The Ducati 1098S

Since the introduction of the beautiful, sexy and iconic 916 superbike many years ago, ducati have been trying hard to bring to market a bike that could again create that kind of passionate following.
Ducati has prided themselves on doing things their way and it shows in the porducts they bring to market. I would even dare to say that they are the prestige motorcycle out there at the moment.

From the fabulous exhaust note to its sublime handling characteristics, the Ducati 1098 offers its own unique flavor which is a terrific breath of fresh air in a market that is overun with mass produced clones, but this is like most motoring manufacturers as is sadly becoming more commonplace.
The Ducati 1098S boasts some gorgeous bodywork with slick design results, but the real masterpiece lies beneath those pretty plastic panels. Underneath is a tubular steel trellis frame optimized for stiffness, and an L-twin engine produces 160 horsepower and 90.4 lb-ft of torque, routing exhaust fumes through a lightweight 2-1-2 underseat system that culminates with twin stainless steel mufflers. A six-speed gearbox with straight cut gears is mated to a dry clutch, and MotoGP style instrumentation provides an all-digital light show that includes a nifty ambient temperature gauge.

Stopping power is provided by dual, radially-mounted 4-piston 330mm Brembo monobloc front brakes and 245mm, 2-piston rear brakes, which are situated near a sculpted single-sided aluminum swingarm that leaves the other side of the rear wheel exposed.Care should be taken when pulling hard as your eyeballs could end up someway down the road.

Utilizing the already capable 1098 as a platform, Ducati’s 1098S incorporates premium components designed to satisfy the most dedicated sportbike riders, at a cost, of course over the price of the standard 1098. Upgraded 43 mm Öhlins FG511 forks use low friction Titanium Nitride-treated sliders while incorporating a steering damper, and the Öhlins 46PRC rear shock is engineered to offer strong dampening alongside decent ride quality. Marchesini forged and machined wheels shave 4 lbs of mass, bringing the total dry weight to 377 lbs (versus 381 for the standard 1098).

Although the Ducati 1098S achieves terrific performance, it is a bit of a pig in everyday stop start riding. Remember this is, after all, a hyperfocused rocket intended to be track ready, but with the added benefit of wearing license plates. The seat padding is thin, the riding position aggressive, and the 1098S’s abilities are demanding. The bike responds very well to rider input, and is demanding in its need to be riden smoothly than many casual riders are capable of. Now if you can live with the hard work on daily riding and can get smooth, then this bike will uqite simply take you to a level that you never thought possible ans as an added bonus, will look extremely cool sat outside your local cafe.