With tongue in cheek but someday on the podium I'm hoping to here: "moturcycle wracing for Buell ben berry, berry gud to me in great broken English. It'll be verry, verry special for me.
They are testing at Jennings and NOLA while Canepa is in the US.
I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but well after the last AMA race, Pegram posted some photos from Road Atlanta showing Pegram riding the EBR there. I'd imagine that was related to the WSBK effort.
From the pitpassmoto.com. link above: And thanks Hugh.
"and they’ll compete in World Superbike. Motorcycle racing talk show, road racing, motocross, supercross, etc."
"motorcross, supercross, etc" Whats up with that? And it appears it came from Erik if the info is correct. Does that indicate the possible sly intro of some new models? I just might consider getting back into some desert trail riding on a Hero/EBR dirt bike. Oh, and Merry Christmas all.
(Message edited by Bob_thompson on December 25, 2014)
"nd they’ll compete in World Superbike. Motorcycle racing talk show, road racing, motocross, supercross, etc."
"motorcross, supercross, etc" Whats up with that? And it appears it came from Erik if the info is correct. Does that indicate the possible sly intro of some new models?"
Think youre reading too far into this I think its just saying that the talk show deals with those things. Maybe. Maybe Im wrong. But I doubt a company that only has two bikes is really moving that quickly into other venues of racing. Hell, not done well in the first type of racing yet
I just listened to the whole 19 minute interview on pitpassradio and Erik did say Hero and EBR was working on many projects that he can't talk about but they (Hero) wants to be very prominent in the "world" and he had a big part in. You know he has had dirt bikes on his agenda for quite a while. So maybe, and with Hero having most of the money, if not an EBR dirt bike, maybe an EBR "engineered" Hero dirt bike. I will agree though there's nothing positive yet as he's devoting most of his time to WSB. But, his engineers may well be devoting a lot of time to Hero. I really do not care what name is on a bike, if it comes from EBR engineering, I'll buy one and ride it.
And that kind of attitude is a real winner "I dont care...if it comes from EBR...I'll buy one" That attitude is what leads to crap products. Why push yourself if you have all these sheep buying anything you put out, even if its junk
....2 ZTL rotors (386mm)can be made thinner than a single ZTL rotor, since the braking forces on each rotor is almost halfed..... also the 2 ZTL rotors could have a "wave" pattern to futher reduce weight .... The 2 ZTL rotors might still be lighter than a conventional 2-disc setup (330mm), but with a much greater stopping power and still an EBR innovation..... Also the calipers for the 2 ZTL rotors could be much smaller and so much lighter and less expensive than the calipers required for a conventional 2-disc set-up. The large rotors of the 2-ZTL system (386mm)do not need the caliper to produce such a great force as in the case of a conventional 2-disc (330mm) setup , so the calipers can be made smaller-lighter and need less rigidity ...... Maybe a low tech 2-piston caliper on each side could be all that is needed... AND the smaller the caliper the better the rigidity .....
The factory should try this ..... and then compare the 3 systems ......
The word that keeps cropping up is Aggressive. The ZTL simply doesn't have the initial bite a conventional set up has. I can see where that would cause guys to brake earlier instead of HARDER at the lever. In terms of shear power they are plenty strong you just have to squeeze the lever to get it.
The cool part of the ZTL is the rotational momentum is near that of a conventional set up so it can be lighter over all and not feel twitchy. Going with a dual set up might give you more power but destroy that light steering dynamic. JMHO
Have you heard the term "Gyroscopic Precession" Vag?
Of course the two rotors will each be lighter than the single if they go that route. If course they will use smaller calipers (but two).
The issue in this case isn't exactly the weight (though it's important for sure) but adding another rotor (or two lighter rotors) will create significantly more gyroscopic precession. This will remove the "quick steering" advantage that the single large rotor combined with the ultra light wheel enables. If they can make each rotor (and mounting equipment, mounting bosses in the wheel etc... All the stuff that rotates and is way out at the edge of the wheel) half as heavy as the current single disc setup (each) and if it's capable of MORE braking power then they'll have a few pounds unsprung mass advantage and retain the steering advantage.
The thing about it in WSBK thought is that reduced unsprung mass isn't as advantageous as it is on a bumpy street.
Me... I feel like they'll get the brakes feeling the way Nico likes them with minor changes to the current setup.
I think the advantages of ZTL are lost on those ultra smooth WSB tracks. I hate to see them give up on a great idea, and that's what it will look like to the rest of the world if they show up with a different wheel and brake package. No one else uses their own brakes. If they want to win, they may have to go with the herd. It's a great setup for the street, just maybe not the smooth WSB tracks.
Once they get the brakes set up the way Niccolo likes them, they will need to address the bigger issue - horsepower.
As I recall, Ducati took the 1198 and gave it a shorter stroke for more RPMs and added titanium connecting rods to the R model so they could compete in WSB. Getting more HP out of the EBR will be difficult because they are limited in getting more RPM due to the 2.66" stroke as compared to the 2.39" Ducati. We are probably only talking about 10 HP, but that makes a difference on the long staightaways.
Probably very true but what also is the advantage of the desmo valve actuation of the Duc's compared to the extra valve spring tension that would also be needed for the EBR to avoid valve float at those higher rpm's? And the greater possibility of valve spring, retainers or keeper failure.
The Japanese and all 4 cylinder short stroke engines that have valve spring actuation endure at, even 18000 rpm's due to very small valves, springs & keepers reducing weight but the big twins have that much bigger valves and corresponding parts so much more spring tension is required. Just a thought. Bob
Overcoming valve float can be a challenge, but it is easier to manage than reciprocating weight and ring speed.
It would be great if the rules require steel rods. The idea of the EVO class is to keep costs down and bikes from getting too exotic. 2015 will be an interesting year to see how everything plays out.
Posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - 04:22 pm:
The Panigale has more HP than the EBR , BUT the EBR handles better .... Ducati made a mistake with their chassis design of the Panigale ....... Even watching from TV , it is obvious that the front end of the Panigale is moving around ....
The good thing about Pegram , is that he seems willing to use whatever solution will make the bike more competitive.... 2-disc brakes , rear linkage for the shock, he is willing to try it..... That is the impression I got from his words....
Let's wait for the tests in Europe in a few days, to find out what the gap really is..... Maybe we are going to be surprised in a good way ! ! !