The next two model years will be big ones for the motorcycle industry, as manufacturers prepare their offerings for the upcoming Euro5 emission regulations.
Existing models will get their new emissions gear for 2021, while new models will have to make the grade starting in 2020. That being said, most manufacturers are getting a head start on the process. One such company is Ducati.
As such, we have seen our first glimpses of the updated Ducati 959 Panigale, which will get makeover to bring its look more in line with what is on offer with the Panigale V4 superbike.
Of course, the big dividing feature between the two machines will be the smaller Panigale’s v-twin engine, though it remains to be seen if it will keep its 955cc displacement.
This is because one of the tricks motorcycle manufacturers have been using with the more stringent emissions standards is making their bikes larger in total cylinder displacement. Doing this has a two-fold effect.
One, it is easier to meet emission rules with larger combustion chambers than smaller ones. Two, the loss in power/torque that comes from the tighter emissions rules can be compensated for by the larger displacement, so performance targets can still be met while still meeting Euro5.
As the old adage goes, there is no replacement for displacement.
We will have to wait until EICMA to know all the changes coming with the new Panigale (the working name for which is the “Panigale V2”).
Though, it is interesting to see that the lesser superbike gets back its single-sided swingarm. Ducati is up to something here, we shall have to bide our time to see fully what is going on.
Source: BikeSocial
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