FLOOR B-05


Motoring of Ducati907I.E.

Riding 907I.E. is just like this.

I'm 173cm(almost 5feet 5 inches) tall. Position is so natural for me.
Seat is so thick, I feel weight is dispersed and absorbed to
steps, seat and steering bars. I don't feel to be tired by
riding position. Width of steering bars is tight, so I can
remember BMW-R100's one, but sight from helmet is filled by
red, it's exciting.

To twist driving key, fuel pump starts to send gas to injection.
Start button can rotate engine easily. No time lag.
About starting engine, there is no problem.
907 sounds quiet but tasty at idling.

ATTENTION
Sounds quiet, but I have objected from women who dwells
near(50m) the parking about idling in the morning.
907I.E. has enough volume of sound, I think.

Dry type clutch connects quickly, 907I.E. starts. this clutch is
not so strong, so I must use it carefully. Of course I hate to start
on uphill slope.

L-twin engine is useless under 2500rpm, so I use over 3000rpm usually.
Because lower range, snatching? or knocking occurs.
Over 3500, I can enjoy riding lively. They say that Ducati has special
feeling; we can feel each detonations in cylinders even in high speed.
Riding 907I.E., I can feel it, too. Of course 907 is a brother of Ducati.
From 5000 to 7500rpm, torque goes to dramatic peak. Over 8000rpm,
I don't feel good torque but feel only rotating. This model is a kind
of tourer, so this torque curve is specification. Or, I didn't use 907I.E.
at first 5000km. Anyway, it produces enough torque at middle range, I can
accelerate any situations. It's so dependable. Now I own Honda NSR 250R,
(2-stroke 250cc racer replica) I think it strongly. Though I can't compare
with other twin(Honda VTR1000, Suzuki TL-1000) and Multi(Kawasaki ZX-11) now,
I can't declare 907I.E. is best tourer.

Comparing with other Ducati engines(Bimota Tesi), I don't feel 907's one
so Spartan, because of quietness. I haven't tried Ducati900SS, or 916 yet.
On a some motorcycle magazine's article, 907I.E.'s Engine is better than
900SS, but I can't compare. Someone ask me "Injection is better?"
Though I can't answer but I haven't felt any time-lags of acceleration
or any difficulties about carburation, so It must be no problem.

907's computer must cut supplying fuel at 8800rpm, because acceleration
stops there suddenly. 6-speed transmission connects each gears naturally,
so I can ride smoothly. At 6th gear and 100Km/h(62.5mph), engine runs
at 3750rpm. At 8800rpm, it must reach to 240km/h(150mph), official
maximum speed. I had tried about only 200km/h(125mph)....
I hate dry-clutch in the town, but it is good at mountain road.
907's feel can enrapture me. Yes, it's a brother of Ducati.

About steering bar, steering angle is so narrow and inconvenient.
Besides, sometimes it's dangerous. I used to almost fell it
when I tried U-turn. But when I riding, I can make it lean
so lightly and it's easy in corners. It's so gently.
I don't think 907 has solid frame. I used to ride Kawasaki ZX-4,
it had more solid frame. But 907's one makes me feel it just like
a kind of elastic rubber. I mean that I can ride 907 so actively,
vividly and lively. I can feel that throttle is connected to rear
wheel, because engine react so directly. Anyway, It's so fun to ride.
And about fuel consumption, 12-13km/l(about 29mile/U.S.gal.) at
mountain road, 17-19km/l(about 44.5mile/U.S.gal.) at usual touring.

Now I'm nervous to ride it.

I mention that I can feel two wheels are catching road. I can't
translate it, but wheels are telling me correct informations about
road. I don't know what make it. Once I tried Kawasaki GPZ900R,
I felt "Is it flying above the cloud?". It was shock for me.

About brakes, 907I.E. has two 4-pot BREMBOs at front, it's no
problem for working. It is so controllable. However, I feel
it spongy a little, just like "GNU!" . Japanese brakes works
more solidly, I prefer them. Rear brake don't work. There is no
feedback, of course no working, but suddenly locks.
I haven't used it.


What's Ducati 907 I.E.?
History of Ducati 907I.E.
Bodywork of Ducati 907 I.E.
Troubles and Maintenaces
907I.E. Personal photo gallery
Topics of 907I.E.
Spec of Ducati 907I.E.
My bike life
Summary about Ducati907I.E.

Ducati 907I.E. Memorial Photo Museum Homepage
Kodama Propulsion Laboratory

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Updated at Jan. 14,2000