TT Race Bike (549cc Ducati Supermono) - Page 2

**Steve GD** · 16 Feb 08, 08:40 PM

The things you find when you are pootling around old threads.....
Those of you who were at Olliestock (remember the warm weather and the snoring?) will have met Al, who lives in the same village as Ollie and who was a former race team manager for Yamaha amongst other things. He is building a modern roadgoing version of the Supermono, based upon the testatretta engine. Looks sweet as anything and weighs next to nothing...should be getting its first serious road tests around now. I believe the first production model is promised to Alan Cathcart, the bike journo.

**Mr.R** · 16 Feb 08, 09:35 PM

Ah Siralan Cathcart,
He's a true Ducatisti and can also ride a race bike very, very well but..............
I've read his articles over these many years and have come to the conclusion that he'd have a problem knowing which end of a spark plug actually fits in the motor.
He's a lot better at describing how a bike handles/goes, than he is at describing the technical details.
He knows quite a bit about one of these things but on the other................
Of course most of the stuff he spews on the techie points could be the result of poor editing?
But it's far to consistant for that IMHO.
I think he should change his by-line/name on the techie stuff to Siralan Clueless.
I wonder if he ever checks out this forum?
If he does I'll happily cross swords with him, I've a large library of old Ducati articals, more than a few wrote by him, that I sometimes get out if I feel the need for a giggle.

Steve

**Steve GD** · 16 Feb 08, 09:50 PM

Hmmm....not sure it is clear, but Al (Alistair) and Alan Cathcart are not the same person! Ho-hum...it is getting late!

**Mr.R** · 16 Feb 08, 10:10 PM

Not clear?
Alan Cathcart or Siralan is the one I was having a pop at!
He's the well known bike mag journo...........
The one who would have a hard job recognising a spark plug spanner if he fell over it!
Not the one that you met at Ollies party.
I hope that clears that up?
I don't think I've read anything by the other AL.
I look forward to reading a load of bollox about his new bike, when he gets it.

Steve

**bikermike.n** · 16 Feb 08, 10:27 PM

Fast Bikes got very excited about the Supermono back in the late 90s - one of their big projects involved building a supermono look-a-like.

No idea whatever happened to it tho.
But, um, it's a Ducati. Why have a single that pretends it's a twin when you could have a twin, that is a twin?
(But I wouldn't say boo to an L-four that's pretending to be a twin)

**Mr.R** · 16 Feb 08, 10:59 PM

Hi Mike,
If you'd ever rode a hot single you'd know why people rave about them.
OK they'll never be a Fireblade or whatever but they have a charm that is hard to describe,
I can only imagine what a Big 4 stroke single that revs to well over 11,500 rpm feels like, but I want to have a go on one of those babies!
Former world champions que up to ride 'Hot' old Norton or Matchless singles at the Goodwood festival every year.........
I for one don't wonder why.

Steve

**bikermike.n** · 18 Feb 08, 01:53 PM

Stoppit!
I already have a list of bikes to own/ride/steal and I don't want to add to it.

I suppose it's more I got rather bored with Fast Bikes going on about the styling. Looks nice, but not *that* nice
(there again I've got an 888, which isn't the prettiest thing ever)

**Tobytyke** · 28 Jun 08, 01:58 PM

Theres no gallery for the Supermono so thought I'd stick these here, it's John Hacketts bike with him on it at Mallory. I think its a mighty fine looking bike, pictures dont do it justice.

**Steve GD** · 28 Jun 08, 02:06 PM

A beauty....the design doesn't look 15 years old, either!

**zimbo** · 28 Jun 08, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vee twin

Its a great shame that Ducati havent made a similar bike of that cc as a road bike. Even something like a 350/450 single [chop a vee twin 748 in half] I'm sure in the race trim it would sell .

They made loads of them in the mid seventies! 250 / 350 / 450cc desmo singles in race or cafe racer trim, sadly not been made more recently though

**stafford** · 28 Jun 08, 05:09 PM

Don't you just love the twin port Termi as well, lovely bike.
YouTube - Ducati Supermono 570

**Mr.R** · 28 Jun 08, 05:49 PM

Zimbo,
The bottom picture is a 350 Pantah twin, it's really a sleaved down 500 with a (1st for Ducati on a road bike) 6 speed box.
Rev hungry motor but very underpowered.
I've got a little 250 Desmo superb motor that screams upto 10,000rpm, or would if I get around to putting it together.
They were advertised as capable of 100mph and 100mpg.

Steve

**zimbo** · 28 Jun 08, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.R

Zimbo,
The bottom picture is a 350 Pantah twin, it's really a sleaved down 500 with a (1st for Ducati on a road bike) 6 speed box.
Rev hungry motor but very underpowered.
I've got a little 250 Desmo superb motor that screams upto 10,000rpm, or would if I get around to putting it together.
They were advertised as capable of 100mph and 100mpg.

Steve

You learn something every day Steve, i didn't know they ever made a 350 twin!

**D16RR** · 04 Jul 08, 02:49 PM

Awesome piece of kit...........

**johnt** · 11 Jul 08, 11:27 AM

How's the summer riding up there?
This is a great thread - In the past I put a semi-supermono lookalike together down here in NZ. Got the carbonfibre body work from Sam Roberts of SPR Racing in Nottingham. Excellent job they made of it too.

Here's my blog - DROP-TRED

I had a 900ss that was in bad shape bodywise and wanted to do something different. When I spotted the Supermono displayed in the Ducati Museum.....that was it.....had to do it at any cost. Needed lights tho for a WOF (MOT) so made something up from a Nissan Skyline headlight and told necessary people it was a Le Mans special!!

Here's a pic or 2 anyway

JT