Driving report Ducati 996 R
gingerbread
That’s exactly how everyone likes it: a delicious piece of cream with lots of pepper in it. Ducati 996 R, the hottest chapter so far in the Desmoquattro book.
Everything sounds very familiar. A little louder because of the open Termignoni silencers, but familiar, like Ducati-Desmo-Twin. Actually a rather banal noise: the stringing together of explosions in time with a 90-degree V2. So to speak, a regular irregularity in the ignition interval from 270 to 450 degrees, boom, boom, boom. But somehow Ducati manage to transform this sound pressure, born as noise, into a sound that many perceive as more harmonious than any symphony and more impressive than the rumble of thunder. For one or the other, the sound should even have an erotic effect.
The completely renewed Testa Stretta engine of the brand new Ducati top model 996 R seamlessly connects. And it’s even worth letting it cheer to new heights, because unlike the normal 996, for example, it fills its rev range up to the limit at 10700 rpm with nice, fat performance. Which was allowed to be read out loud at the presentation at the Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. Because the aforementioned racing mufflers are included in the scope of delivery and you are on the racetrack. And there you want to experience the performance of the new gem in full bloom.
In fact, the open version of the 996 R, which is seven kilograms thin compared to the SPS, is not only breathtakingly strong, but also breathtakingly fast. 265 km / h are on the clock at the end of the start-finish straight before reason turns one’s gaze into the braking zone. Given the speedometer deviation of normal 996, that should be over 250 real km / h. And that’s damn quick, considering the short run-up and the author’s not exactly streamlined dimensions. It helps that the 996 R sweeps through the wind more smoothly than its sisters, whose drag coefficient it falls below five percent with the CFRP cladding closed. The hot exhaust air finds its way out of the engine compartment behind tea driver‘s legs.
Even from low revs the Duc moves so vehemently that many gear changes are superfluous. The hard braking at the end of the start-finish straight, for example, initially tempts you to downshift three gears in order to escape the fast left-hand bend with a good connection. It is faster if you only downshift twice, because on the one hand this saves two gearshifts, on the other hand there is more than enough punch available to catapult the 996 R towards the next bend. It is also revealing to try to lap the route in sixth gear. The Duc accelerates with vehemence even from the tightest corners, where perhaps 3000 rpm are still present. And at the end of the home straight the speedometer still reports 230 km / h, after an acceleration distance of perhaps 600 meters and an input speed of around 4500 / min. Splendid. Power in all situations, available over a wide speed range.
The long development on the new engine with its shorter stroke and its correspondingly higher piston area and, above all, its differently designed heads (see also MOTORRAD 1/2001) has paid off. According to Ducati, 135 of the open 141 maximal horses remain in series condition with quiet ABE silencers. However, the somewhat rough throttle response should then be tamed when transitioning from pushing to load operation. This is also due to the much lighter and much smaller, but much more powerful central computer, which processes a large amount of data in the control of ignition and injection (each with a remote nozzle in the inlet ducts with a throttle valve diameter of 54 millimeters) and accordingly contributes to the good performance of the Motor does ?? and is now placed behind the gel battery to save cables, where it thankfully leaves space for oil.
A drive that dominates the appearance of the 996 R in harmony with the closely spaced SPS gearbox. But of course the R has more to offer. For example this well-known and so good chassis. Of course, the Superbike base cushions and cushions with wonderful Ohlins spring elements, which not only have the right set-up for every taste and driving style, but also respond Great-sensitively with all the firmness and thus get maximum grip from the tires at all times. In this case, the Michelin Pilot Sport, which are excellent in themselves, are probably the weakest link in the chassis chain, because their liability reserves were sufficient for extremely respectable lap times, but by no means to embarrass a chassis like the 996 R. It is all the more remarkable that moments of shock, such as those caused by street sports tires on the racetrack, were completely eliminated thanks to the Ducati’s qualities.
In a super-fast left-hand curve aiming downhill over a knoll, for example, the grip limit of the rear tire was so gently palpable that it could be comfortably balanced along it with the throttle grip. In this way, this package of engine and chassis opens up the unknown world of black lines even to normal sports drivers. The same applies to late braking: the Brembo brake system, with four individual pads per caliper, has already proven its performance, which is suspicious of reference, on the new Aprilia RSV mille. And they also slow down the 996 R gently in the beginning with low hand force, then increasing absolutely evenly. A braking system worthy of a top racing car like the 996 R. Only the front tires (in a more dimensionally stable D special specification) should always contain enough air to provide sufficient stability against the enormous mix of fork and braking potential.
On the subject of stability: the R also remains true to the well-known Ducati imperturbability, although it has been optimized in terms of gyroscopic inertia using lightweight SPS wheels and brake discs. So it’s not one of the miracles of handiness, but shines with unparalleled stability in an inclined position, which makes course corrections difficult here and there. This is how the 996 are: they want to be driven smoothly and precisely, then reward their pilot with fantastic performance.
B.just have to wait and see the more affordable series offshoots, because the R is not exactly a special offer at 26,200 euros, and the limited number of 500 units is already sold out ?? at least to the dealers, where suffering covets might still find one or the other copy. It is definitely desirable, as it combines the glory of the chassis and controllable power output of a sporty twin with the brute performance of a big bike. And that’s what we’ve all been waiting for, haven’t we?
Related articles
-
Ducati Monster 1200 R in the PS driving report
Ducati Monster 1200 R in the PS driving report Ducati’s most powerful naked bike Content of The latest Ducati Monster 1200 R with the revised…
-
KTM 1290 Super Duke R (2020) in the driving report
KTM 1290 Super Duke R (2020) in the driving report The Beast 3.0 can now also run undercarriage Tea same heart in new peripherals for a sustainably…
-
Ducati Panigale R in the driving report
Ducati Panigale R in the driving report Between Superleggera and 1299 The Ducati Panigale R forms the basis for the current world championship superbikes…
-
Driving report Cagiva Navigator
Driving report Cagiva Navigator Captain bluebear No seaman’s thread: Cagiva builds great motorcycles? with the kind support of Suzuki. Now also a travel…
-
Driving report Buell XB12R-XB12S
Driving report Buell XB12R / XB12S On the twelve Buell strikes. When it comes to displacement. Firebolt and Lightning are now also available with a good…
-
Triumph Street Triple R driving report
The Triumph Street Triple R The sheer madness What makes a motorcycle a hit? A coherent overall concept. And what makes a motorcycle a successful model…
-
Honda RC213V-S in the driving report
Honda RC213V-S in the driving report MotoGP for the road The number of units of the Honda RC213V-S is small, but the price is high. You have to bring…
-
Honda CB 650 F in the driving report
Honda CB 650 F in the driving report (2014) Delicacies for four-cylinder fans Lord! When did that happen before? Four elbows so beautiful that they…
-
Ducati Monster 797 in the driving report
Ducati Monster 797 in the driving report The new entry-level monster The beginnings of Ducati’s Monster series shaped air-cooled engines. They have since…
-
Ducati Hypermotard 939 in the driving report
Ducati Hypermotard 939 in the driving report Ducati’s fun bike The Ducati Hypermotard 939 should offer more pressure at medium speeds thanks to a good…
Related articles
-
Eicma Milan – Yamaha Niken GT: the three-wheeler in tune with the Tracer – Used YAMAHA
Endurance test interim balance of Ducati Ducati 1098: Viva la Diva The Ducati 1098 is an ardent commitment to the sport twin, gathers admirers and…
-
Comparison test KTM 250 EXC Racing / Yamaha WR 250 F Filming Open up, take off the film: the main actors have to prove what they can do in front of the…
-
Comparison test Suzuki SV 650, Honda CB 650 F, Kawasaki ER-6n, Yamaha MT-07
Suzuki SV 650, Honda CB 650 F, Kawasaki ER-6n and Yamaha MT-07 Four naked bikes in the test The hottest candidates among the bare mid-range bikes from…
-
The evolution of the Ducati 1199 Panigale The new super sports car from Ducati Content of Ducati test driver Vittoriano Guareschi at work: The Ducati…
-
Honda Hornet 600, Kawasaki Z 750, Suzuki GSR 600, Yamaha FZ6
Honda Hornet 600 , Kawasaki Z 750 , Suzuki GSR 600 , Yamaha FZ6 All-rounder comparison test Do you do a job in a high position? as the darling of the…
-
News – Kawasaki unveils its new 2011 ZX-10R … Superbike version! – Used KAWASAKI
Yamaha MT-125 ABS in the driving report Class leader among the 125s? The 125cc naked bike from Yamaha is now also available with an anti-lock braking…
-
Interview Piaggio France: MP3 350 and 500 2018, hybrid, Gilera , Yamaha three-wheeler , etc.. Site took advantage of the launch of the new 2018 range of…
-
Equipment – Two accessory packs to equip the Tenere 700 – Used YAMAHA
Ducati Monster 821 , Aprilia Shiver , BMW F 800 R in comparison test Asphalt sympathizers Even if there is no gray in the photo: the European mid-range…
-
Endurance – Niccolò Canepa joins the YART in world endurance FIM EWC – Used YAMAHA
Presentation of the Ducati 899 Panigale New super sports car from Bologna Content of Ducati 899 Panigale is the name of the new super sports car from…
-
Concept comparison Honda CBR 1100 XX Kawasaki ZX-12 R Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Suzuki GSX 1400 Yamaha FZS 1000 Fazer Yamaha FJR 1300 Six bombs The six most…