How about the new smaller engine 821, tweaked or tuned but essentially same production cost, in a package that would be eligible for supersports?
I think Antonye's point is that for it to be a min-Panigale it would have to have a Superquadro engine which the 821cc engine is not. Maybe they might just make a road-going sportsbike instead and nothing like the Panigale. I suspect that done right it would be a big seller.
It's not likely they would stray far from the proven path; 998...748 999...749 1098...848 1199...? It doesn't take a genius to work out what comes next. Whatever size motor, it'll be a smaller engined Panigale.
This chart should help illustrate the point - you can see the capacities of the various Ducatis over the years and how these relate to the bore/stroke measurements. The 1199 SuperQuadro engine is way out on the right with a 1.84 ratio (112/60.8) and this ratio defines the engine. Ducati will tweak the bore/stroke to get a smaller engine but will keep within this ratio as close as possible as it defines the characteristics of the engine - these are all inside the red box, or thereabouts. The ones I've highlighted are likely candidates. I think they'd go with 833 as the correct ratio (a perfect 2.0) but they may not like the name as it's "lower" than the 848 it would replace. We know Ducati will rename bikes to meet naming convention even if their CC size is different (749 was still 748cc, 999 was 997cc, 1098 was 1099cc and so on) so don't be surprised if it's call an 899 but comes in around 850cc - maybe even the 883cc of 104 x 52 (a perfect 2.0 ratio and could use 1098 pistons!) and named "899"
How about a name rather than number? Same base but different plastics and no confusion between them...altho means can share production
It was originally from BikeBoy.org and I took a copy a long while ago. Unfortunately the site has since disappeared (although I think there is an archive if you Google) but I kept my own copy up to date with the latest engines. You can see there are patterns to how Ducati come up with their engine revisions (ie, same engine with different capacities like 916 to 748) and if you know a bit about how engine characteristics work with different bore/stroke then there's a whole wealth of information in there, not just in the numbers! One interesting engine is the new Hypermotard 821cc engine at 88 x 67.5; the 88mm piston is one which Ducati used in the 2v 750 (748cc), then used it again in the 2v 800 (803cc) engine by lengthening the stroke. When they redesigned the 2v engine again, they used the same piston in the 696, and then again in the 796 (803cc). They're now starting to use this in the 4v engine which make sense as it's reusing current stock and so helps keep costs down. /nerd
849/899 When is it coming????? I have been patient and waiting for any news. Anyone heard anything recently who is in the know??????
Most of the ducati people I've spoken too think its doubtful. Cost wise I don't think it's going to happen. The margins are just too small,or ducati could even lose money if they tried to spec it well, but sell competitively. If they do one it most likely will not be based on the 1199 as its really hard to get the engine down in cc but retain the characteristics. There is a thread where it's explained in a post a bit better than I can. I'll see if I can find it.
