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First look at Ducati's GP4 bike!!

Well, I've always thought that Ducati's were incredible looking, but overpriced (street bikes). If those specs on the engine are correct though, that bike is going to be real fast. 220hp? Wow... that's crazy... can't even imagine what that'd feel like riding it.
 
Dang, I was hoping they'd go with some kind of twin design, rather than the 4. The ridiculous weight advantage they would have had by running a twin, even if power was slightly under 200hp, would've put them on the podium all year.
Oh well, I'm just glad they're in GP now. Good to see some more manufacturers.
 


<< The weight difference can't be that high can it? How much do these bikes traditionally weigh anyhow? 500lb or so? >>



In street trim, the Ducs are around 400, whereas the other big three(Kaw isn't a "big three") hover around 375 or so.
In GP racing, 388 is the limit for 4s and 5s, 360-something is the limit for triples, and twins' weight limits are in the real low 300s. 300lbs with 200hp, pretty ridiculous, eh? 🙂
That's why the extra two cylinders from Ducati surprise me, they've always been fairly dominant in American racing with the twins.
 


<< In street trim, the Ducs are around 400, whereas the other big three(Kaw isn't a "big three") hover around 375 or so. >>


Holy crap, my Ninja EX500 weighs almost 400 dry. :Q


<< In GP racing, 388 is the limit for 4s and 5s, 360-something is the limit for triples, and twins' weight limits are in the real low 300s. 300lbs with 200hp, pretty ridiculous, eh? 🙂 >>


Yea, but 100nm at 14,000rpm's is only about 75lb-ft of torque. A hayabusa has that doubled. I'd love to see how these low-torque, low-weight screamers drive compared to something as torquey as a busa.

Edit: By the way, who are considered the other "big three?" Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda, perhaps?
 


<< In street trim, the Ducs are around 400, whereas the other big three(Kaw isn't a "big three") hover around 375 or so.
In GP racing, 388 is the limit for 4s and 5s, 360-something is the limit for triples, and twins' weight limits are in the real low 300s. 300lbs with 200hp, pretty ridiculous, eh?
That's why the extra two cylinders from Ducati surprise me, they've always been fairly dominant in American racing with the twins. >>


Ducati really wanted to go with a twin for the GP bike, but realized that there just wasn't any way they could be competitive horsepower-wise. The testastretta twin likely makes in the realm of 180 hp whereas the Honda RC211v GP4 bike is making somewhere around 220 hp by most accounts. There was a rumor that Duc would make an oval-pistoned twin (to at least kinda keep with the twin tradition) and then the current V-four finally emerged. It's more or less a twin anyway as the front two cylinders fire together, as do the rear.....the difference with this engine (4cyl) vs. the testastretta WSB/AMA engine (2cyl) is basically valve area....16 small valves will flow a lot more air/fuel than 8 bigger ones, an allow a higher redline to boot. Ducati hates to lose, so this was really the only way they could do it and kinda stick with a twin (or at least the characterisics of a twin).

Fausto
 


<< In GP racing, 388 is the limit for 4s and 5s, 360-something is the limit for triples, and twins' weight limits are in the real low 300s. 300lbs with 200hp, pretty ridiculous, eh? 🙂 >>


Yea, but 100nm at 14,000rpm's is only about 75lb-ft of torque. A hayabusa has that doubled. I'd love to see how these low-torque, low-weight screamers drives compared to something as torquey as a busa.[/i] >>



There's a certain point when the tires are the limiting factor. A Busa or a GP bike would probably be quite close in a quick sprint, perhaps the Busa would even be faster as it's heavier and more weight would be on the back tire. 2.6s is pretty much the lower limit for acceleration with any bike(non-drag bike), as the tires just can't handle anything faster. On the track in top speed and roll-ons, the GP bikes will absolutely destroy anything you can buy at a store. The Busa would look like your Ninja. 🙂 No offense. hehe
The GP bikes can hit 220mph on Hockenheim's straights, the Busa/ZX12 won't touch that.
Which makes it a REAL good thing you can't buy those bikes at all. Imagine our insurance if a bunch of kids were riding 200hp bikes around.



<< Edit: By the way, who are considered the other "big three?" Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda, perhaps? >>



That's who I consider. If Kawasaki ever gets fuel injection and drops about 100 lbs, maybe they'll be back in it.
 


<< (or at least the characterisics of a twin) >>


I thought V4's fired 1-3 anyhow, where the first and third cylinders were to one side the other 2 on the other side.

Damn I need to learn more about bikes. 😱

 


<<

<< In street trim, the Ducs are around 400, whereas the other big three(Kaw isn't a "big three") hover around 375 or so.
In GP racing, 388 is the limit for 4s and 5s, 360-something is the limit for triples, and twins' weight limits are in the real low 300s. 300lbs with 200hp, pretty ridiculous, eh?
That's why the extra two cylinders from Ducati surprise me, they've always been fairly dominant in American racing with the twins. >>


Ducati really wanted to go with a twin for the GP bike, but realized that there just wasn't any way they could be competitive horsepower-wise. The testastretta twin likely makes in the realm of 180 hp whereas the Honda RC211v GP4 bike is making somewhere around 220 hp by most accounts. There was a rumor that Duc would make an oval-pistoned twin (to at least kinda keep with the twin tradition) and then the current V-four finally emerged. It's more or less a twin anyway as the front two cylinders fire together, as do the rear.....the difference with this engine (4cyl) vs. the testastretta WSB/AMA engine (2cyl) is basically valve area....16 small valves will flow a lot more air/fuel than 8 bigger ones, an allow a higher redline to boot. Ducati hates to lose, so this was really the only way they could do it and kinda stick with a twin (or at least the characterisics of a twin).

Fausto >>



Which will make it interesting, as everyone else will be flaunting their 388lb 210hp bikes as well, only with experienced riders. I haven't even heard whose riding for Ducati this year, surely this season will be more of a tech demo than actually competitive.
 


<< Yea, but 100nm at 14,000rpm's is only about 75lb-ft of torque. A hayabusa has that doubled. I'd love to see how these low-torque, low-weight screamers drives compared to something as torquey as a busa. >>


Sorry, but any of the new GP4 engines would slap a busa around and take its lunch for good measure. IIRC the hayabusa makes 150+ hp whereas the Honda GP4 is reputed to make 220ish. I don't see much room for comparison (although I have not seen any torque figures on the GP4 engines).

And for the record, a Hayabusa doesn't make much more than about 90lb-ft🙂

Fausto
 


<< There's a certain point when the tires are the limiting factor. >>


Good point.


<< The Busa would look like your Ninja. No offense. hehe >>


:| Leave her alone. She's my first bike. One could say she deflowered me. Heh. 🙂


<< The GP bikes can hit 220mph on Hockenheim's straights, the Busa/ZX12 won't touch that. >>


Busa's and ZX12's can hit about 180-190 stock, no? There's been a link floating around of a turbo'ed Busa with something like 300hp. I'm imagine it'd handle like a brick on the track and at any speeds close to 200, but I'd love to see where it tops out.


<< Which makes it a REAL good thing you can't buy those bikes at all. Imagine our insurance if a bunch of kids were riding 200hp bikes around. >>


I friend of mine (who of course has no experience riding) just bought a brand new CBR 600. Did I mention he's only 17?

Edit:


<< And for the record, a Hayabusa doesn't make much more than about 90lb-ft >>


Actually its a bit closer to 100, but yea I pretty off earlier.
 
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