It appears one of our predictions for the 2016 model year has been confirmed, as Ducati is set to update its “supersport” model, the Ducati 899 Panigale, with a replacement. Outed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), we know that the new model will come with a two-cylinder engine, with a 955cc displacement, and officially be called the Ducati 959 Panigale. This move continues Ducati’s push away from race legal sport bikes, instead choosing to showcase the fact that the company can make larger displacement machines that still rival supersport’s in weight. The 899 Panigale was exactly this, and we expect the 959 Panigale to be the same. We also expect the 2016 Ducati 959 Panigale to officially debut at the upcoming EICMA show, as one of Ducati’s nine new models to be released. This is in addition to the three new Hypermotard models that CARB outed today, as well. It will be interesting to see at the EICMA show if the Ducati 959 Panigale really is an all-new model, or if the displacement increase over the 899 Panigale comes about because of the strict Euro 4 emissions compliance for 2016, and the added engine chamber is there to help keep performance numbers in line with expectations. Time will tell. Source: CARB via Motorcycle.com
In addition to the 2016 Ducati 959 Panigale, Ducati is set to update the Hypermotard line, according to documents filed with the California Air Resources Board. The filing shows three new Hypers: the base model Hypermotard, the up-spec Hypermotard SP, and the touring-oriented Hyperstrada. Unfortunately the CARB filings don’t tell us too much about the machines, other than their emissions are lower (thanks to Euro 4 compliance), and that all three street bikes will use a 937cc engine and a six-speed gearbox. These Hypers surely represent three of Ducati’s upcoming nine models set to be released at the 2016 EICMA show, and we have to say that we are looking forward to seeing what the Italian marque has done with what is surely our favorite motorcycle on the market. It will be interesting to see what performance gains are made by the Hypermotard and baby Panigale getting engine displacement boosts. Is the increase in displacement going to mean more power and torque, or is it compensation for the increased rigors of Euro 4 compliance? As always, time will tell. Source: CARB via Motorcycle.com
The 2016 Diavel looks like this - so what was that belt-drive thing caught on test?
Could spied cruiser be one of Ducati’s nine new models promised for Milan show? We think so.
DUCATI revealed the above lightly updated 2016 Diavel Carbon this week. All very exciting, but it raises a question: if the Diavel still looks like this, then what was that belt-drive thing we saw in spy shots in August and again this month. Most of the bike press guessed it was a new Diavel taking a more cruiser-ish direction – and we fell into the same trap. But while they're sticking to their guns, we've reassessed. The updated Diavel Carbon lends weight to the idea that it is instead simply a new Ducati cruiser model and one of the nine new launches the Italian marque recently promised for the Eicma Milan show this November. Announcing that news, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said: ‘Two of these will take us into segments in which we’re currently not present.’ A model targeting the cruiser market would certainly do that, since many see the existing Diavel as more of a super-naked hybrid. The feet-forward riding position of the spied machine, together with its increased steering rake angle (best seen here), also point to a new cruiser model rather than a new path for the Diavel. The trellis steel frame looks different too, attaching to the cylinder heads as on the Monster 1200 and 821instead of extending to the sub-frame as on the current Diavel. If we’re wrong, and it is a new Diavel, then the updated Carbon suggests it’s not due to be launched until 2017, and we’ll know when there’s no Ducati cruiser at Eicma.
It appears one of our predictions for the 2016 model year has been confirmed, as Ducati is set to update its “supersport” model, the Ducati 899 Panigale, with a replacement. Outed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), we know that the new model will come with a two-cylinder engine, with a 955cc displacement, and officially be called the Ducati 959 Panigale. This move continues Ducati’s push away from race legal sport bikes, instead choosing to showcase the fact that the company can make larger displacement machines that still rival supersport’s in weight. The 899 Panigale was exactly this, and we expect the 959 Panigale to be the same. We also expect the 2016 Ducati 959 Panigale to officially debut at the upcoming EICMA show, as one of Ducati’s nine new models to be released. This is in addition to the three new Hypermotard models that CARB outed today, as well. It will be interesting to see at the EICMA show if the Ducati 959 Panigale really is an all-new model, or if the displacement increase over the 899 Panigale comes about because of the strict Euro 4 emissions compliance for 2016, and the added engine chamber is there to help keep performance numbers in line with expectations. Time will tell. Source: CARB via Motorcycle.com
At EICMA this year, BMW Motorrad is expected to unveil its first of many 300cc motorcycles that it is developing with Indian partner TVS. While we have known about this news for some time, the German company is just now giving us the official nod, showing today the BMW Concept Stunt G 310 in Brazil At the core of the Stunt G 310 concept is a single-cylinder engine, likely punched out to 310cc in capacity, given the name. Making things interesting, the cylinder head has been reclined back towards the rider, and rotated 180 degrees in order to create a super-short wheelbase, with an extra-long swingarm, for the concept. Also of note is the placement of the exhaust silencer, which is mounted vertically, right next to the rear shock. BMW says this is to protect the exhaust can from getting damaged in a crash, though we imagine it’s at the expense of suspension fade. We doubt much that BMW will keep much of the Concept Stunt G 310’s colors and styling when the German brand’s small-displacement bikes arrive, but clearly BMW Motorrad has younger riders on its brain with the design. Having Chris Pfeiffer help one last time hock the company’s wares helps too. The now retired stunt rider helped BMW develop a number of stunting-focused features for the Stunt G 310. There is a lockable throttle, for when the stunter’s right hand is off the throttle. Also, the gear ratio has also been changed for down-low acceleration, while the rear brake disc has been oversized for easy stopping maneuvers. A second brake lever has been added next to the clutch lever, in case a rider’s right foot is off the bike and the rear brake needs to be applied. A stunt tail, axel pegs, and crash bars complete the package. Overall the design is fetching, once your seizure from the bright colors stops. BMW seems to be using the same strategy that we say KTM employ when bringing out its small-displacement line: appealing to younger riders through hooligan antics. Not much of this translates into the models we’ll see from the Roundel Brand, but it’s interesting to see BMW Motorrad getting gritty. We like that…and maybe we like the bike too.
