Ducati 1098
As I circled the racing tarmac, I didn't regret in the slightest the effort we'd put into getting such a hot bike and testing it on the race track, where it truly is at home.
We probably won't dive into the dark if we write that this is the most seductive motorcycle this year, the only one that really caught the attention of motorcycle enthusiasts and presented a serious competitor to sinfully beautiful Italian hostesses at last year's Milan Motor Show. ... When it was first shown to the public last year, the steel horse lovers from Borgo Panigalle took a deep breath. Finally! The misconception with the very successful 999 in racing is over. Now the 999, which was either really too unusual or simply premature, will only be of interest to collectors of specialty motorcycles.
Sharp, almost rough lines were replaced by a softer line, a logical continuation of the history of the legendary Ducati 916.
For the factory, success was vital. If this wasn't accepted by the automotive public, reds could easily end up in red numbers. Motorcycles are sold out in at least three months, and production in Bologna does not always keep up with new orders. Great job with Ducati, chief engineers and designers. They have proven that for all the saturation of the market with great motorcycles, the right product can still captivate.
Let's not describe his appearance in words. Let the photos speak for themselves. And we felt magical too, as he moved from lap to lap more relaxed, smoother and faster. In fact, for such a special motorcycle, a man needs time to get used to it. Two cylinders, more power and even more torque combined with an extremely narrow frame and sporty aggressive geometry is no ordinary thing. After all, we have nothing to complain about the four-cylinder liters; they are very correct, almost perfect bikes, but Ducati surpasses them with more charisma and more attention to detail (just look at the MotoGP-style gauges). Even the silent steam output from the rear exhausts is so special and soothing at the same time.
The fact that the 1098 does not know any compromises became clear to us already in the first lap, when the rudder spun like in a rage when reaching the finish line. This was due to the steering wheel damper being too "open" and the extremely tough and sticky (but restless in aircraft) Dunlop tires. However, the frame geometry with the wheelbase and the fork angle is a very sporty combination that sometimes gives the feeling that you are holding onto the axle of the front wheel while driving.
Admittedly, 1098 had to be fought. We didn't like that at first, and Ducati will have to do something else in the area of cycling and balancing. True, we soon adapted and got used to it (we gripped the steering wheel tighter and squeezed our knees). But its restlessness at maximum speeds and 1098 during acceleration successfully compensates for in corners. Here, as if glued to the asphalt, he held the installed rail and did not give in to grip and feeling even on unevenness, which was really lacking in the Tomb. The extremely light weight of just 173 kilograms and the narrowness of the motorcycle itself create the unusual feeling that it can lean even more towards the ground. Ducati's two-cylinder V-design owes it most to this.
The bike is an athlete, tough and tough, which also shows precision very clearly when you push it to the limit. That's when it offers the driver the most. Therefore, experience and knowledge of riding is essential to achieve good results with this motorcycle. In all this, experience with a two-cylinder engine also helps a lot. Ducati power and torque must be felt and used. This does not mean blindly tightening the throttle all the way down and pushing at high revs, but rather making a turn in too high, not too low a gear, and then at the right moment with a soft but decisive rush of gas, turn on the “horses”. rear wheel. Therefore, driving with it is very different from driving with Japanese four-cylinder engines, which must be used at higher revs. This Ducati peaks at just 9.000 rpm.
It is above average on a slope, remains calm and is an excellent link between the driver and the tarmac. It's the same with the brakes. They provide excellent stopping power and good leverage, even at the end of the finish line and before cornering in Zagreb. During really hard braking, it can simply fail too much, but you get used to this feeling after a few laps. More importantly, the feeling from round to round remains the same.
Road? Well, it's more annoying because Ducati doesn't like slow driving, much less driving around the city, since the driving circle is bad and even the hands touch the armor in the extreme position. But even this can be tolerated by the lustful glances of passers-by. If you are looking for "lipstick" and something that will make you stand out from the crowd, investing in 1098 is a good investment.
Ducati 1098
Base model price: 17.000 EUR
Test car price: 17.000 EUR
engine: two-cylinder, four-stroke, 1099 cm3, 119 kW (160 HP) at 9.750 rpm, electric fuel injection
Frame, suspension: steel tubular all-round ribs, front adjustable USD fork, rear single adjustable damper (all Showa)
brakes: front radial 2 spools with a diameter of 330 mm, rear 1x 245 mm
Wheelbase: 1.430 mm
Fuel tank / consumption per 100 / km: 15, 5l / 6, 3l
Seat height from ground: 820 mm
Weight (without fuel): 173 kg
Contact person: Nova Moto legenda, Zaloška 171 Ljubljana, tel: 01/5484789, www.motolegenda.si
We praise and reproach
+ appearance
+ charisma lives
+ performance at the hippodrome
- the price could be slightly lower
- it heats up very quickly
Petr Kavchich, photo :? Petr Kavchich and Cyril Komotar
Basic data
Base model price: € 17.000 XNUMX €
Test model cost: € 17.000 XNUMX €
Technical information
engine: two-cylinder, four-stroke, 1099 cm3, 119 kW (160 HP) at 9.750 rpm, electric fuel injection
Frame: steel tubular all-round ribs, front adjustable USD fork, rear single adjustable damper (all Showa)
brakes: front radial 2 spools with a diameter of 330 mm, rear 1x 245 mm
Fuel tank: 15,5 l / 6,3 l
Wheelbase: 1.430 mm
Weight: 173 kg
