An EVOlution of power, aerodynamics and
style, for a dream Ducati which is
more competitive and powerful than ever Based on the motorcycle representing Ducati
in this year's American Superbike Championship
(AMA), the 999R has been significantly
upgraded for the American market.
A new front fairing, new rear swing
arm and suspension, a major upgrade to
150 horsepower for the engine are all
intended to reinforce the bike's
Superbike status. AMA technical regulations allow fewer
modifications to the engine than the
international Superbike regulations so Ducati,
which returned to the AMA championship
this year, has produced an engine with
technical characteristics that are much
closer to those of the racing version. The new 999R is yet another step
forward in Ducati tradition, which has
always been characterised by the manufacture
of series production bikes similar to
their race versions not only in
styling, but also in technical features.
With the arrival of the 2005 model, the differences between the
999R and Ducati's competition bikes have almost disappeared. The R features the
latest, most advanced Testastretta engine, radically redesigned from the cases
up. The result is an engine that delivers 150 HP, the most power of any Ducati
production engine and a safe bet for anybody who wants a bike that leaves the
competition standing.
The race-ready 999R confirms Ducati's determination to bring their production
Superbikes closer to their official racing machines.
In terms of power, efficiency and weight, the 999R is equipped with the best
components currently in production.
This uncompromising sports machine is only
available in the single seat version and is the perfect bike for all those who
want to own a real middleweight racer. The Testastretta engine is more highly
developed than ever before to maximise performance and minimise weight. Chassis
components have obviously been selected for maximum competitiveness on the
track, and special materials like magnesium, carbon fibre, and titanium abound
to make the 749R unbeatably light and mean.
Everything about the 749R's chassis is designed for maximum efficiency on the
track, from the trellis frame which allows adjustment of the steering head rake
angle to the brand new aluminium alloy box section swing arm like that used on
the 999 Factory in 2003.
The R's engine has been specially developed for efficiency on the track. It
develops 121 HP at 10,500 rpm and 62 ft-lbs of torque at 8,250 rpm.
Customise your new Superbike with Ducati accessories. Working closely with R&D
and the Corse race team, Ducati builds motorcycle accessories that let owners
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materials, Ducati itself has become the industry reference point for the finest,
custom Ducati accessories available.
Features:
2005 has been an exceptional year for Ducati Superbikes, the range having been
completely rEVOlutionised with a series of stylistic and functional refinements
and, above all, with a general upward shift in terms of power ratings and
performance in both engine displacements and all versions. The 749 and 999
machines have been made more aggressive, edging closer to the dividing line
between the street bikes and the official machine used on the world's
racetracks.
For the Superbikes manufactured in Borgo Panigale, 2006 will be dedicated to
digesting the generational shift, which has taken place just two years from the
launch of the new series, with the numerous innovations and refinements
introduced in 2005.
The decision to rEVOlutionise the machines was driven by the return of Ducati to
the North American AMA Superbike Championship, which has more stringent rules
than European championships with regard to modifications to mechanical parts and
chassis: the new model is a result of the efforts aimed at creating a machine
that would be race-ready straight off the production line, with a large number
of adjustments for attitude and riding position, while also being suitable for
use on the road. The result is a superbly contemporary range that is highly
sophisticated and able to meet the most demanding sports rider with the basic
equipment of the 749 and 999, and gradually approaching the S and R versions in
a series of EVOlutionary steps. This brings us to the current state of the art,
with the top of the range position occupied by a 999R packing a massive 150 HP,
proposed for 2006 also in a Xerox replica version, sporting the colours of the
"official" SBK ridden by James Toseland and Regis Laconi.
The Ducati sports machines share aesthetics based on the concept of racing
aerodynamics, with fairings that are highly effective also at extreme speeds.
That's the thinking behind the development of a new upper fairing, designed to
protect the rider's head and shoulders and eliminate air turbulence. The
fairing, which is higher and wider than its predecessor to increase the level of
protection, joining a tapered lower section of the body, equipped with a pair of
sweeping wrap-around and highly effective deflectors. Protection of the rider is
one of the key concepts of the latest generation of Ducati machines: the absence
of air turbulence makes the cockpit more comfortable - an important factor when
riding in traffic and offering significant benefits on the racetrack because
stress and fatigue levels are reduced, allowing riders to achieve consistently
fast lap times for longer. The unforgiving stopwatch has amply proved this
theory.
The styling and aerodynamic strategies adopted are just two of the factors used
to achieve the close relationship between competition and series production
machines. The box-section swingarm - very light and with very high torsional
strength - comes from the world championship experience in the Superbike class
and is the most EVOlved solution for road riding and for the racetrack, apart
from adding to the already mean appearance of the 749 and 999. Style and
function are also reflected in the exhaust silencer, which is integrated into
the rear fairing and protected by a black anodised aluminium cover, and also in
the ergonomics of the machine and the multiple possibilities for adjusting rider
position. Since their introduction in 2002, the current Ducati Superbikes have
been characterised by the ability to modify the positions of the handlebar
levers and footrests, and also the facility to adjust steering head rake to two
positions, a feature that is unavailable on any other sports machine on the
market.
There's also one final detail worthy of note: fore-aft adjustment of the
seat-tank unit on single-seater versions of the machines. These unique features
make the 749 and 999 the production machines that, of all the bikes currently on
the market, are the closest to the thoroughbred race versions.
The sports personality of these machines are also reflected in the engines, with
the impressive twin cylinder engine bringing sheer performance prowess to all
equipment versions. These results have been achieved while keeping a close watch
on environmental concerns: all the twin cylinder engines, including the 150 HP
mounted on the 999R, comply in full with stringent Euro2 regulations.
Just a glance is enough to recognise a no-holds-barred solo machine, designed
expressly for use on the racetrack at the highest level of competition. The
engine hails from the Testastretta series, while the solutions adopted for the
chassis equipment are among the most EVOlved and extreme in the world of
Superbikes, meeting with the approval of the most discerning racers. The 749R is
built making ample use of prestigious materials such as magnesium and titanium
to achieve the lowest possible overall weight.
Style
Original and totally aggressive, like all Ducati Superbikes, the 749R adds a
numbered silver plaque on the top fork crown, making each machine absolutely
unique. But apart from all the sheer guts it delivers on the racetrack, the most
sports-oriented of the 749 machines is produced to ride on the street too,
complete with mirrors with integral turn indicators. Apart from their elegant
styling, these unique turn signals have the advantage of being quickly removable
when the bike is being prepared for a race.
Chassis
In order to enable the best possible control of the performance available from
the powerful Testastretta twin, each chassis element of the 749R was selected
and tested with the aim of offering the maximum performance in competition
conditions. That's why, alongside the elements shared by all bikes in the range,
notably the trellis frame with adjustable steering head rake, there are several
other details that have come straight from the race department. The box-section
aluminium swingarm is structurally very similar to the unit installed on the
999s ridden by Toseland, Laconi and Lanzi or the Supersport raced by Nannelli,
with clear benefits in terms of weight and stiffness. The swingarm is combined
with a chain tension adjuster that uses sliders instead of cams, thereby
avoiding the undesired effect of changing the height of the rear end of the
machine and consequently the set-up when making adjustments to the final drive.
The similarities of the rear suspension with the official race 999s continue
with the shock linkage with flat progression, absolutely ideal to obtain the
stiffness needed to obtain the necessary precision when riding at race speeds.
The performance of the rear end is aided by the Öhlins shock, with fully
adjustable hydraulic damping and equipped with a dedicated spring and more
limited travel: 56 millimetres compared to the 71 millimetres of the other
versions. Like the rear monoshock, also the fork is an upside-down
configuration, with 43 mm sliders and, like all front suspensions installed by
Ducati on its top-level machines, the sliders are TiN coated to ensure extremely
low friction. Like the rear shock, the fork is fully adjustable and equipped
with a special bottom lug for radial attachment of the brake callipers. These
components were clearly designed for race applications, as were the brake system
and wheels. The brakes feature 4.5 mm thick rotors and radial callipers with
four pistons and the same number of pads, while the lightweight alloy wheels are
Brembo/Marchesini units with five Y-spokes in forged and machined aluminium,
offering a weight saving of 3.2 kg compared to a pair of conventional wheels,
without sacrificing rigidity.
Like all single-seater versions, the 749R provides fore and aft adjustment of
the seat-tank combination. It's also possible to alter the position of the
footrests, but with respect to the other versions the choices in this case are
two rather than five. This decision is based on the rules of the World
Supersport Championship, which disallow the removal of any parts welded to the
original frame. To allow the passage of the oversized diameter racing exhaust
manifolds it was therefore decided to use smaller footpeg brackets, which limit
the adjustments.
Powerplant
The effects of a reduced stroke and increased bore, which allow the Testastretta
twin to achieve higher revs, are clearly evident. On the standard equipment
package the engine offers 121 HP at 10,500 rpm, with torque of 8.6 kgm at 8,250
rpm. These values can be boosted still further with the installation of the
optional racing kit.
This model features the use of prestigious materials such as titanium for the
valve gear, magnesium for the head covers, and carbon fibre for the timing belt
covers with forced ventilation. Every detail is engineered to achieve the
maximum efficiency when entering and exiting bends. Consider, for example, the
super lightweight crankshaft and high strength aluminium alloy pistons which
serve to increase power output, and also the slipper clutch, which prevents rear
wheel chatter under conditions of intense engine braking. Even though it affords
performance levels that are at the very pinnacle of the category, the
Testastretta twin mounted on the 749R is equipped with a catalytic exhaust
system and consequently has emission levels that easily comply with stringent
Euro2 standards.
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