Ducati 98 Sport / SS
Ducati 98 Sport / SS | |
Manufacturer | |
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Production | Sport: 1953 - 58 SS: 1954 - 55 |
Engine | Four stroke, single cylinder, OHV, pushrod |
Compression ratio | Sport: 9:1 SS: 10:1 |
Top Speed | Sport: 90 km/h / 56 mph SS: 95 km/h / 59 mph |
Ignition | 6V, 25W, Flywheel magneto |
Transmission | 4 Speed |
Frame | Pressed steel backbone |
Suspension | Front: Marzocchi hydraulically damped telescopic fork. Rear: Non-adjustable twin hydraulic shocks, swingarm. |
Brakes | Front: 159 mm Drum Rear: 137 mm Drum |
Front Tire | 2.50 - 17 CEAT |
Rear Tire | 2.75 - 17 CEAT |
Wheelbase | 1200 mm / 47.2 in |
Seat Height | 760 mm / 30 in |
Weight | 75 kg / 165 lbs (dry), 81 kg / 179 lbs (wet) |
Fuel Capacity | 13 L / 3.7 US gal / 3.1 Imp gal |
Manuals | Service Manual |
It could reach a top speed of Sport: 90 km/h / 56 mph SS: 95 km/h / 59 mph.
Engine
The engine was a Air cooled cooled Four stroke, single cylinder, OHV, pushrod. The engine featured a Sport: 9:1 SS: 10:1 compression ratio.
Chassis
It came with a 2.50 - 17 CEAT front tire and a 2.75 - 17 CEAT rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 159 mm Drum in the front and a 137 mm Drum in the rear. The front suspension was a Marzocchi hydraulically damped telescopic fork. while the rear was equipped with a Non-adjustable twin hydraulic shocks, swingarm.. The 98 Sport / SS was fitted with a 13 L / 3.7 US gal / 3.1 Imp gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 75 kg / 165 lbs. The wheelbase was 1200 mm / 47.2 in long.
Photos
Overview
Ducati 98 Sport / SS
Designed by newly arrived engineer, Fabio Taglioni, formerly with Mondial, Ducati's first overhead-camshaft single - the 100 Gran Sport, nicknamed 'Marianna' - appeared on the racetrack in 1955 and immediately proved unbeatable in its class. The Gran Sport's overhead cam was driven by a vertical shaft and bevel gears, and this method was carried over to Ducati's twin-cam (bialbero) and triple-cam (trialbero) racers, the latter featuring Taglioni's famous 'desmodromic' method of valve actuation that dispensed with springs. Incorporating a four-speed gearbox, the Gran Sport engine was carried in a simple single-downtube frame and acted as a stressed member.
Capitalising on the Gran Sport's successes, Ducati introduced further developments of Taglioni's racer in 125 and 175cc capacities, while at the same time adapting it for volume production. This 'civilising' process involved enclosing the valve springs and using helical rather than straight-cut gears for the bevel drive, while to keep costs down, the crankcases were now die-cast. Otherwise, the design remained faithful to the original Gran Sport concept. The first such roadster - the 175 Sport - appeared towards the end of 1956, with 175T, 125 Sport, and 100 Sport versions following soon afterwards.
Apart from the Italian Grand Prix, the most important motorcycle races in Italy at this time were the long-distance events, held on public roads, such at the Moto Giro d'Italia and Milan-Taranto. Hence even competition-orientated models like the Marianna had to have lights and a horn, as required by the FMI (Italian Motorcycle Federation) regulations. Almost all the Italian manufacturers contested these events, victory bringing with it much valuable publicity. Ducati's overhead-valve racers had been outclassed by the Laverdas in 1954, but from the time of its arrival the Marianna proved unbeatable in its class.
Built in 1953 to join the ranks of the Ducati 98 N and the Ducati 98 T OHV, the 98 Sport became an immediate success in the market, despite its modest performance capabilities. At the heart of the Ducati 98 Sport is a 98 cc OHV single cylinder engine thats been mated to a four-speed transmission. The powertrain was capable of producing 6.8 horsepower with a top speed of 56 mph. Those numbers may not mean much compared to the bikes Ducati has in its line-up today, but back then, that was enough to make the 98 Sport one of the most popular bikes the companys range.
Make Model | Ducati 98 Sport / SS |
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Year | Sport: 1953 - 58 SS: 1954 - 55 |
Engine Type | Four stroke, single cylinder, OHV, pushrod |
Displacement | 98 cc / 6.0 cu in |
Bore X Stroke | 49 x 52 mm |
Compression | Sport: 9:1 SS: 10:1 |
Cooling System | Air cooled |
Lubrication System | Dry sump |
Induction | Sport: Dell' Orto MA18B carburetor SS: Dell' Orto MB20B carburetor |
Ignition | 6V, 25W, Flywheel magneto |
Starting | Kick |
Max Power | 1953 - 54: 5.0 kW / 6.8 hp @ 7300 rpm 1955 - 58: 4.8 kW / 6.5 hp @ 7000 rpm |
Transmission | 4 Speed |
Final Drive | 2.706 |
Primary Drive | 3.454 |
Gear Ratios | 1st 2.69 / 2nd 1.85 / 3rd 1.36 / 4th 1:1 |
Frame | Pressed steel backbone |
Front Suspension | Marzocchi hydraulically damped telescopic fork. |
Rear Suspension | Non-adjustable twin hydraulic shocks, swingarm. |
Front Brakes | 159 mm Drum |
Rear Brakes | 137 mm Drum |
Front Tire | 2.50 - 17 CEAT |
Rear Tire | 2.75 - 17 CEAT |
Dimensions | Length: 1890 mm / 74 in Width: 660 mm / 26 in Height: 960 mm / 38 in |
Wheelbase | 1200 mm / 47.2 in |
Seat Height | 760 mm / 30 in |
Dry Weight | 75 kg / 165 lbs |
Wet Weight | 81 kg / 179 lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 13 L / 3.7 US gal / 3.1 Imp gal |
Top Speed | Sport: 90 km/h / 56 mph SS: 95 km/h / 59 mph |