Seems that lately I’ve been on a Ducati
kick. So far we’ve covered bevel heads and belt heads, so lets continue with
the next generation of Ducati performance – the Desmoquattro. In this two part
article I will cover the development and execution of the 916 Sport Production models, the ultimate
Desmoquattro Superbikes.
Seems I cover the 916 a lot on this site. Funny that.
Seems I cover the 916 a lot on this site. Funny that.
It’s 1985 and Ducati, with fresh capital
and encouragement from new parent company Cagiva, is making a major gamble on
the engine design of a talented young Italian engineer by the name of Massimo
Bordi. Bordi’s engineering thesis was for a four-valve per cylinder desmodromic
cylinder head, based on the principles of desmo valvetrains that had become a
signature of the Ducati brand. Famed engineer Fabio Taglioni had developed the
original Ducati desmo system, and then refined it with his belt-driven overhead
cam Pantah design, but it was clear by the mid 80s that further development
would be needed to keep Ducati twins on the podium.
