Ducati has unveiled a new V2 engine which they are saying is the lightest two-cylinder cylinder that they have ever made. The V2 engine has always been an iconic part in their motorcycles and motorsport history. Ducati has had some pretty cool engines over the time and this takes the antique one step further.
The new V2 is Euro 5+ complaint and is a 890cc unit which features intake variable timing. It weighs just 54.4 kgs making it one of the lightest two cylinder engines that the Italian brand has ever made. Its a 90-degree V2 layout which will feature two power configurations. One is a 120 bhp and the other is 115 bhp, both at 10,750 rpms. The two power configurations are there to be put on different bikes depending on their purpose and having a versatile engine which can be put into multiple types of motorcycles. Similarly torque numbers are 93.3 Nm and 92.1 Nm at 8,250 rpms.
The 120 bhp version can be bumped up to 126 bhp and 98 Nm of torque with the addition of a race exhaust while the 115 bhp version has a more powerful alternator to manage heavy electrical loads. This makes us believe that the 120 bhp version will be put into more sportier motorcycles while the 115 bhp version is meant more for the adventure tourers in the lineup.
Ducati has also given the engine Intake Variable Timing which allows for a more linear torque delivery. More than 70% of the torque is readily available from 3,000 rpms and from 3,500 to 11,000 rpms, the torque never drops below 80%.
All of this is paired to a 6-speed gearbox and a Ducati Quick Shift 2.0. The second generation DQS uses a strategy based solely on gear sensor and thus allows the use of a pedal command without microswitches.
The new engine will also be offered in a reduced-power version specially for bikes made for A2 license holders.
