Photo: duccutters.com
Ferrari might start building motorcycles, at least this is what we are tempted to believe after the Italian supercar manufacturer has filed a patent application for a v-twin engine which could make it into a future motorcycle. Even though the Ferrari patent also shows a sketch of the engine installed in a generic motorcycle, the application in question refers to the power plant, and not that bike. Its retro chopper looks startled me in the first place, as seeing a Ferrari cruiser is definitely one of the last things I’d ever expect to see, but you know the old words “never say never”.
Well, you probably ask yourselves what’s patentable about this v-twin. Ferrari claims that this v-twin is no longer in need of balancing countershafts and can reduce or eliminate the vibrations and side-effects inherent with the current v-twin designs. Ferrari instead adds “balancing masses” directly to the crankshaft and says that this solution will reduce the overall weight of the engine and the reciprocating inertial forces. If you fancy detailed engineering discussions, you can also follow the link and check the Ferrari patent. According to visordown, Ferrari is apparently trademarking the name “Cavallino” which is Italian for “small horse” or “pony”, but there’s no clear evidence relating the two.
So far, the only bike which officially wore the prancing horse badge is the Ferrari 900, a special project by David Kay, and which was sold for $137,000 (€109,000) back in 2012 in a Bonhams auction. The bike was a tribute to Enzo Ferrari and Kay got official approval from Piero Ferrari, Enzo’s son in the spring of 1990. The bike was an unique enterprise, and more than 3,000 man-hours were needed to complete it from scratch.
The Ferrari 900 was powered by a 900cc in-line four mounted in a Reynolds 531 tubular frame, and weighed only 172 kg (379 lb) dry. The DOHC engine could produce 105 hp at 8,800 rpm and was mated to a 5-speed manual transmission with a chain final drive. The bodywork of the Ferrari 900 was manufactured entirely from aluminium, and the bike has clip-on bars, adjustable suspensions (Forcelle Italia USD forks and WPS in the rear) and a digital dash with two analog indicator. The wheels were hand spun Astralite, equipped with Brembo brakes, 6-pot calipers in the front and a 4-pot one in the rear. It could reach 265 km/h (165 mph), but some say it was never tested to its very limits.
Is Ferrari indeed considering building motorcycles? I bet we’ll soon find out. Until then, it’s fairly nice to see how big car manufacturers are more and more interested in the two-wheeled industry, first Audi and Ducati, then Mercedes and MV Agusta…
So far, the only bike which officially wore the prancing horse badge is the Ferrari 900, a special project by David Kay, and which was sold for $137,000 (€109,000) back in 2012 in a Bonhams auction. The bike was a tribute to Enzo Ferrari and Kay got official approval from Piero Ferrari, Enzo’s son in the spring of 1990. The bike was an unique enterprise, and more than 3,000 man-hours were needed to complete it from scratch.
The Ferrari 900 was powered by a 900cc in-line four mounted in a Reynolds 531 tubular frame, and weighed only 172 kg (379 lb) dry. The DOHC engine could produce 105 hp at 8,800 rpm and was mated to a 5-speed manual transmission with a chain final drive. The bodywork of the Ferrari 900 was manufactured entirely from aluminium, and the bike has clip-on bars, adjustable suspensions (Forcelle Italia USD forks and WPS in the rear) and a digital dash with two analog indicator. The wheels were hand spun Astralite, equipped with Brembo brakes, 6-pot calipers in the front and a 4-pot one in the rear. It could reach 265 km/h (165 mph), but some say it was never tested to its very limits.
Is Ferrari indeed considering building motorcycles? I bet we’ll soon find out. Until then, it’s fairly nice to see how big car manufacturers are more and more interested in the two-wheeled industry, first Audi and Ducati, then Mercedes and MV Agusta…
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