New Bevel Drive Ducati out of Australia

Jeff Higgins · 09-08-2019, 01:37 PM

One of my riding buddies and I spent the day on our 900 Super Sports yesterday, me on my '93 and my buddy on his '94. The conversation at lunch, of course, may have included a bit of Ducati this and that...

My buddy mentioned a company out of Australia that now owns the patents, and has acquired the blueprints for, the old bevel drive Ducati motor. And not just any motor - the one Hailwood rode to victory at the Isle of Mann in 1978. This motor had many improvements over the production motor but, sadly, never did see production itself before they went over to belt driven cams. I think they only made four of these special motors.

Well, they are back. They are not cheap, but they are back. This video is two years old, though, so I'm not sure of their current status or availability.

Oh, and just one nit picky point before everyone jumps all over Jay - he well and truly botches his explanation of the bevel drive, confusing its purpose with that of the desmodromic valve control. Other than that little SNAFU, though, it's a great little video:

flatbutt · 09-08-2019, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

One of my riding buddies and I spent the day on our 900 Super Sports yesterday, me on my '93 and my buddy on his '94. The conversation at lunch, of course, may have included a bit of Ducati this and that...

My buddy mentioned a company out of Australia that now owns the patents, and has acquired the blueprints for, the old bevel drive Ducati motor. And not just any motor - the one Hailwood rode to victory at the Isle of Mann in 1978. This motor had many improvements over the production motor but, sadly, never did see production itself before they went over to belt driven cams. I think they only made four of these special motors.

Well, they are back. They are not cheap, but they are back. This video is two years old, though, so I'm not sure of their current status or availability.

Oh, and just one nit picky point before everyone jumps all over Jay - he well and truly botches his explanation of the bevel drive, confusing its purpose with that of the desmodromic valve control. Other than that little SNAFU, though, it's a great little video:

that and I believe that it's technically an "L" twin not a Vee

spuggy · 09-08-2019, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatbutt

technically an "L" twin not a Vee

That's what Ducati want you to say - use the term they made up.

It's a V-twin to me.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

an L twin supposedly is a Vtwin tilted forward till one bank is flat.

ok, but it's still a V twin at that point.. and nobody cares bout L

Jeff Higgins · 09-09-2019, 08:15 AM

I don't know anyone who rides a Ducati who calls it an "L twin".

The forward cylinder isn't actually level, nor is the "vertical" cylinder vertical - the motor is tilted back 11 degrees.

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

My brother used to have a '74 860 GT, I believe it had the engine you're talking about. Pretty cool bike with the Conti mufflers on it. The Harley guys would always want to know what was making that cool sound.

javadog · 09-09-2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

My brother used to have a '74 860 GT, I believe it had the engine you're talking about.

Well, sort of... It had some differences.

wswartzwel · 09-09-2019, 10:10 AM

I rebuilt the top end on one of my customers 1974 750 ss. The bevel drive is an ingenious system.

He is a collector that has a few interesting bikes. This one came from Johhny Kosinski's dad's shop in Little Rock. He got boxes of new old Stock parts with it. It is nice to see people going to the effort to preserve this old technology. I hadn't seen this Video. Thanks so much for sharing it.