Latest news with #Panigale
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
You Don't Actually Need A Liter Bike To Run Quickly At The Track
There's something extra visceral and exciting about running at a race track on two wheels, but once you get hooked on reducing your lap times you're likely to burn dollars in equal measure to gasoline. There's some good news, though, because you don't necessarily need to rush out and go buy a new $34,000 Ducati Panigale V4. If you went to the Kawasaki store and bought yourself a nice lightweight Ninja 400 for just $5,200 instead, you can still get out and rip it with the big boys. With a few quick modifications the Ninja gains around 10% more horsepower at the rear wheel for about 53 ponies, and while that's still quite a bit shy of the Ducati's 209, there's something all the more fun about riding a slow bike fast, even at the track. Besides, a Panigale isn't even as fast as a cheap old GSX-R anyway. Especially if you're new to track riding, you will probably want to start with a cheaper sport bike anyway. Being bigger, heavier, and more powerful means a big engine bike will go through tires and fuel at a much quicker rate, and it's way more expensive to buy parts for your big bike if you put it on its side. A slower and smaller bike will also help you to develop your riding skills much better, instead of hiding your mistakes or glossing over your bad riding practices with more straight line speed and power. If you can be fast on a Ninja 400, you'll be even faster when you do graduate to a liter bike. Read more: Save Your Engine: 5 Tips For Preventing And Cleaning Carbon Buildup Jeremiah of Big Time went through all of this in the above recent video, endeavoring to make his Ninja just a little more powerful with some help from Graves Motorsports, then hit the track to see if he could keep up with the big boys. I doubt that the five horsepower that Jerry's Ninja gained made a seriously significant difference in his lap times, or allowed him the go-fast to be able to pass some guys on liter bikes, but more power rarely hurts, right? It is more likely that Jerry has more experience and better track riding skills than some of the other folks on "faster" bikes that he passed. The Ninja 400 is also 60 pounds or so lighter than most of the big liter bikes in ready-to-ride conditions, and that's going to be a huge advantage for the smaller, slower, and significantly cheaper machine. Don't be afraid of being slow. You need to be slow in order to learn how to be fast. Work with what you've got until your skill level outshines your bike of choice. Once you have that, you can think about upgrading to more power. Take it easy. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
New-gen Ducati Monster with V2 engine spied testing in Europe: What you should know
The new-gen Ducati Monster will feature an all-new design and a new V-twin powerplant. Check Offers The next generation of the Ducati Monster was recently spied testing in Europe, and it is set to arrive with a range of updates, including a new V2 powerplant, updated design, and added features. The Italian motorcycle brand has been introducing the new 890 cc engine in models such as the Panigale, Streetfighter, and the Multistrada. The upcoming Ducati Monster V2 will be the next to join the V-twin lineup. Ducati's latest 890 cc V2 engine was unveiled in November 2024, leaving behind the brand's coveted, but high-maintenance desmodronic valve technology. It is claimed to be the lightest engine from the Italian brand and was developed in adherence to the Euro5+ standards. Equipped with an Intake Variable Timing valve system, it makes 70 per cent of its maximum torque at 3,000 rpm. Also Read : 2025 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle launched in India at ₹ 12.60 lakh The engine features aluminium liners and weighs just 54.4 kg. It utilises a spring valve timing system, which was first introduced in the V4 Granturismo. Ducati says the valve clearance is to be checked every 30,000 km, whereas the oil change is scheduled after every 15,000 km. To optimise weight distribution, the cylinders are turned backwards at a 20° angle from the horizontal cylinder to the relative plane. The engine is also fairly versatile, with Ducati offering it in two power output versions - 120 bhp or 113 bhp, both arriving at 10,750 rpm. With the track-only racing exhaust, the 120 bhp variant jumps to 124 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 98 Nm of torque at 8,250 rpm. It remains to be seen whether the new Monster will get the sportier version of the V2 engine. Ducati Monster V2: Design and hardware changes The next generation Monster will be the first to not feature the desmodronic valve system typical of Ducati bikes in the past. In terms of its design, the upcoming Monster will bring a new look. The spy shots showcase a new design for the bodywork, with large tank shrouds and a new subframe. The tail section has been revised as well, and the bike gets a new exhaust system with a larger catalytic converter. The prototype rides on new alloys, which are expected to make it to production. On the hardware front, the new Monster prototype appears to feature the same components as the MY24 model. The setup consists of 43 mm upside-down forks and a pre-load adjustable monoshock at the rear. Braking performance comes with twin 320 mm discs at the front and a single 245 mm rear disc with Cornering ABS. At present, there are no official details available regarding the Ducati Monster's launch timeline. The next generation of the motorcycle is expected to be unveiled sometime between late 2025 and early 2026. Check out Upcoming Bikes In India. First Published Date: 15 May 2025, 09:34 AM IST
