The Isle Of Man is an unforgiving place for any machinery, not least big twins from Bologna. Despite meticulous prep, a small stone did forJames Hillier’s Classic TT.
There have been some magical moments for Ducati at the TT. None more wondrous than Mike The Bike’s 1978 Formula One win on that old bevel twin. There were Tony Rutter’s four TT Formula Two wins in the early ’80s, Rob Holden’s Singles victory in 1995, then John McGuinness’ second place in the Senior on a 998 in 2003, and more recently just a 10th in the 2011 Senior from Michael Rutter on a 1098R.
The Mountain Course and the big twins, however, are not a natural fit. Four (or more) laps of the 37 and three-quarter mile assault course amounts to a mini-endurance race for any machine. For a V-twin the demands are even greater. A long stroke (however oversquare a big twin’s bore/stroke ratio) dictates higher mean piston speeds. Big lumps of forged alloy accelerating to more than 22 metres per second (in an 888 engine) before coming to a dead stop and doing it all again 10,500 times a minute at peak revs – that’s tough on an engine. Four-cylinder machines rev higher with piston speeds reaching the accepted ‘safe’ maximum of 24 metres per second, but those moving masses are smaller and lighter. The TT exacts a heavy toll on twins.
Stafford Evans, who put together James Hillier’s Ducati for the 2017 Classic TT knows just what a challenge getting a Duke to stay the course on The Island is. “You could safely say even Ducati themselves know their bikes don’t like the Isle Of Man. Their new V4 bike will be much better there,” he says.
Denne historien er fra November 2017-utgaven av Practical Sportsbikes.
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Denne historien er fra November 2017-utgaven av Practical Sportsbikes.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Gold Rush
A stock 2014 CB11 is, let’s face it, a fairly dull device. But chuck some engine tweaks and a cosmetic makeover at it and all that changes.
Tony Scott - A Life In Engines
One of the greatest engine tuners of any generation, Tony Scott’s work is synonymous with Honda’s RC30. But Tony won TTs with every manufacturer, in a career spanning some of the greatest names and greatest bikes of the modern era.
Origin Of The Species
In the 17 years between Suzuki’s GS1000S in 1979, via Yamaha’s 1989 FZR1000R EXUP, to Honda’s 1996 CBR900RR-T ’Blade, the face of big-bore sportsbikes changed beyond recognition. PS celebrates this huge evolution.
Fettled Kettle
Tony Edwards, it’s fair to say, is obsessed with Harris Magnums. He’d never seen a Kettle engined Magnum 2, so he set about building one. Two years (and thirty four grand later) here it is.
Lester Harris
Hertfordshire’s most famous sons are now involved in developing new Royal Enfields, yet they’re still right in the thick of old school tubework and their stainless steel paddock stands are still the industry standard.
Shafted By The Weather Gods
The H1F’s crank was a sorry rusted mess. Now it is a thing of great beauty and strength.
Special Build Of the Year
Enter your stunning home-built special in to our Venhill Special Build of the Year competition and you could win our £1000 cash prize.
Dukes And Hazards
The Isle Of Man is an unforgiving place for any machinery, not least big twins from Bologna. Despite meticulous prep, a small stone did forJames Hillier’s Classic TT.
Greek Tragedy (With A Happy Ending)
It arrived from Athens, a hound with a bag of nails in its jaws. After untold amounts of pain, suffering and expense, Tony Barrow’s RG finally emerged, as the pristine square four he always craved.
Droop Snoot Beaut
It ‘only’ took Mike Newman four years to get his Bandit/’busa/ZX-9/10 hybrid into exactly the shape he wanted. Now it’s precisely the machine he had in his head all that time ago.
