Difference between revisions of "Ducati 851 Prototype"
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{{ | {{Motorcycle | ||
|name = | |name = Ducati 851 Prototype | ||
| | |photo=ducati_851_proto_87_03.jpg | ||
|aka = | |aka = | ||
|manufacturer = Ducati | |manufacturer = Ducati |
Latest revision as of 21:59, 23 November 2019
Ducati 851 Prototype | |
Manufacturer | |
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Weight | |
Manuals | Service Manual |
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Ducati 851 Prototype
1987 saw the
introduction of a new four-valve, water-cooled L-twin engine in Ducati's new
851. While the air/oil cooled two-valve motor was and continues to be a motor
with impressive tuning potential and durability, it had hit its performance
limit in racing, and something new was needed to compete against the
four-cylinder bikes from Japan. The liquid-cooled twin was based generally on
the air/oil cooled motors: the clutch covers are even interchangeable. But the
new engine could rev higher and breathe better, and this meant that Ducati could
once again compete on the world stage. Displacing, strangely enough, 851cc's and
producing nearly 100hp in roadgoing trim, the bike challenged the high-winding
fury of the fours with a thundering midrange, while the narrow engine allowed
for slipperier aerodynamics.Some bikes look great, no
matter what paint scheme, like Ducati's 916: in nearly any color or race-rep
scheme, it always looks terrific. Some are best as roadbikes, like the
Triumph Daytona 675: the missing headlights on track bodywork give the bike
a sort of blank look to replace the smirking catlike face of the stock
machine. Other bikes look much cooler in track bodywork: I really dislike
the design of recent GSX-R's in roadbike trim, but somehow that bulging
fairing center that replaces the headlight on an aftermarket fairing gives
the bike an aggressive, shark-like aspect.
With slab-sided bodywork and rectangular headlight, I
always feel like the 851 just looks dated as a road bike. As a race bike
though, it looks brutal and purposeful and this example is much, much more
than just some battered privateer 851 racer...