Ducati 98 Sport / SS

From CycleChaos
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Ducati 98 sport 53 01.jpg
Ducati 98 Sport / SS
Manufacturer
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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Ducati 98 Sport / SS Ducati 98 Sport / SS Ducati 98 Sport / SS Ducati 98 Sport / SS

Overview[edit | edit source]

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 that’s 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 company’s range.

Make Model Ducati 98 Sport / SS
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