Ducati Models – A COMPARISON OF POWER AND TORQUE CURVES

I put this page together just to post some comparisons between capacities of similar engines. Most of the curves are from engines with aftermarket mufflers and chips/flashloads to suit ( excepting 750SS ie, 888 SP5, Cagiva Gran Canyon ), but otherwise out of the box. Just average, representative examples.

We’ll start with the 4V Desmoquattro ( as opposed to the Testastretta ). These graphs show 748 Strada in green, 748 SP in red, 888 SP4 in blue, 916 Strada in purple, 996 Strada in yellow, 996 SPS in aqua. Power is first, then torque.

Now some SP/SPS models. 748 SP in yellow, 851 SP3 in green, 888 SP4 in blue ( although these last two are supposedly the same engine ), 888 SP5 with 96 mm h/c pistons for 926cc in red, 916 SP in purple, 996 SPS in aqua. Power first, then torque. The poor bottom end of the G cammed 888 SP5 and 916 SP is obvious. All engines have large cams with similar duration, except the 996 SPS, whose cams are only slightly larger than the Strada cams. One of the main advantages of the SP/SPS engines has always been lighter rotating components. Even though these bikes may not make more power than the Strada engines until the top of the rev range, they always feel better due to the effect of the lighter cranks/rods/flywheels/clutch baskets. 916 SPs in particular are a bike that always feel real fast when they come on.

Now for some 2V models, both carburetted and fuel injected. 750SS carb in red, 750 SS ie ( all std ) in green, Cagiva Gran Canyon ( with 900SS ie cams ) in aqua, 900 SS carb in blue, 900 SS ie in purple, ST2 in yellow. Power first, then torque. The characteristic power curves of the carburetted models with their long inlet manifolds are quite apparent, with the top end falling away over 7,500 RPM. Conversly, the better top end offered by the much shorter manifold injected engines. The Gran Canyon has smaller valves ( 750 size ) than the other 900 models, which show their effect compared to the injected 900 and 944 ST2. The fact that the 750 size heads flow 72 Hp, plus the results from the Gran Canyon cam swap, have got me keen to try some 900 cams in a 750 SS ie.

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