Ducati has turned over a new leaf with the launch of the Desmosedici Stradale engine. Calling it the ‘road-going version’ of the Desmosedici GP engine from its MotoGP race machine, this new 90-degree V4 engine is sure to be an important milestone in the company’s history.
While the 959 Panigale will continue to be on sale, Ducati has bid adieu to its big brother, the 1299 Panigale. The Ducati Desmosedici Stradale displaces 1103cc and will be first employed in the 1299’s replacement – the Panigale V4. Churning out a mind-boggling 210bhp and 120Nm of torque, the 90-degree V4 configuration makes the Desmosedici Stradale extremely compact, allowing low centralisation of mass.
The 81mm cylinder bore is shared with the Desmosedici GP, while the stroke has been increased from the 48.5mm to 53.5mm, giving it the displacement of 1103cc. The ‘big-bang’ firing order of 0-90-290-380 has also been carried over from the race bike, which effectively has the V4 engine firing two sets of V-twin motors. It also gives the Desmosedici Stradale its unique sound track. The two crankpins set at a 70-degree angle make it a perfectly balanced architecture without the need for power-robbing balancing shafts.
As on the Ducati racing bikes, the crankshaft on the Desmosedici Stradale is of the counter-rotating type, which helps in reducing the overall gyroscopic effect. This helps mitigate rear-wheel lift during braking, reduces the wheelie effect under hard acceleration and makes the bike more agile.
True to Ducati’s tradition, there will also be a superbike homologation ‘R’ version with a displacement of less than 1000cc. This bike would be unveiled next year and compete in the 2019 season of WSBK.
