With the introduction of the V4 engine architecture, Ducati has taken its signature flagship sports motorcycle to the next level and has big plans to raise the standard with its next generation Panigale.
However, these clever Italian engineers may have done just that, if reports are confirmed that a seamless transmission is being developed that will surely be able to make the most of this raw power.
The seamless transition works like a dual-clutch transmission typically found on sports bikes and is satisfied with just a single clutch doing the leg work. It’s not an easy system to develop, as Honda developed the first example used on their 2010 MotoGP challenger, which German publication Motorrad recalls as requiring security protection to keep spying rivals from attempting to use the system copy.
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After all, they did, and seamless transmissions have been commonplace since then, but it’s Ducati who will bring the technology to a wider audience with the next generation of Panigale, possibly expected in 2022.
Seamless was designed to put an end to “shift shock”, the movement of the tail, but since it puts a strain on the single clutch it has been difficult to ensure that it is reliable.
However, Ducati is said to have made a breakthrough with a system similar to Honda’s DCT transmission. While this is designed for smooth, relaxed changes on models like the Gold Wing, the Ducati Panigale V4 version is designed to offer quick, snappy gear changes that wring out every last drop of horsepower to make the bike feel faster without being stronger to have to.
How did Ducati achieve this?
According to Motorrad, locking knives on the gears are the innovation that ensures that the clutch does not go down when the load is too high. It calls it a small but fine mechanical “masterpiece” that is supposed to ensure longevity, which MotoGP transmissions are not designed for.
The seamless transmission will be the latest innovation from MotoGP, which later inspired sports bikes to compete in the WorldSBK championship as well.
While the advent of the wings has not been universally recognized, if the seamless transmission is right, Ducati could usher in a new revolution in the sports motorcycle class … see Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki?