TAMBURINI’S 916 CHECKS
IN TO DUCATI MUSEUM
A
s part of the celebrations for the 25th
anniversary of the Ducati 916’s production
launch, the Ducati Museum now features
a new, incredible piece of its history: Massimo
Tamburini’s 916. An authentic masterpiece
“owned” by the legendary designer.
This exhibition, made possible through the
collaboration of the Ducati Museum with Simona
Tamburini, Massimo’s daughter and the owner
of the motorcycle, reveals some secrets behind
a legendary bike; the 916 on display is one of
the three prototypes from which Tamburini
developed the bike until its production in 1994.
82 KIWI RIDER
Massimo Tamburini, who had already developed
the Paso 750 for Ducati, developed a bike that
was a real revolution in the motorcycle world
with the 916. Its aerodynamics and chassis were
developed exclusively on the roads of Rimini and
at the Misano and Mugello circuits. For six years
Tamburini studied every detail, without ever using
a wind tunnel.
The bike in the museum features details that
are more similar to those of the 916 SP series,
the highest performing model of the 916 series.
The bike is almost completely made of fibreglass,
while the air conveyors, front mudguard, airbox,
tailpipes and number plate holder are made