25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DUCATI 916
P92
Feature
gripping dual 320mm discs and a
single-piston caliper clamping on a
220mm disc at the rear.
The brakes were unimpressive
by the standards set by the rest of
the machine. The front discs were
prone to warping, and the power
provided by the 16mm PS master-
cylinder and weak rubber hoses
left a lot to be desired.
Brembo was also commis-
sioned to make one of the defining
features of the 916 in the gold-
painted, hollow elliptical three-
spoke wheels. Measuring 3.50 x
17 inches and 5.50 x 17 inches,
the wheels were indeed a striking
visual statement compared to the
nondescript black three-spoke
items gracing the base model
888—although the 888 SP5 came
with five-spoke wheels.
Tamburini's craftsmanship
extended to the svelte brake and
clutch levers, footpegs, handlebars
and taillight, but it was his sculpting
of the bodywork and in particu-
lar, the headlights, that drew the
world's attention.
The man himself noted the de-
sign of the lights was the hardest
part of the 916's aesthetic, Tam-
burini wanting the lights to make
as large an artistic impression as
possible.
"If you see a bike such as a
BMW coming towards you then
you instantly know it is a BMW, I
wanted recognizable lights, both
front, and back," Tamburini said.
"It was such a struggle! I went to
a company and asked them to de-
sign the lights, but they said it was
The 916 takes pride
of place in the Ducati
museum in Bologna
alongside the 851 Tri-
Color (right) and base
model 851 (left).
