Ducati concept singles

[MotoMike]

I for one have been lamenting that Ducati has forsaken the light singles. These are concepts, but I do like them. Especially the scrambler.





http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/ducati-desmolight-450-concept/

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/oberdan-bezzi-rounds-out-the-ducati-off-road-line-with-the-desmoscrambler-450/

[MotoMike]

I am surprised that these pics have not inspired even one comment.

[bettyann]

Give me a suggestion,on what comments your looking for.
I'm not interested in concepts, If I was, I wouldn't have 11 old Ducaties, I thought this was basically a ducati singles help forum ?
Sorry ,but those pics would go over big on Ducati M S

[MotoMike]

Well thanks Capt Paul
thats a start. You don't like them. The comments I was looking for were those that expressed peoples opinions of these concepts.

I think that the designer captured the essence of the Scrambler. the other is ok, but not crazy about it. None of the single cylinder motorcycles produced today catch my eye. Styling is too out there or they are cruiser harley wanna be's. I think if this motorbike were produced I would like to give it a go.

One thing I find curious here is the lack of exchange on many threads that seem interesting to me. So I wonder if they just don't interest members or if the post limit stifles response and therefore free exchange.

I'm relatively new here so if I have violated some rule, please let me know. I take from the tone of your response that you thought I was being snarky. Not my intent, sorry if you took it that way. It says at the top of the page right under Motoscrubs.com "an on-line community of Ducati single-cylinder motorcycles" Though conceptual these appear to be single cylinder ducati motorcycles. I know the site is really here to address old Ducati singles, but this is probably in large part due to the fact they quit making them (supermono excepted). and I don't know what Ducati MS is.

Kind regards
Mike

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" I am surprised that these pics have not inspired even one comment. "

____ Since we're being prodded to comment, I'll add my 2.1-cents worth.....
While I think ANY Duc-single with the DUCATI-name on it is certainly worthy of being posted about on this 'Duc-Single ONLY' w.site, those such as posted for this particular thread (which may be neat/cool enough but), just don't inspire the extra unique-spirit which the old Dr.T DUKEs always did ! _ It seems that one has to have a certain special sensory-perception to fully appreciate the especially alluring-draw that only the original OHC DUKE-motors radiate towards those of us with that extra-special perception to recognize it. - (I must also point-out that that same special-feeling generation was also passed-on to the first of the L-twins! _ Those of you who are like-minded, know exactly what feeling I'm referring to.)
__ The only thing that could be truely worthy of getting such people us ourselves rightfully excited, is if the Italian-based Ducati-factory had decided to reproduce limited reproductions of the old Single-engines once again ! - (Along with the modern brakes & suspension, plus 6-speed trans & other engine mods such as Eldert has done.) While also the body-work styling remained loyal to the pre-1966 n-c & any w-c designs !
(Does anyone else here get what I'm meaning to say?)
____ I began losing my previously strong interest in Ducati when their name was taken-over by Cagiva, and since then most all newer DUCATIs have lost that certain special-draw that only the older DUCATIs once had for me (& others) ! - (Even though I think they're all still pretty-neat/unique Italian-bikes even these days, of course!)
__ Like others have noted, these presented 'bike' concepts are more like KTMs than real DUKEs ! _ So I really can't see anyone here getting too excited about what seem like non-DUKEs with just the DUCATI-name added-on.
With the loss of Dr.T.'s added touch, it seems that the royal Ducati blood-line has been thinned-out too much to any longer retain that uniquely extra-special certain-something that only our old DUKEs are still oozing with.
__ Certainly this w.site would have insufficient reason for existence if I were the only one who ever felt this particular way -(as I've poorly tried to convey with words here) !? Right? - (Anyone?)


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob

[Pete]

I like the scrambler and would not mind having one. It would be great to have for everyday transportation. I would not give up my old one, but it would be great to have the modern brakes and electrics for everyday use.

Pete

[JimF]

The older I get the smaller and lighter I want my bikes to be.

I know the North American market historically inspired larger and larger displacement motorcycles because the country is so large and its motorcyclists routinely travel great distances which are more easily undertaken with larger displacement motorcycles.

However I do most of my riding on short commutes in an urban and sometimes congested environment.

A new Ducati single would never displace my old one, but it seems it would likely fit right into my lifestyle and provide me with heightened reliability and greater service and parts support than I have for a 1960's Italian bike while fulfilling a brand loyalty affliction I seem to have developed.

I guess the only reason this website is about old Ducati singles is that Ducati hasn't made any since mid-1970's save for the Supermono. And I for one would not be opposed to any thread about the Supermono though I suspect few of us have one in the garage.

[MotoMike]

I didn't realize that the concepts included KTM engines. I know little enough about the new ducatis that I expected that it was based on a current Ducati engine with one of the cyclinders lopped off. That said as Pete has pointed out it would be nice to have a modern Ducati single for the reasons expressed. But as Bob has said, the bloodline evident in our old singles, direct from the old Gransport can't be denied. Ing. Taglioni's vision becomes more evident to me each time i delve into a new problem. Not suggesting we forsake our beloved old singles. Just found these cycles really caught my eye and that they were interesting.

wonder if the labor intensive methods of construction would have been able to continue. Would machining tolerences improved so that the individual shimming of each engine no longer be required to make it "perfect" as the originals did? It does occur to me that even if Ducati had continued to produce singles, they would have had to evolve to survive and would surely have acquired the belt drive cams.

[jezza]

I do believe that Ducati did actually get as far as building a prototype single based on the Pantah engine, and named the Rollah/Utah.

rollah.jpg

Also, a man in the UK has been producing a roadgoing Supermono.

Supermono.jpg

There is hope yet.

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" I didn't realize that the concepts included KTM engines. "

____ They do?? _ I thought they just had generic motor-drawings in them.
(I never did like motorcycles that hide the engine with any body-work !)


" I know little enough about the new ducatis that I expected that it was based on a current Ducati engine with one of the cyclinders lopped off. "

____ I've always thought that it would be smart of Ducati to simply use the top-end from one of their twins, to base a new Duc-Single on !


" It does occur to me that even if Ducati had continued to produce singles, they would have had to evolve to survive and would surely have acquired the belt drive cams. "

____ Indeed they did build at least two models of belt-driven OHC 350-singles back in the 80s ! _ I'm currently recalling that the scrambler-version was named the "Utah" but I'm not recalling the name given for the street-version.
I guess even elimination of the bevel set-up was not sufficient to keep their singles in production. _ Too bad! _ (If only the belt could've also been fitted within their trademark-look tower-tube.)


____ Concerning the two proposed models presented for this thread, I'd most prefer the 450Monster-look but, I very much dislike the ugly/bulbous over-sized mufflers that became popular 2-decades ago ! _ That type of muffler became stylish only cuz it represented a hot-rod type of look, since those mufflers were supposed to provide increased-performance (while also staying quieter), thus the function-over-form look became the 'In Look' . _ And to that I say oh-phooey, give me an old light/slim glass-pack muffler over one of those mail-truck bombs any day, as I certainly prefer the much nicer old-fashioned look over any extra horse-power that those over-sized elongated-cans may provide.
I really believe that an exhaust-system can actually ADD (even greatly) to a bike's appeal, so why do anything to detract from otherwise nice styling-appeal, with the addition of big ugly exhaust-plumbing that's better kept hidden as much as possible !?!
(Is it just just me again?)


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob