Comments on: French Magazine Reports Ducati Developing Aluminum Frame for MotoGP (News) (Rumors)

By: Phil K

Phil K — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:06:06 +0000

It doesn’t really matter what medium you choose to design with, it the talent of the engineering crew that determines the failure or success. Steel works, aluminum works, carbon works etc… It’s how well the engineer understands the material and is able to manipulate it to achieve the desired end result.

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By: Ruefus

Ruefus — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:29:55 +0000

“Reasonable costs” in racing means you’re running mid-pack. Not always, but in most cases the one spending the most money wins. There are some fantastic examples of when that didn’t hold true, Toyota F1 being the one that comes to my mind.

Fastest way to make a small fortune in racing is to start with a large one.

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By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:18:02 +0000

It is easy enough for Ducati to go and hire aluminum frame experts to consult on design. The handful of companies that have developed the Moto 2 bikes on such short notice would be a good place to shop.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:49:42 +0000

re: “That is a very expensive looking piece of metal. New frames also entail thousands of hours of development time. Big bucks…”

but PALES in comparison (it should be noted) to the cost/risk of modifying an engine layout that a 1/4 century spent at the pointy end has shown… WORKS.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:40:55 +0000

re: “The cost of the bike would put it into the low $20k range at a minimum”

curious… rubles…? or pesos…? ’cause in dollars, a first of it’s kind production C/F bike from ducati (if there were to be such a thing?) would be more like 50k at a minimum. oh, and if they were to build such a thing (which technically they haven’t stated they would) it wouldn’t be on some run-o-the-mill superbike, it would likely debut on another GP replica who’s price would then see it exceed the original D16RR. were talking in the 100k range. you don’t “monetize” the TENS OF MILLIONS spent hiring the most famous rider/crew combo in recent history by basically selling “t-shirts and mouse pads” to the masses. heads up, there are no “masses”, this is the niche business of motorcycling.

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By: kirk66

kirk66 — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:29:48 +0000

I find it funny that this is such a puzzling delima for Ducati. First, selling a Carbon 1198 is not likely. The cost of the bike would put it into the low $20k range at a minimum and they need the mass market appeal. Second, It’s not like the trellis frame was bad. It’s just a little heavy. Third, aluminum makes comely sense. The Delta Box has been around since the early/mid 80s. It’s easy to produce. Easy to tune via addition and subtraction of material and it’sreliable in street and race setting.
I’ve said this in the past and will say it again. Take the vitues of the aluminum frame and design a trellis to style to hang the motor off of. You keep the tellis loyality and get a frame you can easily tune for flex. But I’m niether an engineer or play one on TV so I could be completely wrong.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:48:15 +0000

whoa, kudos to you sir for showing me something never seen before. no mean feat. who’s is it or what is it…? looks bimota-esque…? or harris…? swinger is SB8-ish, but not. picture/michelins on marvics/engine is circa 851, 888. like a conversion kit for that generation superbike.

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By: MikeD

MikeD — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:15:41 +0000

Indeed, TRELLIS still king on the Superbike side of their Menu, Checa seems to get along with it just fine. Xcuse my poor way of wording my “thinkings”.

I was referring to the ” STUCK UP stubborn mule actitude” that Ducati Corse has shown about the GP11 handling WOES…as in “My Poop don’t stink”… at least that’s the way they have been projecting themselves on my eyes with the way they have handle their handling WOES…JMHO.

DENIAL IS A BLISS.

I guess peer pressure works…they sure have opened up their “supreme italian heads” to other ways now (Spar Frame).

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By: pat walker

pat walker — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:02:16 +0000

I wonder if it will look anything like this.
[IMG]http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z428/gpff49/afd.jpg[/IMG]

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:21:54 +0000

re: “They might as well go pneumatic, narrow the vee or go inline if they wanna win races immediately.”

only problem is… wholesale changes RARELY win races immediately and end results are not gauranteed… especially not with something as complex and expensive to produce like an engine. honda took 4 years spent millions retrofitting radical pneumatic valves and zeroshift technology just to make their V4 a winner. and this from the company who pretty much INVENTED the racing V4 configuration (ref. VF750R, RC30, RC45, etc.).

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