Church of MO: 2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR

The new Panigale is a nice-a bike, but the thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Former EiC Kevin Duke waxed effusive over the new Panigale V4 here, but ten years earlier there was already a Twin Pulse V4-powered Ducati for him to get equally worked up about – the Desmosedici RR. Among the other mysteries of MO is why all the punctuation marks in here are replaced by ? in black diamonds… pretend you don’t notice as we stroll down memory pit lane.

The engine itself is a jewel. It features the same bore and stroke measurements (86.0mm x 42.56mm) as those on Ducati�s 2006 racebike, the D16GP6. It uses the �Twin-Pulse� firing order in which the crankpins are offset by 70 degrees (cylinders fire at 0°, 90°, 290° and 380°) to generate what Ducati terms as �soft pulse timing.�

No soft pulses are felt from the D16�s saddle � this thing snorts and sprints around a racetrack like a rampaging demon, as we found out during a few lapping sessions at Willow Springs Raceway.

Our test unit was equipped with the race ECU and exhaust system included with each Desmosedici, a no-brainer swap for the standard street exhaust. So equipped, it is said to achieve the magic 200-horsepower mark at 13,800 rpm when measured at the crankshaft. As for rear-wheel power numbers, those who have had it on a Dynojet dyno say it�s pushing nearly 180 hp. Peak crankshaft torque of 85.3 ft-lbs arrives way up at 10,500 rpm.

‘The Desmosedici is like a barely tamed wild animal.’

I was anticipating the D16RR to be high-strung, and its rumpity idle and menacing bark when revved did little to assuage those feelings. But then, despite a heavy clutch pull, the 16RR pulled out of pit lane smartly and without frantic revs, despite its light flywheel effect.

Yet this is no pussycat. Get hard on the throttle, and the D16 romps forth like a Gixxer on nitrous! It shows itself to be quite torquey but then comes on with a wicked surge past 10,000 rpm that inhales literbikes on straightaways like they are 600s. Every straight, no matter how short, becomes a passing opportunity. Vibration gets intense at high revs, putting in the mind of the rider a question: �Are you sure you want to use that much throttle?�

Yes we do!

The Desmosedici is like a barely tamed wild animal. It�s highly visceral and with an intensity that threatens to overwhelm a rider�s senses. It sounds downright angry on trailing throttle, as a 13.5:1 compression ratio threatens to skid the rear wheel if not for the racing-style slipper clutch. At neutral throttle it emits a menacing grrrrrr! that would be antithetical to anything from, say, Honda. The throttle response from the 50mm Magneti Marelli throttle bodies with 12-hole ‘microjet’ above-throttle injectors is a bit snatchy, adding to the brutish impression.

The D16�s handling characteristics are similarly racerish. Its chassis geometry (24.5-degree rake, 3.8 inches of trail and 56.3-inch wheelbase) is said to be identical to the MotoGP racer, but these numbers are fairly conservative in the street-sportbike realm. So, despite the reduced gyroscopic forces from the ultra-lightweight forged-magnesium wheels and a relatively light claimed dry weight of 377 lbs, the D16RR doesn�t flick into corners as quickly as expected.

And, like other racebikes I�ve sampled, the Desmosedici proved to be sprung too stiffly for my minimal weight and talent. The suspension was made more compliant after some adjustments, but its heavy springs remained too unyielding � I could still feel the rear end topping out over bumps. Its pegs are high and very rear-set, making it surprisingly difficult to drag a knee. And the $72K price tag doesn�t encourage pitching it in with abandon! Basically, the supremely capable D16 scoffs at the abilities of mere mortals.

“Never have I ridden a machine more capable of exacerbating my ineptness than this 400-lb pit bull,” said senior editor Pete Brissette after a wide-eyed session aboard the Desmo.

Desmosedicivs.1098R

It�s much easier to get a 696 from Ducati than a Desmosedici, so that�s why we were thrilled to have MO test rider Kaming Ko bring his D16RR to our Supersport Shootout trackday for us to sample during a break in our latest Supersport Shootout.

Ko is one of those guys who we�d love to hate but can�t. He runs a successful business that affords him the opportunity to fill his garage with a revolving collection of highly prized bikes. But instead of inspiring feelings of envy, Ko proves to be an avid motorcycle enthusiast like the rest of us. He�s a former racer (bike and auto) who really knows his stuff, and he�s also as down-to-earth as your buddy who works at WalMart.

In addition to spending time on the street and track with his D16RR, Ko recently sampled Ducati�s new 1098R in back-to-back testing. As awe-inspiring as the Desmosedici is, Ko says the top-shelf V-Twin 1098 makes for a superior streetbike.

�In my view, the Desmosedici is the most advanced technologically equipped streetbike ever offered in history,� Ko explains. �The components that are derived from MotoGP are overkill for street application as compared to the 1098R. In order to explore the D16RR potential is to ride aggressively on the powerband, push hard on the brakes, flick it in the corner, and you will find why Ducati won the MotoGP World Championship. However, this is not normal for a weekend rider such as myself on public road, which the 1098R performs faultlessly with its V-Twin 1198cc big-bore that has a huge torque band and softer suspension to accommodate unforeseen road conditions. But, by no means can the D16RR perform as well as the 1098R in the canyons � you just won’t experience its intended performance.

So the question is: Which of the two bikes is most desirable?

�I would like to have both, because a Ferrari F1 car won’t ride as nice to the Rock Store as the Enzo,� said the effervescent Ko. �But how can anyone compare owning a Ferrari F1 to an Enzo?!” Case closed.�

The case will truly be closed when Ko receives his recently ordered 1098R that will sit proudly alongside his D16RR. It�s good to have options.

The Desmosedici is also unique for its specially developed Bridgestone tire combination. It uses a typical 120/70-17 front, but at the rear is a 16-inch (instead of 17) hoop on which is mounted a 200/55-16 �Stone. Despite the intended grip enhancement of this oddball size, the D16�s devilish motor proved to be willing and able to spin up the tire exiting Willow�s sweeping Turn 9 and onto the front straight.

‘…the most mind-altering aspect of the D16RR is the part when the gloriously wicked V-Four comes on cam and hurls itself into the next corner with a 14,000-rpm wail’

No matter the gear, the Desmo� pulls ferociously and demands full attention. Shifts from the cassette-type six-speed gearbox are thankfully smooth, as info from the LCD bar-graph tach is impossible to take in during the bike�s banshees-from-hell increase of velocity. The hyper acceleration makes a rider wish for less fore-aft seating room, as there�s no bum stop in the carbon-fiber subframe to prevent a rider�s frightened ass from sliding rearward. A test rider with more skill than I saw a heady 170 mph on the 16RR�s speedometer on Willow�s shortish front straight.

Braking from such considerable speeds is ably handled by a set of Brembos that are reputedly the same as the MotoGP bikes use in wet weather. One-piece monoblock calipers put a firm but not abrupt bite on 330mm steel discs. They actually don�t feel as aggro as the 1098�s sharp front binders but are nonetheless very powerful given a strong squeeze. Corner entries are also aided by an excellent slipper clutch and stiff springs in the gas-charged Ohlins fork.

Like all Ducatis, the Desmosedici is stable when laid over on its side, but a combination of the stiff springs and the possibility of tens of thousands of dollars in damage that a simple crash might entail kept Casey Stoner-esque elbow-dragging thoughts from reaching my hands.

But the most mind-altering aspect of the D16RR is the part when the gloriously wicked V-Four comes on cam and hurls itself into the next corner with a 14,000-rpm wail. Race-prepped R1s easily fall victim to the claimed 200 horsepower on tap like krill to whales.

So, there�s a lot to like about the thrilling Desmosedici, but its big-ticket price tag doesn�t guarantee perfection. Along with the racer-stiff springs, a street rider will also be disappointed in the amount of heat given off by the 102-dB racing exhaust pipes that exit out the upper part of the rear tail constructed from ceramic carbon fiber. And, for as much as this bike costs, we might�ve expected a traction-control system like the potent 1098R�s.

On the plus side, the Desmosedici offers an unparalleled three-year warranty that includes free service. Its first major service is due at 7500 miles � we wonder how long it will take most D16 owners to pile on that many miles! Also, in addition to the race exhaust and ECU, the D16RR is also delivered with a bike cover and a track stand.

The Desmosedici RR we tested was the so-called �Team Version� that mimics the factory�s Marlboro-sponsored Corse GP bikes with its broad white fairing stripe; a team sponsor decal kit is provided with each bike. Also available is another version in the same �Rosso GP� color (a shade lighter than typical Ducati red) and white number plate on the tailsection but without the white stripe.

Sadly for trust-funders, movie stars or hedge-fund managers, all 1500 examples of the Desmosedici RR have been spoken for. If you�re lucky, you might find a potential customer who has backed out of their $5000 deposit. Otherwise, you�ll be stuck on the rollercoaster that is eBay. If you�ve got deep pockets, you won�t want to miss out on this brilliant and humbling machine that looks as good in a living room as it does on a racetrack.

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