So why Sportbikes?
Most of the time you only see a sportbike as a blur of color passing by. Otherwise the bike is
sitting in a parking lot and most people are afraid to get a good close up look for fear of angering
the owner. About the only time you get to see a motorcycle up close is at a museum or motorcycle
show. There are so many bikes at a show that you really don’t have time to appreciate all the
design work that goes into a motorcycle.
What’s the point of the exhibit?
The point is to show how much time and effort go into the design of the modern sportbike. This is
your chance to take a good close look at the different design styles of the Japanese and Italians.
The technical design, purpose
and looks are very different.
To have both kinds of bikes
close together helps you see
how different they are.
Supersport Design
The Italian designers at Ducati
looked to make the Supersport
very sculptural. The curves and
dips roll together giving a rippled
flow from front to back.
Designers drew on the human
form for inspiration – look at the
bike from above and notice the
form and shapes.
Desmodue
Desmodromic valve control is in part responsible for the spectacular performance of the Ducati L-
twin engine.
Desmodromics eliminates conventional
valve springs used to close engine valves. Instead, a separate camshaft and rocker arm
mechanically open and close each valve. Without the need to overcome heavy spring pressure,
friction is decreased resulting in increased power and less wear on components. Furthermore,
the problem of valve float or “bounce” at high engine rpm’s is eliminated
The air-cooled engine makes the design simpler and lighter weight. Notice the fins on the engine
and how the air travels through the ductwork from the front intakes.
Trellis Frame
Through years of testing and development, Ducati has proven that innovative chassis engineering
and evolutionary frame design are the keys to winning races and building the confidence and
skills of sport motorcyclists. The Ducati tubular frame is light and ridged.
Brakes
Notice the large Brembo brakes. There are two sets of brake discs in the front and one on the
back. Most of the braking power comes from the front. If you compare the brakes on a sportbike
to a cruiser, the sportbike’s provide greater stopping power. It is possible to brake hard enough to
lift the entire bike up over the front wheel (“stoppie”).
999 Testastretta
Design
The design of the 999 differs greatly from the
Supersport. It is more angular, cutting and
slicing. It is more aggressive in its stance
Notice the two slits on each side of the
headlights. These were originally where
the turn signals were to be. Government
regulations would not allow them to be placed
so close so they were moved to inside the
mirrors. The parking light on the windshield
was not in the original design either but a
requirement for European countries.
The tension adjuster at the rear axel is a
design element that shows how important
even the smallest details were to the designers.
Network
A very unique design of the 999 cannot be seen. Use of CAN (Controller Area Network)
electronics uses a computer network to reduce the complexity of wiring.
A computer in the front is connected by two wires to a computer in the rear. Commands are sent
down the line when an input comes into the front computer to control a function in the rear. For
example, when the brake handle switch is triggered, the front computer sends a request to the
rear computer. The rear controller then lights the tail light.
Graphics
The Fila graphics applied to this 999 are a reproduction of the 2004 F1 MotoGP Ducati race bike.
Sponsors pay a great deal of money to have their logos placed on the bike. When the bike makes
a corner, is comes very close to being completely on its side. The logos on the bottom are then
visible to the cameras.
Sounds
Because the engine is a 90 degree two cylinder, it is similar in sound to the
Harley-Davidson V-Twin engine. Another unusual feature is the dry clutch. Without any fluid in the
clutch chamber it has a rather disconcerting rattling sound when the transmission is in neutral
with the clutch lever released. The Yamaha has a wet clutch and sounds a bit more dignified.
Yamaha R1
Design
The Japanese designers take
a very different approach to
design. Whereas the Italians
may change their design
once every 7 years or so,
the Japanese do it every 2
or 3 years. They follow the
latest trends in design and
can go in a completely
different direction quite quickly.
The design of Yamaha,
Suzuki and Honda sport
bikes tend to follow birds
of prey. This bike is inspired
by a hawk. When viewed
from the side, you can see the
strong downward beak.
The side fairings swoop like
feathers from the neck.
Power
The R1 is one of the fastest production bikes in the world. It has 165 horsepower and reaches 60
mph in around 2.5 seconds. The R1 gives first priority to speed followed closely by handling.
Where the Ducati has two cylinders in a “L” configuration, the Yamaha has four cylinders mounted
in a row. The engine is placed with the cylinders running from side to side. This keeps the bike
from twisting to the side when the engine revs.
When viewed from the top, you will notice that the R1 is wider than the Ducati especially where the
seat meets the gas tank. This is a result of fitting the different engines into their frames.
Conclusion
We hope that you will leave with a better appreciation for the sportbike. Maybe when you see them
on the road you will notice how diverse, colorful and unique each design is.
Our intention is to change exhibits frequently. We hope to showcase other types of motorcycles
and other types of three dimensional art on our floors. We welcome your suggestions.
Please enjoy our fine art on the walls of the Gallery. If you have any questions or need further
assistance, please call Tim Dillen at 828.553.4505.
