The Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) of Turin had a thesis project carried out in collaboration with Ducati as part of a three year post-diploma course in Transportation Design. Ducati, looking for new market segments and potential design direction with an eye on a younger demographic, enlisted the students to create potential future Ducatis. The students gained a great deal of experience in the project and Ducati now has some interesting new designs.
Ten students came up with ten design sketches, five were chosen for further refinement by teams of two who then had to build a 1:4 scale model of their design. Ducati then chose one, TWINS by Simone Buonpensiere and Daniele Mazzon, and a full scale model was built.
Twins is a supermotard category bike capable of satisfying the requirements of a broad range of clientele. The project was developed with the aim of creating two motorbikes with different characteristics yet based on the same original layout. The first version, of which the full scale model has been created, was designed to satisfy a more glamourous audience thanks to the customisable saddle with a variety of different technical fabrics, colours and graphics; the second was instead designed to attract a more sporting and dynamic clientele seeking a more extreme and fun-to-ride bike.
Since Ducati was involved in the project with these students, they were less likely to get too far off the track with wildly impractical designs. Knowing the winner would be built full scale meant parts and pieces would actually have to work together. Interesting ideas here and perhaps, even a peek at some future Ducati.
Link: IED Turin
akumabito says
That supermotard looks awesome!
Skizick says
I’d have one of each pleeeeze!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First I should get my affairs in order tho..
Yeti says
Those first two bikes look an awful lot like the production bikes in the showroom right now.
kneeslider says
Yeti, I agree and it may be a result of the influence of the manufacturer being involved in the program. They had to keep things in the realm of the possible as opposed to crazy dreaming that will never be built.
Will13 says
That said, kneeslider, the first bike looks strikingly like a Hypermotard that’s simply been revamped a bit. The second bike I find to be more appealing in that it offers a different design than what we are use to seeing from the Italian company. My vote would have been to make a full scale model of the second machine and then take it to a cycle show with an open order book.
kneeslider says
Will13, they did build a full size version in street clothes as opposed to the off road competition look.
I didn’t include the pictures because none of them gave a clear look, more artsy than viewable.
FREEMAN says
It’s cool to see the work of students, however it is disappointing that we didn’t get to see their full potential. It’d be great to see the daydreamers concept in the metal, however wild it may be. I understand that there are limitations and Ducati, foremost, probably wants the designs to at least look like Ducati’s. I can’t help but shake the feeling that we could have seen more.
todd says
So this is what Ducati has come down to now; styling exercises? Underneath all the cute design I can still see a 1993 Monster.
-todd
joe says
Fantastic work of art as a wall poster or lounge room ornament, but how far could you ride on something like this? I figure about 20 miles max. By the time you’ve posed your way around the local coffee hangouts or beach front you’d be just about crippled with pain. Also, by the time you’ve completed your look at me, look at me ride hoping to impress the opposite sex, how can you pick one up and take them for a decent ride?
froryde says
A bit disappointing really – pretty safe and uninspiring for concept designs… Germany’s JvB Moto and Spain’s Radical Ducati are doing more interesting work than this.
Not criticizing the students (the design brief must be pretty limiting) – just disappointed that Ducati didn’t give them more creative freedom.
Casey B. says
not too shabby.
i like how low the bike is & how wide the tires are.
Mule says
Thinking of what I got from the “Shop Class, Soulcraft” book, the work shown here (which is nice, but I agree it’s very safe), the fact that our youth for many years has gravitated away from working on stuff, any stuff, I believe what’s needed is a movement to get young people involved in working with their hands and tools.
I submit that anyone can draw pictures on the computer. But if, as the comments here almost always indicate, the guy drawing the pictures had some practical experience, the pictures or proposed designs would be much different. Such as “Being crippled after a 20 minute ride.” If the designer spent time in the saddle in different sorts of contorted positions, his designs would reflect basic requirements for a rideable bike design.
The pictures shown here are just ideas and really shouldn’t picked apart. They’re JUST pictures. Thye’re just ideas. Thats all. As if to say, “Hey! What about this one?” Thats where ideas come from. The opposite would be the world of choppers where it seems no idea is too ridiculous and are immediately put into service.
What I think would be cool would be be a Motorcycle build-off will regular people and a normal bike as a platform. NOT a chopper build off. Get real people’s ideas. With the cost of design centers and designers, I would think a manufacturer could get scads of ideas just by tossing a few bikes out into the hands innovative youth and builders. Yes, of course I suggest this because I’d love to be one of the people doing it! But I have enough real world experience to know that some unsuspecting kid in his garage would most likely be the one to come up would up with the most bitchin’ idea that would blow everyone’s minds.
I say this because people send me pictures all the time asking for advice and/or parts sources and there ar some really cool bikes being built out there by people nobody has ever heard of and bikes not many people will ever see. Not computer pictures, but actual bikes being built. Lots are being built by hot rod car guys. Food for thought.
How about….”The Kneeslider, Honda, Harley, Kawasaki, Yamaha, KTM, Triumph, who-ever, Motorcycle Design/Build-off”…?
Submit some sort of application with your concept, intentions. Upon acceptance, you receive a bike in a crate, some basic funding, access to factory accessories and a time limit. The bikes would have to retain a stock paintjob in factory colors(but this could be done after all fab work is completed. They could even be painted at the factories? All manufacturers involved have access to all the ideas form all the different bikes generated. I would think everyone would have different design priorities and would gleen different ideas. Every manufacturer, even with the current economy can afford to throw in one bike and some accessories I would think and ALL would benefit!
Maybe have a section of this websit to monitor progress. Now THAT would generate some frickin’ inerest!
Tool says
Exactly what Richard (Mule) said. Except getting the players to ship multiple engine mock’s with working chassis would be a hard sell. Hence the proliferation of CadCam Photoshop uselessness.
In Mule’s thoughts, however, there is one greater than The Matrix truth to the “design/concept” game that is lacking…and it goes hand in hand with all the gaga replies that reflect endorsement of anything that looks radical. Simply said, if it can’t be ridden without using Demerol after or shin-shortening surgery before, it’s got a very limited appeal in the real world.
Whether it’s an overstretched chopper or a short wheel-based crotch rocket, most people want something that can be ridden with as much appreciation for the experience as the visual impact of a showroom queen. And the average American rider is not a 5 ft 4 in and 150 lbs incarnation of the superbike racers they try to emulate on the street.
Just sayin.
roopresh says
great work, i always wondered how they do this kind of nice work…..
hoyt says
Joe- “20 miles max”? You figured wrong.
Arnav says
wow its really cool….i dont think weather i can ride these bikes or not here in India..:(
wade says
after watching TV coverage of two MotoGP races, and paying attention to moto X , most people cannot operate these vehicles in a desired manner. well tuned and set up, these bikes are far more responsive than most riders abilities.
olivier mari says
Hi guys,
I’m also doing some designs based on ducati engines, my approach is more realistic, i try to design a ducati that can be sold tomorow..check my bikes at http://desmo-design.blogspot.com/ enjoy!!
Alex says
“So this is what Ducati has come down to now; styling exercises? Underneath all the cute design I can still see a 1993 Monster.”
-todd
This is a response to above comment. Thats what its all about is styling, look at the 696 compared to the 695 its just styling. Its a good thing these bikes are remenicant of their earlier predecessors. Ducati is “the ferarri of motorcycles” for a reason. ferarri doesn’t come out with a whole new car or redesign either and for good reason. Why mess with what works?