The Evolution of the Ducati 916 – A Design and Technical Analysis of the Iconic Superbike
The Ducati 916 stunned the world when it first made its debut – its beauty, speed and responsive handling won over millions. Plus its spine-tingling exhaust note made an unforgettable first impression!
The 916 and its derivatives won multiple World Superbike Championship titles, yet its design came about through collaboration between Tamburini and various machines.
The Design
At the core of the 916 lies its outstanding translation of chassis flex and suspension function for riders. Even small movements of the bike create sensations up through handlebars, thighs and seat to the brain – an experience unlike any other superbike has ever achieved before.
Viewed from above, the steel-trellis frame of the 916 is reminiscent of a voluptuous lady with its narrow waist and ample proportions. Tamburini and Bordi worked tirelessly to ensure their creation would be light yet stylish; their efforts resulted in something eye-catching yet sleek and fashionable.
Ducati used its older superbike engines as the basis for its 916, while the frame is completely new – offering service ease with its bolt-on aluminum rear subframe, chrome-moly pickup points are located differently from previous frames so if a crash-damaged frame occurs it doesn’t necessarily become unusable and scrapped as soon as it happens. There are even subtle nods towards Honda’s NR750 in its tail lights and underseat exhausts.
The Engine
The frame was familiar from previous trellis bikes, while its engine was entirely new – one designed to produce low and mid-rev torque rather than power at high revs. At launch it produced 114bhp in road trim; its real strength lay in its versatility.
Contrary to many bikes of its time, the 916 was intended from its conception to win races. With tall gearing and an unstrained engine design that allowed it to cover long distances on an intercontinental ballistic tourer route without becoming under strain or stressed out.
From its intricate airbox sculptings to its exquisite headlamp dimensions, the Porsche 916 was like a work of art. As one of few sleek Italian sportscars among a sea of dumpy brutes, its aesthetic appeal easily garnered many buyers. It’s easy to understand why so many were drawn in.
The Chassis
In an age when modern bikes require lots of electronic doohicky to be enjoyable, the 916 stands apart as pure motorcycling bliss. Sporting modern tyres, it flicks side-to-side effortlessly with even minimal steering inputs while demolish straightaways with such force it is difficult to describe or replicate.
Tamburini’s design was striking, drawing inspiration from Honda’s exotic NR750 oval piston bike and adapting its elements into an Italian sportscar. Its steel trellis frame was easier to bend than many competitors’ frames, and by removing its front sprocket and millimeters of caster, Tamburini managed to push closer the engine with each revolution of the wheel.
Up front, Japanese firm Showa provided 43mm forks and shocks that allowed for adjustments including 13 clicks worth of rebound dampening. The first year’s model used the Strada/Biposto engine; later 916 Senna models featured some modifications to make them better suited to racing.
The Final Touch
The 916 is considered one of the most desirable modern Italian motorcycles. Values have increased considerably from their days as track day bikes a decade ago, and there is now an ample supply of well-kept examples from which to select one.
No matter whether or not you own one, though, anyone can experience its unique qualities by turning on the ignition key and letting its engine fire. From idle thump-thump at idle all the way to full power burst that hits 9000rpm before plateauing out at that number – it is an unforgettable ride.
The 916 is the epitome of stability and neutral cornering feel, delivered through its combination of chassis flex and suspension functions which relay your inputs through to the bike. I still find its ride comfort to be unparalleled – that’s why it still impresses me today.
