2010 Ducati Superbike

2010 Special Editions celebrate Ducati Corse historic logo change and two world titles

The winning of both the 2009 World Superbike and Superstock Manufacturers’ titles is a fitting stage on which to present two exclusive and exciting special editions built to mark the historic introduction of a new Ducati Corse logo.

The 1198 S Corse Special Edition and 1198 R Corse Special Edition, both equipped with factory team-style aluminium fuel tanks, Ducati Traction Control and a special celebratory Ducati Corse livery, now complement the lightweight and agile 848 now in Dark colour scheme, the awesomely powerful 1198, and the high-spec 1198 S to complete the 2010 Superbike model line-up.

Engineered by the stopwatch

The Ducati 848, 1198, 1198 S and 1198 R Superbikes are the most advanced, most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycles ever built. They are the product of a team of designers and engineers who have combined their Ducati MotoGP and World Superbike technologies to create the finest sportbikes in the world. From race-level engine specifications to World Championship-winning traction control, the results are pure excellence. The Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system further underlines Ducati's technology flow from racing to production and demonstrates how solutions developed for the track can be applied to enhance safer performance on the road.

Designed by the race track

Ducati Superbikes are race bikes, pure and simple. Their striking aerodynamic shapes create a natural riding position, confirmed by Ducati development and factory team riders as the optimum for speed and agility. Performance is first and foremost in every detail.

Trademark Ducati features like the high tail section and compact front end combine with twin under-seat silencers and single-sided swingarm to express the sheer engineering beauty of aerodynamics and agility. Add the Testastretta Evoluzione engines as the hearts of the machines and the result is all-out performance Ducati Superbikes that look fast even when parked.

Ducati’s 2009 World Superbike and Superstock Manufacturers’ titles were achieved in a race environment red-hot with competition, once again proving Ducati’s L-Twin engine, Trellis frame chassis design and advanced electronic technology to be the superior set-up and choice of champions.

Superbike Technical Chassis

The 848, 1198, 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse chassis and suspension are the result of a 'performance-first' priority approach to development, in which the goal is always to further reduce weight and increase strength and rigidity to manage the high-powered Testastretta Evoluzione engines. While the 'R' model is purely 'monoposto', Ducati built 'biposto' practicality into the rest of the range with a passenger seat and footpegs

Trellis frame

Developed in cooperation with Ducati Corse, the lightweight Trellis frame features 34mm main section tubes with a material thickness of 1.5mm. The result is an incredibly rigid construction that remains one of Ducati's lightest frame solutions ever. Adding style to performance, the three colour versions for the 848 use frames finished in red, racing grey and racing black while both colours for the 1198 are in racing black. All 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse Trellis frames are finished in red.

Front suspension

Both the 848 and 1198 feature fully adjustable 43mm Showa forks, with an additional special low friction titanium oxide treatment applied to the sliders of the 1198, while spectacular 43mm Öhlins with low friction titanium nitride-treated sliders are used on the 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse. Both front suspension solutions have radial brake calliper mountings providing superior road holding and incredible feedback to give every rider more confidence and control.

Rear suspension

The lightweight Trellis frame and single-sided swingarm enable a compact and weight-saving rear suspension linkage system that features separate lower pick-up points for the push-rod and suspension unit. This 'tandem' design effectively reduces stress around the linkage pick-up area of the Trellis frame. Working together with this highly efficient linkage is a fully adjustable Showa single shock for the 848 and 1198, and an incredible Öhlins unit for the 1198 S and 1198 S Corse. The higher specification Öhlins for the rear of the 1198 R Corse uses TTXR twin tube technology and offers totally separate damping adjustment in compression and rebound. It uses experience gained in MotoGP to minimise friction and reduce the risk of cavitation under extreme conditions. The 1198, 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse rear suspension system has an adjustable rear ride-height, independent of spring pre-load and other suspension settings – valuable when seeking the perfect set-up for personal riding style or track conditions.

Single-sided swingarm

The dual construction technique used for the single-sided swingarm allows the main operational components to use individual aluminium castings so as to ensure strength around the pivot points, wheel hub and suspension links, while lightweight, fabricated aluminium sections are used to complete the construction into a single, beautifully engineered component. The 848 swingarm is colour finished in natural aluminium while both 1198 and 1198 S are in black. The 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse swingarms are finished in natural aluminium to match their new factory team-style aluminium fuel tanks.

Race-bred brakes

Ducati Superbikes have always been famous for their incredible, track-derived braking performance and the 2010 model line-up is no exception.

The lightweight 848 features progressive and consistent race-bred braking performance as standard equipment with a tried and tested formula that includes twin radially mounted Brembo callipers each with four 32mm pistons gripping 320mm discs.

The 1198, 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse uses Brembo's powerful Monobloc calliper racing technology. Machined from a single piece of alloy, the callipers achieve a higher rigidity and resistance to distortion during extreme braking. The resulting increase in hydraulic efficiency not only delivers incredible braking power, but also provides an enhanced and precise 'feel' at the brake lever. The twin Monobloc callipers each have four 34mm pistons that grip huge 330mm discs to help achieve spectacular brake performance. The weight of the discs has been kept to a minimum by employing racing-style narrow braking surfaces.

Super lightweight wheels

The lightweight front wheels used on all Ducati Superbike models substantially reduces the moment of inertia, enabling a faster change of direction and enhanced acceleration and braking performances. The construction of the rear wheels is equally as impressive with considerable weight savings over traditional Ducati single-sided swingarm applications, enabling maximum performance gains.

The 848 is equipped with Y-shaped, 5-spoke wheels by Enkei which are finished in black while the 1198 rides on 10-spoke wheels finished in a subtle graphite grey, also by Enkei. The 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse models go to the next specification level by rolling out on beautiful black 7-spoke lightweight, forged-aluminium, machine-finished wheels by Marchesini.

While the 848 uses Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa PRO 120/70 ZR17 front and 180/55 ZR17 rear tyres, the 1198, 1198 S and 1198 R models are fitted with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP at 120/70 ZR17 for the front and 190/55 ZR17 for the rear. These tyres have shoulder areas that maximize the contact patch and carcasses specially designed for stiffness under heavy braking and precision during high speed cornering. This precision in tyre construction enabled Ducati technicians to create extremely fine programs for the Ducati Traction Controls systems used on the 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse.

Magnesium subframe

Producing a front subframe in magnesium underlines the attention to weight-saving detail in the Ducati Superbike range. Its construction provides secure support for the headlamp, instruments and fairing, and the weight-saving around this high, forward position contributes considerably to overall 'feel' and control of the machine.

Aerodynamic bodywork

Carefully designed for aerodynamic efficiency and to hug the sleek lines of the chassis, the Superbike bodywork enables the rider to blend effortlessly into the correct riding position.

Its race-developed fairing design ensures perfect integration with the cooling system by providing efficient flow through the advanced, large surface area coolant radiator, which is assisted by lightweight, high flow electric fan assemblies and oil coolers. Aerodynamically shaped air ducts positioned just below the headlamps are precisely calculated to provide ample air delivery to the pressurised airbox.

The lightweight bodywork contributes considerably to overall performance by reducing weight, protecting the Testastretta Evoluzione engine's power output, and assisting the rider to effortlessly 'tuck in' from the wind stream and reduce drag to achieve maximum straight-line track speeds.

Instrumentation

This pure racing digital instrumentation originating from Ducati's MotoGP project has no switches or buttons to compromise its clean, minimalist lines. Instead, information additional to the default read-outs is managed from the left-hand handlebar-mounted switch gear, allowing the rider to scroll through and select from various menus. The display, which has a bright white LED back lighting presents rpm and speed, with the former displayed across the screen in a progressive bar graph. Optionally, the rpm and speed can be displayed in numeric values. Additionally, it displays lap times, DTC level selected (if activated on 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse) time, air temperature, coolant temperature, battery voltage, two trips and a trip that automatically starts as the fuel system goes onto reserve. Warning lights illuminate to signify neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, low oil pressure, fuel reserve, DTC intervention (if activated on 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse) and scheduled maintenance. The instrument display is also used as the control panels for the DDA (DDA kit supplied as standard on 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse) and DTC systems as well as listing lap times recorded by using the high-beam flash button as a stopwatch.

Superbike lights and indicators

The horizontal twin headlamps, a signature Ducati style from the iconic 916, are modernised with the latest lighting technology. Two polyellipsoidal units light the way with a powerful beam while maintaining an aggressive look to the front of the machine in pure Ducati Superbike tradition.

The rear light employs a specially designed strip of LEDs enhanced by a high diffusion lens shaped into the sleek lines of the tailpiece. The same LEDs are intensified for brake lights.

The directional indicators also use the latest in LED technology for illumination. The frontal indicators are beautifully integrated into the rear view mirrors, which come with an optional spacer kit enabling an extension of 30mm over the standard mirror stem length.

Ducati Traction Control

Ducati were the first manufacturer to introduce a true competition-level traction control system on a production motorcycle and for 2010 the highly successful system is integrated into the 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse electronics as standard equipment. The Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system further underlines Ducati's technology flow from racing to production and demonstrates how solutions developed for the track can be applied to enhance performance safety on the road.

DTC uses the same software logic developed and used by Ducati Corse for their World Championship-winning MotoGP and World Superbike motorcycles and offers a choice of eight settings developed by their professional test riders and racers.

Accessible from the left-hand switchgear and displayed on the digital instrumentation, the system offers a choice of eight profiles, each one programmed with a wheel-spin tolerance matched to progressive riding levels of skill graded from one to eight. While level eight administers a confidence-building, high level of interaction from the system by activating upon the slightest amount of wheel-spin, level one offers a much higher tolerance and, therefore, much less intervention for highly competent riders. When the level is selected and DTC activated, the level is displayed on the instrumentation.

When the profile that best suits the combination of road or track conditions and riding style has been selected and the DTC system activated, front and rear wheel sensors compare speed differential to sense when rear traction is being broken (wheel-spin). DTC then decides the best combination of two different types of instant electronic adjustment, calculated with data supplied from multiple sources.
The first 'soft' stage of system interaction is executed by high speed software that makes instant electronic adjustment to the ignition timing, administering varying amounts of ignition retardation to reduce the engine's torque. During this initial stage of DTC interaction, up to three red lights – normally used to signify the over-rev limiter – illuminate to indicate the amount of DTC being applied.

If the DTC software detects that the first 'soft' stage of system interaction is inadequate to control the wheel-spin, it continues to administer ignition retardation and, in addition, instructs the engine ECU to initiate a pattern of constantly increasing injection cuts until, if necessary, full injection cut. During this second stage of interaction, all four warning lights fully illuminate to signify that DTC has also initiated injection cuts. As soon as the system recognises the gradual return of equal wheel speeds, it incrementally re-establishes normal power delivery. This seamless interaction is key to the super-smooth operation of the system.

The real innovative thinking behind the DTC system is how the various range of sensitivity levels decide precisely how to react to excessive wheel-spin by understanding the bike's exact 'dynamic situation'. From slow mid-corner acceleration with considerable vehicle inclination to high speed corner exits while almost upright, this 'system intelligence' is achieved by processing a mass of data in a matter of milliseconds. This technology exists thanks to the thousands of laps and hours spent testing, programming and earning Ducati Corse race victories on the track. It represents just part of Ducati's latest road-bike technology and provides considerable increase in performance safety during mid-corner acceleration.

Data acquisition

The Ducati Data Analyser (DDA) – complete with PC software, a USB-ready data retrieval card and instructions – evaluates the performances of the bike and its rider, and makes comparisons between various channels of information. The DDA is available for the 848 and 1198 from Ducati Performance, and is supplied as standard equipment on the 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse models.

Normally only available on race bikes, DDA records numerous channels of data including throttle opening, vehicle speed, engine rpm, engine temperature, distance travelled, laps and lap times. The system also automatically calculates engine rpm and vehicle speed data so as to display gear selection as an extra channel of information. An additional channel of information is now dedicated to recording the DTC index which can then be viewed as a graphic trace and indicates the amount of DTC interaction during wheel-spin. At the end of a ride or track session, an upgraded 4mb of data can be downloaded to a PC ready to compare, analyse and get an inside view of the performance of the rider and motorcycle.

Data can be analysed in graphic form with options to zoom into detail of specific sections. Dragging a trace along a timeline to reveal individual values of the above listed channels enables the user to analyse performance in the same way that data technicians can in factory teams. The software allows data to be compared with that from a completely separate session and for pages of data to be printed off easily.