1098 debuts...

[racerboy]

Went to the 1098 debut at Jack Trebour Motorcycles last night.  What a beautiful machine!  Reminds me of the 2002 998 I sold last year.  I think I neeeeed a 1098!   I told my wife she should get rid of her Monster 695 and she can ride my S4Rs, and then I can get a 1098.  She didn't think it was so funny.

I also signed all the paperwork for my ST3s.  That shoudl be delivered to my house next week.  Now I just gotta find room for it.

[st ryder]

Went to the 1098 debut at Jack Trebour Motorcycles last night.  What a beautiful machine!  Reminds me of the 2002 998 I sold last year.  I think I neeeeed a 1098!   I told my wife she should get rid of her Monster 695 and she can ride my S4Rs, and then I can get a 1098.  She didn't think it was so funny.

I also signed all the paperwork for my ST3s.  That shoudl be delivered to my house next week.  Now I just gotta find room for it.

Congrats on the new ST3s. 1098 can wait while the ST3 delivers real world satisfaction. In fact, don't be surprised if you put that 1098 off for quite some time.  

[ZED]

I was just looking at the 1098 at the local Ducati dealer today too.  Sweet looking bike.  I love the view from the front.  Should be quite nimble too given it's weight.

The ST3 sounds neat, seems more useable.  I was looking at one of those too.  If I tire of the Naked thing with my Z1000, I'll give the ST3 a serious look.  My wife of course is all over the monster.

I would be curious though how the 1098 and Kawi ZX14 compare.  I expect the Duc would be a better true racing bike, but the price differenct is significant.  Wonder if any of us mortals would truly appreciate the difference?

[baldheadeddork]

Went to the open house at Ducati Miami today. Lot of people there looking at a 1098S.

I'm afraid I put my foot in my mouth a bit when I was talking with one guy. He was looking at it very closely, like it was a puzzle or a piece of evidence. He said it looked better in person than it did in pictures, then he said it looked better than he thought it would. But while everyone else was openly drooling, it seemed from the tone of his voice that he was discovering an unpleasant surprise.

Without thinking about it, I said "Can you imagine how hard someone is kicking himself if he bought a 999 last year?" He threw me a hard look and after a long moment told me that he had bought a 999 last year. I apologized immediately, of course. He said he liked the looks of the 999 better, and he said it again a couple of times after that. Now the tone in his voice made sense. When I saw him getting on his 999 - a Xerox replica, no less - a few minutes later he didn't seem very relieved for having seen the 1098 up close.

Congrats on the ST3s, Racerboy.  

[marc11]

I would be curious though how the 1098 and Kawi ZX14 compare.  I expect the Duc would be a better true racing bike, but the price differenct is significant.  Wonder if any of us mortals would truly appreciate the difference?

The 1098 and ZX14 are in two different classes of bikes.  A closer comparison would be the ZX10 to a 1098.

[JoBu]

I saw, or more rightly ogled over, a 1098S yesterday up at Daytona.      Simply put, a gorgeous bike from every angle, IMHO.  Saw a few nice touches I was not aware of such as an eccentric chain adjuster (done by spanner wrench), easily removable passenger pegs (bracket is nicely hidden yet easy to access by simply removing the seat), handle for the rear stand used as a brace for removing the rear wheel, and a few other things.  I was also informed that Ducati will have a display up at Bike Week after being absent the last few years.  If you happen to be there, stop by and take a look at this beautiful machine.  It is worth it.

Cheers,

Joe

[JoBu]

The 1098 and ZX14 are in two different classes of bikes.  A closer comparison would be the ZX10 to a 1098.

Somebody told me that some European magazine did a comparison between the 1098 and the new R1.  I haven't done a search for it yet, but it might be a good read.  I agree...two different animals in regard to the ZX14.  

Cheers,

Joe

[atypical1]

I'm afraid I put my foot in my mouth a bit when I was talking with one guy. He was looking at it very closely, like it was a puzzle or a piece of evidence. He said it looked better in person than it did in pictures, then he said it looked better than he thought it would. But while everyone else was openly drooling, it seemed from the tone of his voice that he was discovering an unpleasant surprise.

Without thinking about it, I said "Can you imagine how hard someone is kicking himself if he bought a 999 last year?" He threw me a hard look and after a long moment told me that he had bought a 999 last year. I apologized immediately, of course. He said he liked the looks of the 999 better, and he said it again a couple of times after that. Now the tone in his voice made sense. When I saw him getting on his 999 - a Xerox replica, no less - a few minutes later he didn't seem very relieved for having seen the 1098 up close.

 

Congrats on the ST Racerboy!

[racerboy]

Congrats on the new ST3s. 1098 can wait while the ST3 delivers real world satisfaction. In fact, don't be surprised if you put that 1098 off for quite some time.  

Thanks everyone for the congrats on the ST3s.  Can't wait for the weather to get a bit warmer so I can actually ride it.    I'm too much a wimp to get out in temps less than 50, but the ST3 may change that.

My S4Rs fills my "sportbike" needs.  It's just that the 1098 is so damn beautiful!

[MisterSmooth]

Went to the open house at Ducati Miami today. Lot of people there looking at a 1098S.

I'm afraid I put my foot in my mouth a bit when I was talking with one guy. He was looking at it very closely, like it was a puzzle or a piece of evidence. He said it looked better in person than it did in pictures, then he said it looked better than he thought it would. But while everyone else was openly drooling, it seemed from the tone of his voice that he was discovering an unpleasant surprise.

Without thinking about it, I said "Can you imagine how hard someone is kicking himself if he bought a 999 last year?" He threw me a hard look and after a long moment told me that he had bought a 999 last year. I apologized immediately, of course. He said he liked the looks of the 999 better, and he said it again a couple of times after that. Now the tone in his voice made sense. When I saw him getting on his 999 - a Xerox replica, no less - a few minutes later he didn't seem very relieved for having seen the 1098 up close...

Ok, it's heresy and I realize that I'm in the minority here, but I saw the 1098 up close and personal at the Seattle Motorcycle Show a couple of months ago and found its styling kind of generic sportsbike.

Frankly, I was disappointed.  The 916/996/998 generation is unfair comparision to any new bike; it's a brilliant design.  However, Ducati's own Paul Smart 1000LE has it all over the 1098 for looks.

Every other human being on the planet seems to think the 1098 is the dog's bollocks, so what the hell do I know.  

I do know that I'd rather have a Xerox Rep 999 any day.  Maybe it's not "as good" a bike, but most of us can't get any literbike anywhere near where we'd notice the difference, and the 999 doesn't look like anything else.

[DogBoy]

Lightly used 1098 on eBay: clicky

[baldheadeddork]

Lightly used 1098 on eBay: clicky

Ouch. That's gotta suck.

But what is the deal with the price? The forks, front wheel, brakes and frame are all FUBAR - but they still want 8,000 euros for what's left???

[Mr Sunshine]

Ok, it's heresy and I realize that I'm in the minority here, but I saw the 1098 up close and personal at the Seattle Motorcycle Show a couple of months ago and found its styling kind of generic sportsbike.

Frankly, I was disappointed.  The 916/996/998 generation is unfair comparision to any new bike; it's a brilliant design.  However, Ducati's own Paul Smart 1000LE has it all over the 1098 for looks.

Every other human being on the planet seems to think the 1098 is the dog's bollocks, so what the hell do I know.  

I do know that I'd rather have a Xerox Rep 999 any day.  Maybe it's not "as good" a bike, but most of us can't get any literbike anywhere near where we'd notice the difference, and the 999 doesn't look like anything else.

+1

[st ryder]

I think Ducati has created a very beautiful, powerful, and highly capable superbike, and without question, in my mind at least, much better looking than the 999 bike when parked side by side. The 1098 embraces the past while moving forward: tough to do. VFR couldn't do it; R1 couldn't do it; ZX10 couldn't do it; k12s couldn't do it; all examples IMO of bikes that have lost their way design-wise. They may be better than the models they replaced, but sure don't look it. The 999 was in this category, and for a small niche company like Ducati, known for its beautiful designs, radical departures from traditional styling does not bode well. (HD has made a bizzillion dollars by "keeping the faith")

Will the 1098 outperform the 999? Probably riders like Troy Bayliss will notice a difference, full tilt, on a race track. But for 99.99% of the rest of us, it'll just be a matter of having better specs we can't use, though I'm sure owners will carry-on about the handling nuances and prowess as would I as though I too could ride like Troy.   Like Lance Armstrong's book said, "It's not the Bike."   That being said, would I buy a 1098? Yes, if I had the money; no on my present budget. If I was to trade my ST3, it'd be for a Sport Classic, Sport 1000s. (Now that's a Ducati!) My concerns with the 1098 are only two, one frivolous, the other not so much so:

The tail section, and particularly the lamp: I'm not crazy about them.

The lightened gear box in conjunction with the "most powerful twin" ever built. Can the trimmed cogs transfer the power without stripping? Time will tell.

In the meantime, I look forward to spring weather, and sparking-up my ST3: all the Ducati I need. For now

 

[eurofan]

Somebody told me that some European magazine did a comparison between the 1098 and the new R1.  I haven't done a search for it yet, but it might be a good read.  I agree...two different animals in regard to the ZX14.  

Cheers,

Joe

Motociclismo italia has done it R1 vs GSX-R1000 vs RSV1000R Factory vs MV F4R vs 1098. The test was at Philip Island track. The Ducati set the fastest lap. Suzuki produced the greatest amount of horsepower and Yamaha achieved the best top speed on track.

http://www.motociclismo.it/edisport/moto/Notizie.nsf/AllDocID/I60A76653A7598BA6C1257290003FFD1B?OpenDocument