The New Ducati Wheel-Ejection System

Message

D-Rider · #1 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:32 pm

Yes, Ducati has astounded the world with it's latest technical innovation - the rear wheel ejection system.
It is unclear of the mechanism they use for this - sources close to the factory have hinted that small explosive charges - similar to those used to deploy air-bags - are embedded in the spokes of the wheel. At the press of a button, the charges are activated and the wheel jettisoned.

Footage of the system in operation has been uncovered:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1j32N2e ... r_embedded

What remains unclear is why this system has been introduced .....

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:37 pm

I understood it to be a Yamaha development that they trialled on a Duc.

Dalemac · #3 Post by **Dalemac** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:58 pm

Italian bikes - just too much torque going through the rear axle :P

BikerGran · #4 Post by **BikerGran** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:12 am

Or not enough torque on the spanner.........

back_marker · #5 Post by **back_marker** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:26 pm

BikerGran wrote:Or not enough torque on the spanner.........

If you watch the wheel, it has a big hole where the hub used to be

BikerGran · #6 Post by **BikerGran** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:28 pm

Actually, having watched it a couple more times - was it the wheel that came off or just the tyre?

Aladinsaneuk · #7 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:08 pm

i think the hub is still attached to the bike - probably with the sprocket.....

best cure for french constipation ??

back_marker · #8 Post by **back_marker** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:30 pm

BikerGran wrote:Actually, having watched it a couple more times - was it the wheel that came off or just the tyre?

I thought it was the tyre when I saw it live but when you see the back of the bike there is no rim there

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:09 pm

As they said on the commentary of the second race (the incident happened in the first race), the wheel shattered. Looks to me that the spokes broke away under power.

I think it's as well that it happened on a single-sided swingarm and the wheel was able to make a clean exit - might have been even worse if it had got trapped in the swingarm.

#10 Post by **Kwackerz** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:13 pm

Something to be said for having dates like on helmets for those low weight, high stress wheels..

2 years then scrap I say.

In fact, if Ducati wish to send me all their over 2 year old race wheels, I will ensure they never go on a bike again.

..by turning them into high quality garden hose reels.

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:15 pm

Yeah - the hazards of magnesium wheels - better to stick with forged ally or carbon for road use.

#12 Post by **Kwackerz** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 2:58 pm

Looking at this pic, isnt it time to lynch the mechanic? Thats not the wheel centre is it?

back_marker · #13 Post by **back_marker** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:23 pm

Samray · #14 Post by **Samray** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:19 pm

Good ice racer.

Dalemac · #15 Post by **Dalemac** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:21 pm

holy shit. i thought the axle had snapped off or the nut had come loose.....but the outer of the wheel has actually seperated from the inside!

scary stuff!