a Sachs monoshock unit with progressive linkage provides a wide spectrum of both spring and damping setting.
The latest in Brembo braking hardware delivers exceptional braking power front and rear, improving rider safety. At the front, 320mm floating discs are gripped by four-piston, radially mounted callipers, while a 245mm rear disc works in combination with a twin-piston calliper. This powerful braking set-up offers unrivalled feel and feedback making the 696 safer across a broader spectrum of riding abilities.
The Monster 696 produces 58.8kW @ 9000rpm and 69Nm @ 7750rpm from its 696cc engine. With a dry weight of only 161kgs ensuring not just manoeuvrability and ease of use, but also increased performance in braking and acceleration.
The Monster 1100 carries over the same suspension and brake specifications as its little brother. While the larger 1078cc engines delivers an extra 11kW and 34Nm taking it to 69.8kW and 103Nm @ 7500rpm and 6000rpm respectively. For all this extra grunt the 1100 only pays a small 8kg weight penalty at 169kg.
To celebrate the winning of both the 2009 World Superbike and Superstock Manufacturers’ titles and the historic Ducati Corse logo change, Ducati are releasing two special edition 1198’s.
The 1198 S Corse Special Edition and 1198 R Corse Special Edition, both equipped with factory team-style aluminium fuel tanks, Ducati Traction Control and a special celebratory Ducati Corse livery.
The 1198 S Corse Special Edition weighs in at 168kg (dry weight), 1kg less than the 1198 S thanks to the beautifully made lightweight fuel tank, which also boosts the bike’s fuel capacity by 2.5 litres to 18 litres. The tank is formed in 2mm thick aluminium, brush finished and clear-coated to maintain a factory racetank feel and proudly displays the new Ducati Corse logo on top.
The new model will be supplied with a race kit consisting of a slip-on carbon fibre muffler kit by Termignoni including a dedicated ECU and a Ducati Performance rear paddock stand.
The 2010 1198 R Corse Special Edition features all the usual high specification ‘R’ components, in addition to a new beautifully formed factory team-style aluminium fuel tank and bold red, white and black colour scheme with a subtle ‘1198 R Corse Special Edition’ graphic on the tail fairing leaves no doubt as to what this magnificent bike is.
The ‘R’ is a race bike, pure and simple. Its competition specification and superior components together with advanced electronics and race-proven chassis technology deliver a level of performance that empowers with confidence and capability.
The 1198 R is not a replica – it’s the real deal. An incredible 132.4kW L-Twin Testastretta Evoluzione engine in a race-winning Trellis chassis set-up weighs in at 1kg less than last year to become an unbelievably light 164kg and is equipped with Ducati Corse’s World Championship-winning traction control system.
Compared to the 1098 R, the 1198 R Corse Special Edition is 1kg lighter thanks to the same light weight fuel tank used in the 1198 S Corse Special Edition.
This top-of-the-range model is supplied with a race kit that includes a full racing exhaust system with 102dB carbon fibre mufflers by Termignoni and dedicated ECU which raises power output to approximately 139kW (intended strictly for track use only). Also in the kit is a unique Ducati Corse branded bike cover designed by Aldo Drudi and rear paddock stand as well as an official cased plaque of authentication that confirms the collectable value of this exclusive motorcycle.
by Chris Lucan
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