ENGINEERED BY THE STOPWATCH,
DESIGNED BY THE RACETRACK
The 1098 immediately strikes you with its purposeful, no-nonsense attitude.
Performance is first and foremost in every detail.
Trademark Ducati features like the high tail section and compact front-end
meld with twin under-seat silencers and single-sided swingarm to express its
aerodynamics and agility. Add the new Testastretta EVOluzione engine at the
heart of the machine and you get an all-out performance Ducati Superbike
that seems to be moving fast, even when at rest.
The 1098 introduces a number of 'firsts' for Ducati and production sport
bike design. The 1098 is the first production motorcycle to have the amazing
stopping power of Brembo Monobloc brakes, the first to have a data
acquisition system integrated as standard equipment and the first to use an
ingenious construction method for its weight-saving single-sided swingarm.
More 'firsts' for a road-going Ducati include the direct application of
MotoGP technology, like the power producing GP6-derived elliptical throttle
bodies and the use of the information-rich instrumentation originally
developed for the new Desmosedici GP7.
The 1098 has the soul of a race bike, pure and simple. The riding position
encourages the rider to mould to the sleek lines of the tank and seat: man
and machine are made one. It transmits the quality and character of contact
between road surface and tyre, it signals the way the chassis will react
next and responds instinctively to rider commands.
Satisfying all the senses, the
throaty roar of the twin under-seat exhausts are synchronized with the howl
of the elliptical throttle bodies providing a fitting fanfare for the new
1098 Testastretta EVOluzione engine. The huge 104mm bore and all-new
cylinder head design unite to produce an awesome 160hp and an arm-wrenching
90+ lb-fts of torque. Developed together with Ducati Corse, the 1098 is a
masterpiece of incredible performance and innovation.
DUCATI DATA ANALYSER (DDA)
The DDA package consists of a real analysis system for data gathered during
rides or track sessions. The kit, normally used only on race bikes, enables
riders to thoroughly analyse the performance of their Ducati and the
effectiveness of their driving style.
The Ducati Data Analyser, which is standard equipment in this model,
automatically records data from numerous channels, including distance
travelled, laps and lap times, throttle opening and engine temperature. In
addition, the DDA automatically calculates engine rpm and vehicle speed data
so as to display gear selection as an additional channel of information. At
the end of a ride or track session, up to 2 MB (approximately 3.5 hours) of
data can be downloaded to your PC.
Data can be analysed in graphic form with options to zoom into detail of
specific sections. For example, dragging a trace along a timeline to reveal
individual values of the above listed channels enables the user to analyse
performance in the same way as data technicians in factory teams.
The DDA package includes PC software, a USB-ready data retrieval card and an
instruction manual.
ENGINEERED BY THE STOPWATCH
The Superbike family for 2008 features two important changes: the
introduction of a mid-engine size version, the light and nimble 848, and an
extreme 'racing' version for all those who demand the maximum performance,
the 1098 R version that will take part in the 2008 World Superbike
Championship.
The priority in every step of the 848 and 1098 development has been
performance first. Every system, every detail and every component has been
studied, pared down to its essence and performance increased to the maximum.
If it didn't make our Superbike lighter, faster or deliver quicker lap
times, it wasn't considered. The result: the 1098 is the most powerful
twin-cylinder motorcycle in the world.
The 848 and 1098 are the lightest, fastest stopping, quickest lapping Ducati
Superbikes in history. For the first time Ducati MotoGP and World Superbike
technology have been combined to create premier sport bikes. The results are
stunning.
DESIGNED BY THE RACETRACK
The look and stance of the 848 and 1098 were designed by the combination of
race track technology, track-derived components and Ducati heritage. Their
striking aerodynamic shape naturally embraces a riding position, configured
by our racers and test riders for optimum speed and agility. The racing
spirit takes form.
Ducati has just concluded their new-model launch —introducing what is
undoubtedly the most sophisticated production motorcycle ever to leave the
Bologna factory. Literally new from the sidestand up, the impressions our
1098 left us with today were nothing short of outstanding.
For Soup, the Kyalami circuit is no close venue, but there were good reasons
Ducati brought journalists such distances for testing. Today, the outside
temps were in the eighties—after all, it's summer here. We suspect Ducati's
real reason, though, was to showcase performance on a track that is loaded
with fast sweeping curves, many of which are connected by chutes and
sections with dramatic changes in elevation. Kyalami proved to be a truly
challenging layout and one where the new motorcycle really was able to
perform. We ended the day completing a total of five sessions on both the
standard and "S" versions of the machine.
Troy, the current WSB Champion
For an added treat at this press introduction, Ducati enlisted the services
of their in-house 2006 World Superbike Champion and final round winner of
this year's MotoGP championship, Troy Bayliss. Bayliss was on hand and
seemed eager to do some riding thus we asked Troy if, at some point, he
would be willing to show us his lines, thus condensing the time we needed to
learn the unfamiliar track. To our humble gratitude, he gladly accepted and
?Soup literally had a one-on-one session with Troy for several laps around
this legendary racetrack. Later, Troy would help tow one other tester and,
in both cases, we, the beneficiaries made huge improvements in a very short
period of time. Later in the day, Troy also gave everyone a riding
demonstration doing laps aboard a standard version of the 1098. The man
flies, and we all witnessed the true potential of Ducati's latest production
Superbike in fully stock trim. How can I describe what I saw? Let me say
this: Wow!
Now more power for less!
Perhaps unfortunate for earlier Ducati owners, our first impressions of the
new Ducati 1098 have it differing from its 999 predecessor in every single
way possible beyond basic terms you'd use to describe a motorcycle. The 1098
engine and new oval throttle bodies now produce substantially more
horsepower and torque from radically different cylinder heads. The top-end
received larger valves, new valve angles, shorter intake tracts, more
compression, and lighter rocker arms. A major reduction in the weight of the
reciprocating internal parts helps the over-square (104mm x 64.7mm) engine
to gain revs more quickly. The output figures are definitely impressive at
160hp and 90.4 lb-ft of torque, with all of this coming from a lighter and
more compact engine package. Additionally, operating costs have been reduced
by a claimed 50%. This is directly attributed to fewer moving parts and
increased time between servicing intervals. I'd love to see a dyno sheet,
but suffice to say this thing shoves out loads of usable power.
Chassis, Running Gear, and Comfort
Improved overall handling is the result of numerous chassis changes, as
well. The 1098 reprises the single-sided swingarm and now uses a massive
cast-and-stamped rear arm fit to a frame with larger-diameter, but
thinner-walled tubing. Engineers claim the new 'arm yields 40% more
rigidity, yet weighs less than the 999's dual arm. With the fitment of the
new arm, the overall wheelbase increases 10mm, yet the handling remains very
stable.
For tires, the OE-spec rubber that Troy seemed to get along with reasonably
well were Pirelli's Dragon Supercorsa Pros. The only significant change here
is with the size of the rear, now supplied by Pirelli in a 190/55
exclusively for the 1098. The performance of the tires was very good—in
particular the rear stood out as quite forgiving with slides being easily
manageable and predictable. Pirelli's engineer at the scene was Mr. Luca
Zaccomer. When asked about tire pressures today, he explained that the
optimum pressure for the 1098's rubber was, when hot, at 2.4 BAR, both front
and rear.
Assorted press goons were left
reeling after Ducati engineer Claudio Domenicali announced for his next
trick he intends to fix it so the sun won't burn out in 2 billion years. 'We
have a working plan now, and the complete solution will be on-line in two
weeks time,' he said.
To counter the increases in
acceleration, the brake system on the 1098 has been upgraded with entirely
new radial-mount monoblock calipers. Front rotor diameters increase to the
largest in class at 330mm, with the discs now mounted on one-direction
aluminum carriers. The rear disc gains 5mm in diameter to better dissipate
heat. Needless to say, the braking performance with all of the new parts is
exceptional and exceptionally strong. Initial feel is not overpowering, but
as the lever pressure increases, the updated braking performance becomes
immediately apparent.
Rider position also changes with relations in seating position to hand and
foot controls being less committed. One positive result here is less upper
body weight on the wrists. Another plus is more leverage at the bar due to a
wider bar placement. In total, the bar height has been raised 20mm, moved
rearward and noticeably widened. The saddle has more of a curved shape and
is also taller by 10mm but gains slightly in width at the rear of the tank.
Mo' Better Coe
Danny Coe is a loyal 'Soup contributor and has filed piles of stories for us
over the years. He is a former racer (finished on the podium at Daytona in
the 250 race), staff tester for Cycle magazine and will also kick your ass
in fishing. Here's some of his previous 'Soup work.
Re-Cycle
2006 Ducati S4Rs: Truly A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Filed before 'Soup got ejected from the Suzuki press intro invite list for
being too fast, too smart—and don't even try to deny this one, Garrett—too
virile.
When the jet lag and sleep deprivation subside, we will post our full
report. For now, what you might need to know is that the MSRP of the
Standard 1098 will be $14,995, while the lighter, fully Ohlins-equipped "S"
version arrives with "all the toys" including a handlebar-switched on-board
data acquisition system, forged wheels, and carbon bits. The complete 'S'
package will have an MSRP of $19,995. As with past models, even more
lighter-weight and increased-output options are also available. So stay
tuned...
NOTE: Some of the photos on
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info on these bikes will kindly beappreciated
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