Motorcycle specifications Ducati996 1999 Eternal joy

The pencil stroke that gave birth to the 916 was genius. Once completed, the bike would become a legend in its own right. Superbike-flavored, the machines raced here brought glory to Fogarty, Corser, Bayliss, Xaus, Bostrom...
In 1998, it became the 996. In fact, only the engine changed. Its displacement was increased to deliver more mid-range torque. And it works: it rises to 9.6 mkg at 7000 rpm. Power also gains, with a 7hp increase at lower revs.
All around, nothing changes, and that's just as well. The fabulous dress still conceals the trellis frame. Everything that made the 996 so exciting is still there: the single-arm design, the pots under the seat, the solid Showa inverted forks. And everything that makes it so distinctive and exclusive. The (very) high seat is as restrictive as it gets, with its martyred wrists and Spartan comfort. When you're driving, you have to get the machine into the bends with authority, but once you've got the hang of it, it's a breeze.

The Desmoquattro twin isn't a model of flexibility, but it's a real firecracker. And that noise...! Cavernous, trippy, a wild beast's melody.
916 owners will lose a mere handful of 100ths of a second on the track. Because apart from the swollen mill, everything about the 2 machines is identical. Silhouette, slenderness, chassis and peripherals - it's all the same, and there's nothing to complain about, because the standard is already very high. So, a 996 won't be a radical change for its users. It's all there: the pleasure of driving a prestigious machine, demanding and imposing sacrifices on the driver, but offering unique, unadulterated sensations... that's the hallmark of a 996!

M.B - manufacturer's photos