Ductalk

Rabbit Hash, KY, Dec. 24 —

Lusting after a new Testastretta Superbike but paralyzed with worry over that first scratch? The new Ducati Certified Tossed (DCT) program lets you take home a sweet, sweet ride without the baggage of factory-fresh perfection. The shattered plastic is sure to give you instant chest-thumping street-cred all the way from the Rock Store to the Tail of the Dragon, and everywhere in between.

Read more: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/motorcycle_humor/122_1112_ducati_certified_tossed_program_off_to_impressive_start/index.html#ixzz1hHXHXBzW

The story of the superstar racer, brilliant engineer and genius technician locked in a battle to find enough speed to make the scrappy, innovative factory world champion once again would make a great movie. Of course, in the movie they would win, achieving the ultimate success. At Ducati they aren’t that far along yet.

Read more: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_1112_ducatis_fascinating_failure/index.html#ixzz1g0U30PHr

According to Ducati Marketing Manager Paolo Quattrino, “Non-extreme riders who loved the Streetfighter’s styling asked for more ‘usability’—a new interpretation of the Streetfighter concept.” Check out...

It starts simply enough. When we begin to ride, there are only two basic things we can change: speed and direction. As our skills expand, we quickly escalate to a complex system of those elements: the six controls at our fingers and feet have 37 combinations of on/off, use/rest. The multiples begin to muddy the arithmetic because there are 19 different ways to manipulate those six controls. But even that isn’t all black-and-white, because 17 of them are also variable in their adjustability; only two—gear changes up or down—are hard-edged. In other words, considering the variety of applications available for steering inputs and applying either of the brakes, throttle and clutch, there are literally hundreds of combinations requiring a deft touch to create smooth rider inputs. There’s that word again: smooth.

Read more: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_1112_basics_by_the_numbers_code_break/index.html#ixzz1gQTRpbjy