http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jul/e/n090702b.htm
cool machine, available this week @ dealers
by evan williams
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Ducati introduced a new model at an event in Monterey Thursday night -- the 2010 Ducati 848 Nick Hayden edition. It's the first 2010 model from Ducati and will be available in showrooms on Tuesday.
The machine has special graphics. Hayden will run a similar paint scheme on his race bike this weekend.
There are only 150 machines made and Hayden signed each tank by hand.
Nicky and Ducati North America CEO Michael Lock pull the covers off the new model
image by tim huntington
The MSRP for the 134 horsepower bike is $14,495.
More info, from the fine folks at DNA:
2010 DUCATI 848 Nicky Hayden Edition
Ducati North America is proud to announce the 848 Nicky Hayden Edition. This striking livery places a distinctly American stamp on the market's best middleweight sport bike. We are excited to unveil this model in conjunction with the Red Bull United States Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, as there is no better time to celebrate the American World Champion than at his home race on the 4th of July. This US-exclusive model features an American inspired paint scheme, aptly fit for its introduction on the 4th of July, personally autographed gas tank, and model updates for the 2010 year. MSRP is $14,495, and will be available July 7 at authorized Ducati dealers.
So light, but so powerful
The new Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Edition enjoys all the performance advancements of the entire Superbike family, while adding its own innovations to redefine the middleweight sport bike class.
The words ?agile' and ?refined' aptly describe the 848. At 168kg (369lbs) the 848 is an amazing 20kg (44lbs) lighter than its predecessor, and a significant 5kg (11lbs) lighter than its larger capacity brother, the 1098.
The highly advanced 848 engine uses an improved method of engine case production in which cases are vacuum die-cast formed. While providing significant weight savings of more than 3kg (6.5lbs), this method also ensures consistent wall thickness and increased strength. Further refinements include a sophisticated wet clutch that offers 1kg (2.2lbs) less weight, a much higher service life, improved clutch feel and quiet operation.
With the first twist of the wrist, the powerful rush of the Testastretta Evoluzione engine confirms that the rules have changed. The 848's 134hp is not only 30% more powerful than its predecessor, but it provides a power-to-weight ratio even better than the potent 999.
New for 2010:
Available immediately, the 848 Nicky Hayden Edition is the first of the 2010 Ducati 848 models to arrive in showrooms. For 2010, this model features several upgrades in addition to the special Hayden livery and full specifications listed below, including:
? LED dash illumination for better visibility - particularly at night
? Inclusion of a 30mm mirror extension kit, enabling a choice of two stem lengths for better vision
? Aluminium cam belt tensioner pulleys to reduce weight and moving mass; in turn enabling better acceleration.
Engine
The 848 Testastretta Evoluzione engine becomes the benchmark for the middleweight sportsbike category, benefitting from all the experience accumulated with the larger engine on the 1198. It successfully adopts the same design guidelines and the same compact cylinder and cylinder head layout, but introduces for the first time ever an innovative solution for the crankcase, which has been designed with a further weight reduction for this advanced engine in mind. The overall layout of this engine integrates a series of avant-guard solutions, confirming the close links with the experience of Ducati's racing department.
The 849cc engine has bore and stroke values of 94mm and 61.2mm respectively, which produce a ratio that is only slightly inferior to the 1098 (1.54 compared with 1.61), while maintaining the highly ?over-square' layout typical of racing engines.
Power output is an impressive 134hp (98.5kW) at 10,000 rpm and maximum torque is 71 lb/ft (96Nm) at 8250 rpm. The power and torque values confirm the high performance level of this engine, especially when compared to its predecessor, the Testastretta-engined 749.
The cylinder head has been modified in line with the characteristic bore and stroke of the engine in order to optimize the fluid dynamics of the intake (straight and plunging) and exhaust ducts and combustion chamber. The compression ratio is 12:1.
The valve angle is the same as the 1198 engine and diameter is 39.5mm for the inlet valve and 32mm for the exhaust. The technology used sees the application of a bi-metallic alloy that combines increased lightness with resistance and reliability required for these particular components. The desmodromic control system has also been designed with the weight and the inertia of the new components in mind, allowing extremely efficient valve lift during intake and exhaust phases. The excellent results achieved are confirmed by the engine's power figures, producing outstanding performance thanks also to the use of MotoGP-derived elliptical throttle bodies, which have been fitted to the 1198 engine. The 2010 model year sees the addition of new lightweight cam belt tensioner pulleys; improving performance while shaving weight.
The design of a dedicated elliptical throttle body for the 848 demonstrates the attention that Borgo Panigale engineers have devoted to the development of the Superbike range. The cross-section is reduced from the 60 sq. mm of the 1098 to 56 sq. mm so as to optimize fluid dynamics at every engine speed. Just like on the 1098, the new cylinder heads benefit from fewer components and include magnesium covers.
This Testastretta Evoluzione engine sees the introduction of a special technology for the construction of the engine crankcase: Vacural casting. This is a forced vacuum die casting method that allows jet characteristics to be improved thanks to the absence of porosity, gas inclusion and oxidation. This allows extremely high measurement precision and greater ductility for aluminium alloy. Designers have been able to harness the benefits of this innovative process by redefining the shape and the wall thickness of the new crankcase by means of FEA (Finite Element Analysis) checks, which allowed the required reliability standards to be achieved, while simultaneously obtaining a significant weight saving of 3.5kg.
The 848 engine is fitted with a silent modular wet clutch, characterized by an exceptional resistance to wear that will lead to superior duration. This solution makes a useful contribution to weight saving, estimated to be around 1.6kg, which is also due to the use of a different type of clutch cover.
The high power figures achieved by this engine also come from the use of the same type of oil cooler and coolant radiator as the 1198's engine, with an increased surface area assisted by lightweight, high flow electric fan assemblies.
Finally, the 848's exhaust system follows the same layout and uses the same innovative technology as the 1198. The system terminates with Ducati's trademark twin under-seat silencers, delivering the unmistakable signature sound of the big bore 90° L-Twin.
This power unit, just like all the other Ducati engines, has been designed to comply with Euro 3 exhaust emission norms.
ENDS
Linear Mode
