Motorcycle Investor mag Subscribe to our free email news
![]()
Ducati 999 (by Ian Falloon, July 2022) Technically
better but troubled in the market
One of the forgotten more
modern Ducatis is the 2005 model 999. The 2005 999R in
particular was spectacular. Heading the production
Superbike line-up for 2005 was as new generation 999 and
749. Particular emphasis was placed on the 999R, with
the intention of homologating it for AMA racing. Updates
to the range extended from styling to chassis and engine
improvements. The basic 999 was more
powerful, the 999 S more exclusive, and the 999R the
most powerful production bike ever produced by Ducati. For all 999s and 749s the
fairing was redesigned, with a higher and wider cockpit
without the two upper side air ducts, and higher screen.
The lower fairing had more protective spoilers, as on
the previous R models, and was constructed of a new
high-strength polymer, Terblend. Other updates included
a lighter (by 500 gm) box-section swingarm and a black
anodised aluminium exhaust protective heat shield. The 999R engine now produced
150 horsepower at 9750rpm, and was modified to conform
with AMA rules that required racing engines be almost
identical to the corresponding production units. There
was a new cylinder head to go with the 104 mm cylinders,
with the distance between the valves and valve seat
increased for the titanium valves with bigger heads but
6mm stems. The valves were retained by
conical collets as on the 749R. New rockers increased
the valve lift. The con rods were new, and the
crankshaft more rigid with improved lubrication
channels. The injectors were the 12-hole type as on the
749R, and the compression ratio increased to 12.45:1. The chassis was similar to
before, with the highest quality Brembo brakes, Öhlins
suspension, and Brembo/Marchesini wheels. The styling
included the updates shared with other 999s, but the
fairing was carbon fibre. As before, the 999S slotted
between the base 999 and limited edition 999R. Although
the 999 was upgraded this year, the 999S engine retained
titanium con-rods and a lighter crankshaft, and produced
slightly more horsepower (143 horsepower at 9750rpm). To
differentiate it further the 999S also received a race
kit as standard, and retained an Öhlins front fork, now
with radial mount brake calipers. In response to more powerful
competition, the base 999 motor was considerably
upgraded, the power increasing from 124 to 140
horsepower at 9750rpm. The die-cast crankcases were the
low sump type of the 999S, there were new camshafts, and
vented timing belt covers. The four 749 (749 Dark, 749,
749S, and 749R) models were similar in specification to
2004, but shared the new fairing with the 2005 999. This
year the 749R produced 121 horsepower at 10,500rpm, the
749S 116 horsepower at 10,500rpm, and the 749 108
horsepower at 10,000rpm. Despite all the updates, 999
and 749 sales were down 29 per cent in the first nine
months of 2005, with the 749 particularly hard hit.. More reading:
Bennetts buyer guide ------------------------------------------------- Produced by AllMoto abn 61 400 694 722 |
ArchivesContact
|