Vacural molding lightens the engine casing and produces a more rugged throttle body, the part that delivers air to the cylinder heads. As in last year’s 1098 model, Ducati uses a low, wide throttle body, which allows the cylinder heads to be more compact, and thus lighter. The single-sided aluminum swing arm (Ducati’s signature rear-wheel suspension) is made of multiple components. But the company reinforced the joints to make it stiffer than previous swing arms, so it finally matches the feel of a traditional double-sided suspension. Boasting 134 horsepower, this 370-pound Italian stallion achieves a power-to-weight ratio not seen since Rocky Balboa’s early years.
