2008:
    Monster 696
    1098 Superbike [1]
    848 Superbike

2009:
    1198 Superbike
    Streetfighter 1100
    Monster 1100

2010:
    Multistrada 1200
    Hypermotard 796
    #9 ??
    #10 ??

So that leaves us with two empty slots to fill for new model
revisions. Looking at what Ducati have always done in the past,
it wouldn't surprise me if we saw a smaller-engined Streetfighter
as one of those, the obvious choice being the 848 engine.

I'm sure I also read that three of these releases would be all-new
bikes rather than just updated models, but I can't find any reference
to that atm. If that's true, then this last slot needs to be something
new, as we've had the Streetfighter and the new Multistrada so far.

So will there be a new ST? It's certainly likely as there's a new
engine for it, the 1198, and it's the last of the old models
(excluding the Supersports) that needs an update.

But, then again, they may throw in a curve-ball and release a
cruiser-like bike which is highly unlikely, IMHO, although rumours
about a "Vyper" have been circulating for a while, and a similar
thing happened with the Hypermotard. We may also see an updated
SportClassic or even a SuperSport, but I would like to think that
the new ST will be next, and that the SuperSport will come back
in 2011 (or be announced next year) with the new Hyper 796 engine.

[1] Although the 1098 was available in late 2007, Ducati referred
    to it as part of their 2008 releases.

Unless they're a lot more popular on the continent?

I dunno, first they ditch the 916 styling for some abortion, then turn
the Monster into some dog's breakfast. and now this.

I wish they'd produce a bike that returns to the Ducati roots: light,
basic, simple. Like my 750SS, in fact, only a bit less Jurassic.

Take the 848, maybe detune it a fraction, lob it into a basic trellis
frame, cheapo suspension (if the frame's rigid enough, it'll still
handle OK), no frills, no expensive CF or magnesium bits, no
super-lightweight wheels, no floating radial brakes, and pitch the price
right.

Then watch the pennies come rolling in.

He now has a 1000 V-Strom. And a ZX9R.

--

Nige,

I think Ducati wobbled a bit in the mid-2000s with their
999 model. The loss of Tamburini, taking the F4 design with
him (which was going to be the 916 replacement) meant they
had to come up with a stunning design to make an impact. Well,
it did that alright but for all the wrong reasons. Yes, it's
a stunning bike to ride but it's fugly too.

Terblanche tried to fill his shoes (given his success with
the Supermono design) but obviously couldn't do it. Some of
his designs are great though - I own a Hypermotard ffs - but
it's taken him a while to get there. And that included
the Multistrada, but ended up with the Sport 1000 too.

Ducati seem to have had a change of philosophy lately with
their designs, more likely down to market forces more than
anything else. The latest bikes are starting to go back to
the design days of the 916. The Streetfighter has some really
nice touches in it (although it's very reminiscent of
Tamburini's Brutale design), the Hypermotard and even the
new Monster is a good evolution of the design.

But don't forget that Tamburini also had his fair share
of fugly bikes, including the Paso.

If you look at what they're doing, and indeed what they've
always done, is simply to take existing engines and put them
into existing frame, bolting on existing front and rear ends
but dressing them slightly differently to arrive at new models.

Very rarely does a whole new model come along; they all borrow
from other existing models with a constant evolution rather
than revolution. Every so often you'll get something new, like
the 1098 motor, but even internally that is merely a bore &
stroke change to the old 999 motor which was the same as the
998 motor, which was a head redesign of the 996, which was a
bore & stroke change on the 916, which was a bore & stroke
change of the 888 which was a bore & stroke change of the
815... etc etc.

Most of the big engine changes have been in the 2V family
of engines, with bigger capacities and innovations such as
the triple valve of the ST3 and the Dual Spark variation
used in the later Multistrada and SportClassics, the Hypermotard
and the new Monster 1100. But again, a lot of this is simply
fitting a different crank (and usually from something else)
to give a different stroke and upping the bore to make a
bigger variant of an existing engine.

Although it's out of date after the 999 line, this table
shows the reference points for most of Ducati's recent engines
and how they've simply evolved:
http://www.bikeboy.org/duccapacities.html

--
Beav

--
Beav

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzM-eDhyVkY

The really key thing about the 4S is the 996 engine. The late ST3S is
almost the same bike in terms of brakes, suspension and bodywork (all
fabulous) but I wouldn't dream of owning one.  It's that thing of having
a proper touring bike with sprotbike handling/performance rather than a
damp squib.

Sounds pretty cool, actually!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agc9NInB158