The Demise of the V-twin.

Strika · Post by **Strika** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:29 pm

I read with interest recently in TW a column by "Kash" regarding the demise of V-twins. he was saying that Ducati are rumoured to be building a production V-4, which inevitably may head to WSBK! Aprilia are also rumoured to be heading along the same path with a suggested revival date of WSBK Season 2008. Which begs the question. will any one be left making these often loved, and more often bagged V-twins!! Or will they now be relagated to dirt bike engines Ala Aprilia 450/550????

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:01 pm

These changes are influenced by superbike/supersport rules.... For a while V-Twins ruled the roost not because they were better engines, but because the rules allowed them to have a certain CC rating... and that CC rating made them faster bikes...

Honda invented the VTR1000SP1 only sothat it could be raced competitively in superbikes.... other manufacturers refused to do it and eventually just pulled out... because they didnt want to make a V-twin...

So eventually the rules were changed to make 4 cylinder bikes more competitve... and all the manufacturers came back....

The downside for that is that Ducati now needs to either appeal for a larger CC rating or create a more competitive bike.... ie. a 4 cylinder bike... Most likely they have already appealed and have been turned down.... so they are going back to the drawing board....

matchan · Post by **matchan** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:18 pm

I found that an interesting read, I guess it makes sense for the ducati v4 engine concept to be introduced into production bike as it will fit nicely into wsb, if it does well it will help fund their 800cc efforts in the future.

I wonder how close it really is though ?

Matt

javaman · Post by **javaman** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:22 pm

What is the rule anyway? You can race bigger engine if it's fewer cylinders ?

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:29 pm

javaman wrote:What is the rule anyway? You can race bigger engine if it's fewer cylinders ?

Not anymore... up to 1000cc's for all bike in the Superbikes anyway

gco0307 · Post by **gco0307** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:59 pm

Ducati have been reported in press overseas to be pushing for a raising of the Twin Cylinder rule to a capacity of 1200cc within 1 - 2 years for Superbikes.

Reports indicate that at this stage there is a lot of opposition (understandably) and that Ducati are well advanced down teh 1200cc path.

Read into it what you choose but I reckon the limit will be raised to around 1100 - 1150cc for Twin Cyclinders for the year 2008. After all, the Italians run Superbike and will not want Ducati withdrawing as has been 'threatened' (apparently the comment was that they 'may need to reassess their racing programme')

Tim will tell but stay tuned

Post by **Wattie** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:09 pm

i think they should leave it untill they struggle.
but then again, if they raise it, the weights could came off the 4 bangers

matchan · Post by **matchan** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:18 pm

would ducati pulling out hurt the series or hurt ducati, particulary if all the japanese manufacturers had factory support ?

Strika · Post by **Strika** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:35 pm

Wattie wrote:i think they should leave it untill they struggle.
but then again, if they raise it, the weights could came off the 4 bangers

Yeah and then they may let the japs make as many engine mods as the twins are allowed too!!!!!

SocialSecurity · Post by **SocialSecurity** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:15 pm

cant say i would swap my I4 for a twin, unless it had much less frame trauma

if they allow ducati to run 1200cc's in the supers then maybe they will end up with engines capable of finishing most races, and not leaving dirty great oil slicks when they grenade

Neka79 · Post by **Neka79** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:16 pm

arent the inline 4's still running restrictors??
i mean the dukes are keeping up and being competetive...and its abt bloody time sum1 else won the ducatti cup...

i read that article..well i started to, Kash bores fark outta me...i like Groff's views on the peter principle (aint it the truth)...and sum of the other crap that was in there...