DUCATI'S NEW MONSTERDucati has unveiled a new version of its iconic Monster at the Milan Motorcycle show this week.
The new Monster 696 has all the usual styling cues, such as the trademark trellis frame, but now it's a mixture of steel at the front and aluminium at the rear for improved stiffness and lightness. The dual-sided aluminium swingarm layout remains but it, too, is thicker and stiffer than before. Twin Ducati-style exhausts, a large single headlamp and unique detailing (sleek new mirrors, LED rear lamps) complete the new look. The 696 ergonomics have been improved and there's all-digital instrumentation too. The 80hp, 69Nm, 696cc, air-cooled L-twin engine is an evolution of the previous 695 version with 9 per cent more power and 11 per cent more torque.
DUCATI SUPERBIKE FAMILY GROWS
Ducati has a new entry-level superbike. The all-new 848 replaces the 749 and borrows heavily from Ducati's MotoGP and World Superbike racers. Its aerodynamic shape has evolved from the company's race machines and the riding position was configured by Ducati's team racers. It's a whopping 20kg lighter than its predecessor and the new 'Testastretta Evoluzione' engine produces an amazing 30 per cent more power than the 749's. With 134hp and weighing just 168kg is has a better power-to-weight ratio than Ducati's fearsome 999. The under-seat exhausts are evolved from those used on the 1098 and Showa supplies the fully adjustable rear suspension and 43mm forks. Four-piston, twin discs brakes, lightweight Marchesini Y-spoke wheels, a data acquisition system and highly evolved instrumentation are part of the 848 package.
DAINESE PREPARES REVOLUTIONARY NEW AIRBAG
After more than 10 years of development, motorcycle clothing supplier Dainese is nearly ready to launch its new D-Air airbag system. The company provided D-Air racing suits to its 125cc and 250cc riders for last weekend's Valencia GP and in 250cc free-training the system sprang into action to protect Marco Simoncelli during an ugly high-side crash. Racers Simone Giorgi and Michael Ranseder also felt the D-Air system do its thing over the weekend. The new system is able to protect areas of the rider's body that conventional protections leave exposed - the shoulders, collarbones and, most importantly, the neck. The entire system is contained in a new attachment that rests on the rider's shoulders and back, taking the place of the traditional "hump". It works totally independently from the motorcycle and triggers when the rider falls due to a slide or high-side. Sophisticated accelerometers and rate gyros located inside the "hump" detect when something is awry, and can inflate the airbag in approximately 40 milliseconds.
Calculating just how and when to trigger the airbag is what sets the D-Air apart and accounts for the majority of the development resources. D-Air Racing will be the first system to market but a D-Air Street system should become available in 2008. Visit www.dainese.com/eng/news.asp for video of the system in action.
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