TT Race Bike (549cc Ducati Supermono)

**rsv** · 28 Dec 06, 05:52 AM

Was watching an DVD on the history of the TT Races through out the years....then noticed a Ducati entered in the Light weight class.....it was a single cylinder 500+cc...era around 1990.....was this just a pure race bike or was it also available as a road bike , it looked and sounded fantastic......any info...

Regards,

Mark...

**Triple9** · 28 Dec 06, 06:54 AM

That would have been the 549cc Ducati Supermono,...surely one of the most beautiful bikes ever made.Robert Holden,(and a couple of others) raced one at the IOM in '94/95 fiishing first and second respectively.
Sadly never available as a road bike,only 40 were made.

**rsv** · 28 Dec 06, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple9

That would have been the 549cc Ducati Supermono,...surely one of the most beautiful bikes ever made.Robert Holden,(and a couple of others) raced one at the IOM in '94/95 fiishing first and second respectively.
Sadly never available as a road bike,only 40 were made.

Thank you for that, was blown away by it's looks and sound, what a pity it was never made into a road bike.......surely would have been a popular choice for the enthusiast.......have since found an article on this bike.......they were quoting 80bhp at the back wheel, must have ben a very special, and reliable engine indeed to with stand the TT Races....I also see that a company called "Airtech" supply a replica Bodywork Kit......would be a nice style of Bike to replicate..

Mark..

**billywiztheelder** · 28 Dec 06, 09:29 AM

[quote="rsv"]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple9

..............was blown away by it's looks and sound..............

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBV2x5hD57Q

You can see where the ie SS got its styling from.

Barry

**BRG** · 28 Dec 06, 08:11 PM

Here's the nude shot...

**BRG** · 29 Dec 06, 08:13 AM

Quote:

they were quoting 80bhp at the back wheel

A look in Ian Falloon's 1998 book The Ducati Story suggests that the power of the 1995 572cc unit was 81 crankshaft BHP @ 10,000 rpm and that a 1993 CycleWorld dyno test showed 62 BHP at the rear wheel (approx. 57 BHP at the road?). Even so, with a dry weight of 122 kg (vs. 54 BHP (crank) and 140 kg for a Manx Norton) it was pretty darned good.

Someone used to race one of these at Castle Combe in the Sound of Singles class as recently as 2004.

I'm one of those who might've bought if they'd have made a street/sports version.[/i]

**nogaromill999** · 29 Dec 06, 11:46 AM

It was the first Ducati that Terblanche was let loose on too......

**spike748** · 29 Dec 06, 02:36 PM

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Supermono....."pass the tissues"

That is one of the best looking and engineered bikes on the planet.

**vee twin** · 01 Jan 07, 08:24 PM

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 .

**BRG** · 28 Jan 07, 02:04 PM

Came across this (gorgeous) pic from the Sigma Performance site http://www.sigmaperformance.com/:

**MarkST** · 28 Dec 07, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRG

Came across this (gorgeous) pic from the Sigma Performance site

It's interesting to see that is still has the conrod from the missing vertical cylinder - presumably to help balance the engine and keep vibes down.

**Gilps** · 28 Dec 07, 04:57 PM

One made an appearance at Assen earlier this year when the DD guys were there, and I think there was one at the DSC Cadwell track day too. The only one I have seen for sale was on ebay a couple of years back. It went for $75,000 in the US.

**Mr.R** · 28 Dec 07, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkST

It's interesting to see that is still has the conrod from the missing vertical cylinder - presumably to help balance the engine and keep vibes down.

Mark,
It does help the balance/vibes but the real trick part was that it kidded a big single cylinder motor into thinking it was a twin. The bike revved very high for a single.

Steve

**MarkST** · 28 Dec 07, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.R

Mark,
It does help the balance/vibes but the real trick part was that it kidded a big single cylinder motor into thinking it was a twin. The bike revved very high for a single.

Steve

Ok, excellent.
Thanks Steve - another part of the jigsaw puzzle slots into place

**Ghost** · 28 Dec 07, 06:51 PM

John Hackett has one in his showroom, I think it belongs to him as I have seen him ride it at Mallory a couple of times.

Phil