Ducati finished 2018 with the highest number of safety recalls and starts 2019 with recalls for the Monster 821 (above), Monster 1200 and SuperSport.
We announced that these two Ducati recalls were coming last year. However, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has only now posted the official notice.
Their notice says there is “a potential problem with the gear shift lever due to an error in the manufacturing process”.
“The interference fit between the lever tip pin and the gear shift lever may not perform, in rare cases, may cause the pin to come out, increasing the risk of a crash,” the notice says.
“This may cause serious injury to riders and other road users.”
2019 Ducati SuperSport in Titanium Grey
Ducati recalls
Ducati Australia will contact owners to notify them of the recall and request them to contact their nearest authorised Ducati dealer to arrange an appointment.
We publish these notices in case owners have sold the bike privately and Ducati Australia is unaware of the current owners.
Authorised Ducati dealers will inspect the gear shift lever and if necessary, the component will be replaced free of charge.
To check if your bike is affected, click on the model below and check your Vehicle Identification Number:
Ducati had the most recalls of any manufacturer in 2018 with six, four of which were for the Panigale V4 in its first year of production.
Even though manufacturers and importers contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
Overnight at the Consumer Electronic Show staged in Las Vegas, a Ducati Multistrada 1260 as well as Audi and Ford vehicles, demonstrated driving situations utilising C-V2X direct communications.
All vehicles were equipped with C-V2X technology utilizing the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset to demonstrate a cooperative intersection use case, exhibiting how C-V2X can be used between vehicles to negotiate the right of way in entering a four-way, non-signalled intersection where intention sharing and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions make the use of a wireless sensor such as C-V2X ideal.
The V2V use case featured the Intersection Movement Assist (IMA) scenario, which is a key countermeasure to address angle collisions at intersections, while the V2P scenario exhibited how C-V2X can be used to protect vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.
The V2I use case featured the Work Zone Warning scenario, which is designed to provide drivers advanced warning of road construction ahead allowing them to maneuver in a safe manner.
Pierluigi Zampieri, Vehicle Innovation Manager at Ducati
“This demonstration is showing use cases in which advanced technologies can significantly improve the safety of motorcycle users. C-V2X communication is one of the key projects of the Ducati 2025 safety road map. There’s no better place than CES to talk about our roadmap towards the future”.
Pierluigi Zampieri, Vehicle Innovation Manager at Ducati
This week’s Las Vegas demonstrations follow the successful showings of C-V2X trial validations and interoperability conducted throughout 2018 in Europe, Japan, Australia, China and the United States, as well as the first live C-V2X interoperability demonstration between a motorcycle, vehicles and roadside infrastructure, which was hosted by several leading automotive and technology companies, including Ducati and Qualcomm Technologies.
C-V2X is designed to deliver reliable and consistent performance in realistic driving scenarios. While complementing other Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) sensors, such as radar, lidar, and camera systems, C-V2X direct communications supports an ever-expanding set of safety use cases, as well as enhanced situational awareness by detecting and directly exchanging vital information.
I love technology and the improvements as companies forge ahead with development, but there is also a part of me that while pondering these latest systems just say, ‘keep my motorcycling simple, with a bank of carburettors, a throttle cable, and let me look after my own safety’…
By 1978 Ducati was looking to modernise its V-twin range of engines. An updated version was designed, and prototypes of the new engine were then used in the 900F1 race bikes (commonly known as an NCR), and powered Mike Hailwood to his famous 1978 Isle of Man victory.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
Despite the success of the engine in subsequent endurance races, Ducati dropped the design for what became the last production version of the bevel V-twin, the Mille. The Pantah and its derivatives then superseded the bevel designs.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
Fast forward 25 years… Guiseppe Ioanonne, a well-known Italian pattern maker obtained the old patterns for the race motor, and after repairing and making new ones as required, made himself a new motor! The factory then supplied the engineering drawings to him in exchange for two more motors.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
Ioanonne also produced another five motors. However the small market for such a design, plus the effort involved, resulted in extremely high costs, so when Brook Henry of Vee Two fame approached him for ten sets of blank castings, he offered to sell Brook the drawings and all associated patterns.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
Taking the bull by the horns, Brook decided to apply his near 40 years of Ducati bevel experience to modernise the venerable bevel motor. The Western Australian employed current day materials and knowledge – while at the same time retaining its unique exterior appearance. So was born the Ritorno (Return), motor!
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
The motor features a 94 x 71.5 mm bore/stroke giving a capacity of 992cc. Titanium 45 mm inlet/40 mm exhaust valves are used at a 56º angle in ported and polished heads that use a ‘bathtub’ combustion chamber with a 13.5:1 compression ratio.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
Forged billet slipper pistons operate in one-piece cylinders with Nikasil bores. A plain bearing crankshaft, high pressure oil system with spray bars/nozzles in the heads and gearbox are among many other internal modifications.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
Keihin FCR 41mm flat slide racing carburettors are fitted. The twin plug heads use a Sache ignition and a Motogadget m-unit controls the electronic speedo/tacho and LED bar-end indicators.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
The chassis is from a 1981 Mike Hailwood Replica, that has been modified with a steeper head angle, repositioned engine mounts, and a shorter seat loop. 17 inch wheels are fitted along with Öhlins suspension, front and rear.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
Output is 122 hp at 8500 rpm (rear wheel) with a half wet weight of 168 kg.
For those bevel owners who don’t want to go the whole hog for a full $40,000 motor, Vee Two can supply the heads, cylinders, engine covers, or dry clutch, for owners to fit to their existing bevel engines.
Ritorno Vee Two Imola Evo
This was the first Vee Two Imola Evo and was built to showcase the Ritorno motor for the US market. Video of it in action can be viewed here:
Ducati Australia has recalled 263 Panigale V4, V4 S and V4 S Speciale bikes over a possible engine oil to leak from one of the hydraulic tensioners on each of the cylinder heads.
The official notice issued through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says the engine oil “may leak on to the engine sump and on to the tyre, increasing the risk of a crash”.
“This may cause serious injury to riders and other road users,” it says.
The vehicle identification numbers of affected bikes are listed at the end of this article.
Ducati Australia say they will contact owners of recalled bikes by mail.
They will be requested to contact their nearest authorised Ducati Dealer to arrange an appointment.
Apparently it is easily fixed by dealers tightening the two hydraulic tensioners to specification, free of charge.
Recalled again
Ducati’s new Panigale V4 has been recalled four times in its first year of production. However, only recalls two have affected bikes imported into Australia.
Even though manufacturers and importers contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
Ducati’s new Panigale V4 has had a traumatic introduction this year with its fourth recall.
The latest recall is over a timing chain tensioner that could become loose and leak oil through the adjustment bolt on to the rear tyre. The result could be dramatic!
Ducati Australia confirms that the recall announced recently in the USA will also affect Australian owners of all variants of V4.
However, the official recall notice has not yet been listed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
It’s an easy fix with dealers will only needing to tighten the tensioners to specification. Stay tuned for our official notice, along with VINs of those bikes affected.
Fourth recall
This is the fourth recall affecting the new Ducati flagship model, not all of which affected bikes delivered to Australia.
Ducati Australia says an American recall for the Ducati SuperSport over mirrors that work loose from engine vibration does not affect local riders.
There is also an American recall over a faulty gear shift knob which could fall off the lever on the SuperSport and the Monster 821 and 1200.
“No gear lever campaign has been launched for our market at this stage,” says Ducati Australia.
If/when it does, we will publish the recall notice.
Ducati Monster 821
Even though manufacturers and importers contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
By Victoria Chase: freelance writer and digital marketer*
Sometimes a superbike comes along, and you can’t imagine how anything that comes after could ever possibly be better. These bikes are amazing feats of engineering with a whole bucketload of passion thrown in.
It’s always difficult to narrow down the list of the top 10 superbikes, even harder still to whittle that list down by half. Read on to find out some of the best superbikes you can buy today – if you’re very lucky.
Ducati 1299 Superleggera
Ducati Superleggera
A bike truly bursting with new tech, and with the high price tag, you’d expect it to be! But, don’t get on the phone to your local superbike dealer just yet. Only 500 were built and they all sold out before they went into production. If you keep your ear to the road you may be able to snap one up – don’t expect to get it for the original asking price though.
This breath-taking superbike is built with enough carbon fibre that its kerb mass is only 167kg. The 1299 Superleggera is one of the best superbikes on the market – if you can get your hands on one.
Spirit GP Street R
Spirit GP Sport R
A limited edition, handmade superbike built in Britain. What’s special about this superbike is that it was designed for the racetrack but then built for the road. This uber-modern model features a wonderful selection of handmade bespoke touches, including a swingarm made to MotoGP specs.
If you want your chance to take one of these stunners for a spin, you’ll need some very good connections in the bike world, only 50 were made.
Kawasaki Ninja H2
Kawasaki H2
If speed is what you’re craving, then this hunk of madness is what you need to ride. Even though the electronically-limited speed only reaches the standard 186mph (300km/h), you can feel how fast this bike wants to go. That missile-like power is thanks to the supercharger that’s been added to the 998cc inline-four engine.
This isn’t a bike for a beginner, or even an intermediate rider – if you don’t know what you’re doing the Ninja H2 will leave you behind in a cloud of tyre-smoke and asphalt.
MV Agusta F4CC
MV Agusta F4CC
This could be the most controversial choice in this list, but the F4CC is very much able to hold its own here, so is definitely deserving of its place. It’s also deserving of the hefty price tag; only 100 were made and almost immediately they were all sold to collectors. This bike can boast to almost all of its components being handmade, and with a top speed limited to 195mph (314km/h), it’s easy to see why they were all bought up so quickly.
Claudio Castiglioni, who was in charge of MV at the time the bike was built, loved it so much he put his name on it.
Aprilia RSV4 RF
Aprilia RSV4 RF
On a lot of superbikes, there is always the problem of sacrificing pure, unadulterated power for the latest in tech. This isn’t the case with the RSV4, which delivers both in bucketloads. This machine is built with some of the smartest electronics available, and the sole desire to be the fastest superbike in its segment. And with over 50 championship titles under their belt, Aprilla know what they’re doing.
Riding this bike is something all superbike lovers should aim to do at least once – although, once you speed away, we can’t guarantee you’ll ever want to get off.
Victoria has written for numerous publications in the business, automotive and motorsports spheres. She has a keen interest in anything on two wheels.
The latest rumour about the sale of Ducati is that Austrian manufacturer KTM may be interested in buying the iconic Italian brand.
It comes from one interview with KTM CEO Stefan Pierer in German magazine Speedweek where he expresses he is interested in Ducati.
Reports across the world now say KTM will be a likely bidder for the company.
That’s an understandable conclusion since Pierer Industries AG, a company controlled by Stefan, did buy Husaberg and Husqvarna.
KTM factory in Mattighofen
But what did Stefan really say?
Ducati is the Ferrari of the motorcycle industry. Of course, having such a brand in our group would be interesting. It is not a question of price, but it is about the topic: When does everyone realise the situation they are in.
It’s a bit of a stretch to go from someone expressing he would be interested in ownership to actually getting the wallet out.
Although, Stefan does suggest his wallet is fat enough and price is not an issue.
As for the “situation”, he is probably referring to the global slump in motorcycle sales. Perhaps he suggests more brand mergers to make companies more economically viable.
Interested parties
But is Ducati even up for sale?
Three years ago, VW hinted it may sell Ducati to help recoup multi-billion-dollar emissions scandal debts.
Since then, the debt has escalated even further. However, VW has continued to make record profits and ameliorated a lot of the debt.
At one stage, VW went so far as to accept informal bids on Ducati.
Several companies were interested and some even offered bids.
They included: Indian automotive giant Eicher Motors which owns Royal Enfield; American motorcycle and powered recreational vehicle company Polaris Industries; investment firm Bain Capital; private equity fund PAI; the Italian Benetton family through former Ducati owner Investindustrial; and even Harley-Davidson.
Then VW withdrew their unofficial sale offer.
Since then, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali and VW board members have issued conflicting statements about whether the company is up for sale.
Meanwhile, Ducati has recorded eight consecutive years of record sales growth and looks set for its ninth.
New Ducati V4 R hits track for the first time alongside WSBK competitors
Reigning WSBK champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has put in a strong opening day on track around MotorLand Aragon, ending the first day of winter testing fastest as unofficial times were recorded at the Spanish circuit. But it was Ducati stealing the headlines, with the debut of the V4 R.
Beginning 2019 with an all new ZX-10RR, Rea was able to use the opening day to work on different settings as he looks at which direction to take for what is set to be a competitive season, putting in 72 laps and the fastest unofficial time.
New team-mate Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) prepares for his debut with the Provec squad, and has been working on getting the first kilometres under his sliders. With 67 laps put in on his opening day, it has been about working on set-up of the championship winning machine.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made his all-important first steps with the Panigale V4 R, taking to the track in the morning he began to understand his new beast. The Welshman completed 61 laps in total, with a personal best of 1:51.180. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will resume action tomorrow with Davies for another day of testing ahead of its first collective outing, with Alvaro Bautista alongside Davies, at Jerez (Spain) on November 26 and 27.
Chaz Davies – Panigale V4 R
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 1:51.180
“It was really exciting to take the Panigale V4 R out on track for the first time, it felt like Christmas, when you get a wonderful new toy to play with. Usually it takes me a bit of time to learn and understand a new bike, but honestly it felt the opposite today. I was really comfortable straight away, after the first out lap I felt like I wanted to push immediately, which is pretty cool. Overall, it was a really positive day, we’ve made a lot of steps forward and finished most of the work on the ergonomics. We have plenty of new things to evaluate and lots of data to process. The main goal today was to get progressively more comfortable with the bike and start tailoring it to our needs. Tomorrow, we’ll keep the same approach, working on the basics and refining little things before we start to push harder and understand the full potential of the bike a little bit better.”
Chaz Davies – Panigale V4 R
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team had their duo of Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes out on track, as they spent day one of 2019 evaluating some key components in the chassis, working on suspension with Ohlins and working with some new electronics hardware. Lowes set the second unofficial fastest lap time, and with 76 laps recorded he wasn’t wasting the track time he was offered. Whilst van der Mark recorded 72 laps throughout day one.
It wasn’t only Davies who got the first test of the V4 R, as Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) was out on track with the powerful beast. Getting used to the sensational new bike, he spent his day working with the Aruba.it Ducati squad as well as his new BARNI team and put in 74 laps around MotorLand.
The latest model releases from the two recent motorcycle shows in Milan and Cologne prove that power is still king in the two-wheel world.
A new road leader has emerged and some older models have been pushed down the order.
The list of the most powerful is still dominated by the track-only Kawasaki H2R at 240kW.
[embedded content]
New road king
However, the new king of the road-registered bikes is the 2019 Ducati Panigale V4R.
With 162kW of power it leapfrogs Honda’s RC213V-S which rates 158kW with a track kit, equal to the MV Agusta F4RC.
The V4R has been homologated so Ducati can go World Superbike racing again, so it is 998cc, not 1103cc.
Despite having fewer cubes, it has more poke.
Two bikes joining the top 10 are the updated BMW S 1000 RR with ShiftCam technology and 152kW, plus the 2019 Suzuki GSX-R1000 R1 in 10th place with 150kW.
2019 BMW S 1000 RR
Anyone who says power isn’t everything hasn’t twisted the throttle on a powerful sports bike.
Unfortunately, the only places left to experience these bikes is on unlimited-speed roads, at track days and in that all-important 100m traffic light drag.
There may not be many places left to experience the full power of some of the world’s most powerful bikes, but it’s always good to know the power is there.
So we’ve complied three lists of currently available new sports bikes with the most power, the most torque and with the highest power-to-weight ratio.
We have used factory supplied power and wet weight figures for Australia. The figures may vary slightly for some other countries.
For interest’s sake, we have also included at what revs they achieve peak power and torque to give you an indication of where they get most of their thrust.
Talk the torque
Gruntmeister Yamaha V-Max
While the kings of power are important, torque is that thrust in the chest at the starting line that we all love.
The king of grunt is still the brawny Yamaha V-Max. Kawasaki isn’t far behind with its forced-induction models and the normally aspirated Kawasaki ZX-14R.
If you were to include cruisers, Triumph’s 2.3-litre triple would be the undisputed king with 203Nm of stump-pullling grunt and several other cruisers would also rate high, including Harley’s Milwaukee Eight 114-cube FXDR which makes 162Nm.
Power and torque are meaningless if your bike is a porker like the 310kg V-Max. So we’ve also compiled a list of the best power-to-weight ratio sports bikes.
Again the winner is the Kawasaki H2R track-only weapon which has more kilowatts than kilograms for a power-to-weight ratio of 1.11. That compares with the V-Max at 47ptw.
So if you want a lithe sports bike with a good mix of heady power and gut-crunching grunt, Kawasaki should be your first port of call, or go to your local performance shop for a supercharger or turbocharger.
Casey Stoner and Ducati conclude their collaboration
Ducati and Casey Stoner will not continue the collaboration agreement that has seen them work together since 2016.
Casey Stoner
“I want to thank Ducati for the great memories and especially the support and enthusiasm of the Ducati fans for our shared passion for racing and motorcycling, I’ll always remember this. Over the past three years I have really enjoyed doing my job with the test team, the engineers and technicians, as we worked towards improving the Desmosedici GP package and I sincerely want to wish the team all the very best for their future endeavours.”
Casey Stoner – Sepang Test 2017 – Image: Andrew Northcott
The accord had been stipulated on a three-year basis (2016-2018) and in these three years, thanks also to Casey’s important contribution, Ducati has constantly improved the performance of the Desmosedici GP, which is now considered to be one of the most competitive bikes in the MotoGP World Championship.
Casey Stoner at Phillip Island 2007 – Image by AJRN
The collaboration between Ducati and Stoner also contributed to the final development of the Panigale V4, as well as offering important suggestions for the development of other bikes currently in the Ducati range. In his role as Ducati ‘brand ambassador’, Casey was one of the undisputed stars of the last two editions of WDW (World Ducati Week) in 2016 and 2018, in which the Australian champion actively took part, and where he was greeted with incredible signs of affection by Ducatisti from all over the world.
Casey Stoner – Phillip Island 2010 – Image by AJRN
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
“Casey is and will always remain in the hearts of Ducatisti and it is also on their behalf that we wish to thank him for the important collaboration he has offered us over the last three years. His technical indications and suggestions, together with the work and the feedback of the factory riders and Michele Pirro, have helped to make the Desmosedici GP one of the most competitive bikes on the grid, and his advice for the development of our production bikes has been just as precious and useful. Ducati and its many fans wish to offer their sincere thanks and their best wishes to Casey and his family for a serene and happy future.”
