Converting a 900cc Ducati engine to a single, how hard?

HardDrive · 02-11-2012, 09:17 PM

If I bought a carbed 900cc Ducati engine, how hard would it be to convert it to a single? I'm guess not that hard, since I drove my 900SS with a fouled plug on one cylinder, and it ran.....with admittedly less power.....

Could it be as simple as removing the piston, sealing off the case, and removing the wiring for the missing cylinder?

slodave · slodave's Garage

No answer whatsoever. But, why (short of the obvious less power)?

TheMentat · TheMentat's Garage

It would probably run smother if it were properly balanced to run on one cylinder...

maxnine11 · maxnine11's Garage

Ducati already did that (sort of) quite some time ago.

The Supermono is a gorgeous bike.

I have an old 450 single ... i wouldn't describe it as 'smooth'.
Although a rebuild is probably due.

rfuerst911sc · 02-12-2012, 04:41 AM

That is a nice looking machine.

pavulon · 02-12-2012, 05:26 AM

was more than one ever made? I hope not as the possibility of owning one would haunt me.

HardDrive · 02-12-2012, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slodave

No answer whatsoever. But, why (short of the obvious less power)?

So it could sit in a Royal Enfield Bullet frame.

Rot 911 · 02-12-2012, 05:59 AM

I would think it would vibrate terribly. The crank is balanced for two pistons.

oldE · 02-12-2012, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rot 911

I would think it would vibrate terribly. The crank is balanced for two pistons.

At best, you'd need a new crank.

Les

motion · 02-12-2012, 01:12 PM

I have a buddy that made a single out of a new Ducati 1098. Remove hardware, fab block off plate, re-balance crank (the tricky part). It can certainly be done.

5String43 · 02-12-2012, 03:25 PM

Good God, why would you?

pavulon · 04:11 PM

oh man...wikipedia has total supermono production run of 65...

HardDrive · 02-12-2012, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5String43

Good God, why would you?

Because I'm an idiot with a checkbook.

jwasbury · 02-12-2012, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavulon

oh man...wikipedia has total supermono production run of 65...

One of the sexiest, most coveted Ducatis of all time.

Hugo930 · 02-12-2012, 05:26 PM

Nothing greater.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Because I'm an idiot with a checkbook.

Bob Goding · 07:02 PM

---Vincent H.R.D did it many years ago, I worked with a guy had a Vincent 'Comet"---500cc
single. The rear barrel was removed and a blanking plate on the case. I dont know what they did inside. I travelled pillion on it daily for some months, [1959/60]----

Well I guess my memory is fading---I recalled 'Google is your friend' and came up with this----------

How the legendary Vincent Rapide V-Twin engine was concieved is certainly one of the most tantalizing legends in all of Classic British Motorcycle-dom. Phil Irving was sitting at the drawing board one day with two tracings of the 500cc single. As things got moved around, the top tracing roughly lined up with the bottom one (identical to the top) at such an angle as to look like a V-twin. With a little cajoling, he lined up the crankshaft centerlines & the timing idler gears & ended up with a 47.5 degree V-twin. The single you see, was canted forward at 23.75 degrees, so this just duplicated that angle to the rear. In doing so, the 1936 Series A Vincent Rapide was born. The 994cc V-twin had 6.8:1 compression, made 45 hp & was good for 110 mph. Absolutely stellar performance in 1936! The Series A (or first generation) engine was somewhat crude when compared with later models, with its non-unit construction & exterior oil lines. The clutch & transmission was also weak. But the Vincent Rapide was still a stunning success for the tiny Vincent-HRD Motorcycle Co. It had a brazed lug frame with Vincent’s patented cantilever rear suspension & a girder front end.

dienstuhr · dienstuhr's Garage

Here's a story about a fellow who did just that with his 748.

Ductalk

Again, what could possibly be so great about an Enfield Bullet frame that would make a grown-up person want to do that?

d.

HelmetHead · HelmetHead's Garage

This guy did it with a HD motor...and built a beauty of a ride doing it!

Nortorious by Roger Goldammer

motion · 02-13-2012, 12:05 PM

SuperMono, yummmm. Last I heard they were going for around $75K a pop. I saw a guy at California Speedway tracking one once. Respekt!

jwasbury · 02-13-2012, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motion

I saw a guy at California Speedway tracking one once. Respekt!

I ran my Duc M900 in AMA club racing for a couple seasons at NHIS (Loudon, NH). The local race school (Penguin) owner, Jerry Wood, was racing his Supermono every weekend. The dude was seriously fast, and was usually winning the Formula 40 race (over 40 years old required, otherwise open class).