In 2004, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer launched the Ducati 999R, a sports bike that debuted in 2003, designed by Pierre Terblanche. The bike was also known as the Triple Nine or Nine-nine-nine.
Compared to the standard model, the Ducati 999R featured a race-derived suspension system, Brembo brakes, a tuned engine from which the Italian engineers squeezed as much output as possible, and several carbon fiber parts that reduced the overall weight.
Also, the 999R was delivered to customers with a complete kit designed only for track use. The kit comprised a Termignoni 102 Db exhaust system with a rear-half manifold without a catalytic converter and a dedicated Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that reduced weight and improved performance.
In the aesthetic department, the Ducati 999R was similar to its siblings, wearing the same full fairing with a small windscreen, vertically stacked small round headlights, a single seat, an under-seat-mounted exhaust system, and 10-spoke forged alloy wheels.
The bike's suspension comprised a 43 mm fully adjustable upside-down TiN-coated Ohlins fork on the front with 120 mm wheel travel and a fully adjustable Ohlins shock absorber with 128 mm wheel travel on the rear.
As for the power figures, the 2004 Ducati 999R had its soul brought to life by a 999cc four-stroke liquid-cooled engine with a fuel injection system in charge, delivering an output power of 139 hp at 10,000 rpm and 108 Nm (80 lb-ft) torque at 8,000 rpm.