Ducati might beat Cagiva to the punch

**Hillbilly** · 10th March 2008, 03:59

What's this? Supermono wars you say? That's right, Ducati are planning a counterattack against the Mito 500. It's in the form of the Ducati 549R Supermono pictured below. Details are sketchy, but it's rumoured to weigh in at just 120kg. This seems like a time warp back to the '90s with the Yamaha SZR660, the Bimota BB1 and the old Ducati Supermono race bike.

**riffer** · 10th March 2008, 05:38

Hmm.

Like the front end, but I gotta admit I'm not convinced by the direction they're taking with the frame a la the Desmosedici and new Monster, abandoning the trellis at the back of the frame and replacing it with cast aluminium. Yes, I know its stronger, but there seems to be a dilution of the aethetics with going to what nearly everyone else has. And it's not as pretty as well. There's no flow from the back to the front and it's like two different bikes.

**NordieBoy** · 10th March 2008, 07:14

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

What's this? Supermono wars you say? That's right, Ducati are planning a counterattack against the Mito 500. It's in the form of the Ducati 549R Supermono pictured below. Details are sketchy, but it's rumoured to weigh in at just 120kg. This seems like a time warp back to the '90s with the Yamaha SZR660, the Bimota BB1 and the old Ducati Supermono race bike.

And the Bimota GB1

**R6_kid:Me** · 10th March 2008, 09:31

hmm... doesnt look photoshopped either. Any indication of power output? Not that it will matter, at 120kg that thing will be crazy fun!

**FkNAmerican** · 10th March 2008, 11:15

wow......I really like the look o' that!!!

Then again....a 549cc Ducati would be a waste in my eyes. I have a feeling it will cost as much as a Zx-10.

**deanohit** · 10th March 2008, 11:27

Mean! Go the singles!

**McJim** · 10th March 2008, 11:43

Sounds like my cup of tea. All handling and few ponies. In terms of budget though I might just hang onto my 583cc Twin.

**tri boy** · 10th March 2008, 12:07

Is it just me, or does the shock spring look damn near coil bound

**limbimtimwim** · 10th March 2008, 12:15

Originally Posted by FkNAmerican

wow......I really like the look o' that!!!
Then again....a 549cc Ducati would be a waste in my eyes. I have a feeling it will cost as much as a Zx-10.

Same, I have the feeling they'll ruin it by making it 'exclusive'.

I hope that is a single disc on the front.

Now there are at least three of these rumoured single cylinder sports bikes 'just around the corner' but none have appeared yet. This, the Mito 500 and the KTM RC4 or whatever it is. And that ugly Subaru.

**enigma51** · 10th March 2008, 19:05

In thoery it will be half a 1098 so that would make it half the power give or take a few ponies either way. It will definitly not be more than a 848 not even close i reckon.

Maybe a 80 or 90 hp which might make it fun to ride!

**jcupit69** · 10th March 2008, 19:44

120kg!!!! thats 125 teritory, my rs250 weighs in around 140kgs!!!

That thing would be a riot in the twistys!!!!

When i first saw the plans for the mito 500 it looked awsome, untill i found out they were going for the hyo 650 engine in it!!! i've seen a couple of mito 125s wiv hyo 650 engines shoved in them in the uk, so wasnt overly impressed with cagivas efforts

Any news on what kinda motor or power output its going to have??? Im guessin ducati will make their own motor???

love the exhaust on that pic

**limbimtimwim** · 10th March 2008, 20:25

Originally Posted by jcupit69

Any news on what kinda motor or power output its going to have??? Im guessin ducati will make their own motor???

You'd think so. Complete with desmo valves. Still, if there is only one cylinder it shouldn't cost too much to get serviced.

.. Then again.. They'll probably ram it up in the fuel tank or something and getting it done will probably involve removing the forks and the swingarm or something dumb like that.

**xwhatsit** · 11th March 2008, 01:51

Originally Posted by limbimtimwim

You'd think so. Complete with desmo valves.

And that fascinating balancer system they put on the original Supermono? The ghost second cylinder?

**Hillbilly** · 11th March 2008, 02:57

Originally Posted by enigma51

In thoery it will be half a 1098 so that would make it half the power give or take a few ponies either way. It will definitly not be more than a 848 not even close i reckon.
Maybe a 80 or 90 hp which might make it fun to ride!

One article was in Italian, the other in Dutch. The Italian article quoted the power output as 120CV!!! (pretty much 120HP)