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I Must Be Going Mad… A 1098S for Christmas

1098 Ducati MCN Article Introduction

Today I did something I’ve never done before, I put down a deposit on motorcycle I’ve never even had the chance to ride – a 2007 1098S. It’s a drastic and inherently illogically act on many levels for sure. For starters I have absolutely no idea what this bike will really feel like or how it will handle or what kind of emotional response it will elicit when I swing my leg over it for the very first time. Yet I threw down for it anyway, not that the deposit was a ton of coin but it’s the principal.

So why now and why this bike?

Well, for starts you can thank MotorMilt. His recent purchase of a ’02 BMW K1200RS started a snowball like effect perhaps best described as buyer eyes – that unique time and place when even though you’re perfectly content with your current vehicle of choice, you find yourself wondering what else might be out there that’s worth trying. Slowly and surely you start to feel this urge to change and at first you’re not even quite sure why. Yet you soon find your eyes drift at traffic lights and in your spare time you start picking through moto-mags curiously devouring the newest, juiciest details. At some point you even feel a tinge of guilt because you really do like the bike you’re currently riding. But eventually desire outweighs emotion and you come to the ultimate, if not completely predictable, conclusion that it’s time to make a change.

More After The Jump

It’s an exaggerated process to say the least and until the old man bought the Beemer, I hadn’t given much thought to what my next bike might be. But his purchase introduced the idea of ‘change’ – a powerful and seduce concept to say the least that got the juices flowing in a major way. Suddenly I was hit with a wealth of rationalizations that were never there before. Those horribly creative mental suggestions for why a new motorcycle isn’t just a ‘desire’, but also a well established ‘need’.

Once I finally succumbed to this vortex of new motorcycle desire, I tried to sort out what exactly I wanted out of a new bike. The first requirement that entered my mind was a better suspension. So initially I started eyeing the used 749S and 999S market. While I truly love the original 749/999 shape – pre-aerodynamic fairing improvement – I didn’t really want to go backwards in terms of engine development. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Ducati’s its that the subsequent progress made year to year is a big, big deal.

So then I started focusing on late generation 749R and 999R’s. My thinking being that these bikes would offer both a killer suspension and also, either bike would have had as much engine development as my current 999. I was also price shopping so to speak; with the introduction of the 1098 I kept wondering how low would the prices on these bikes go?

Not low enough is the answer – at least not yet… Perhaps when the 1098 Tri-Color or the 1098R (1198??) comes out the prices on those bikes will dip, but by then the power and weight benefits of the previous ‘R’ series of bikes will no longer be spectacular. Hell, they’re no longer spectacular right now – Looking at the specs on the new bikes makes it clear that they’re built to obliterate the constraints of the past. The ’06 999R shipped with 150 HP and a dry weight of 399 lbs; in comparison the base ’07 1098 will ship with a claimed 160 HP and weight only 381 lbs.

The 1098′s power increase and weight reduction also represents a 14% jump in power and roughly a 7.6% decrease in weight from my current 2005 999 (140 hp, 410 pounds). Those numbers smack of some seriously delicious riding and more importantly highlight the kind of riding that I’ve come to enjoy. Fast, fluid, flickable movements on a secure chassis platform that offers a rocket-like sensation of power delivery. While I tend to think the previous sentence describes my current ride, once you get a handle on the new math that’s involved it’s hard not to expect the 1098 to perform even better…

Of course that’s the logical side of this equation. The not so logical side is the emotion that’s involved. The shape of the bike, the way it feels, and the way it stands. To be honest, I’m still not 100% sure what I think of the 1098′s looks. Perhaps this is partially out of respect for the 999 platform, whose styling I not only greatly admire but also happen to feel was light years ahead of every other manufacturer at the time of its introduction. When I look at a 916 or a 998, I appreciate it for the icon it was, but also see it as a dated design. That’s borderline sacrilegious to say of course, but the world – especially in the arena of design – moves forward at a rapid pace. Yet as I think back to how I ended up on a 999 instead of a 998 (both options at the time), the reality is that I bought into the 999 platform because how it felt while riding it – The 999 outclassed the 998 in everyway. It handled better, it felt smoother, and I physically fit on the bike better. As crazy as it sounds right now, I suspect that 1098 will present exactly the same situation – at least I hope it does…

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13 Nov Filed under General. Bookmark the permalink.
  • –Josh

    Congrats. I don’t think you will regret this. I may just follow suit.

  • http://www.40on2.blogspot.com Doug K.

    No Tricolor?? Don’t be a wuss, Dylan, you know you want it. Do it. You know you want to.

    And as long as you’re not going to be using the outdated old 999 of yours, I’ll trade you my KLR650 for it and we’ll both have a merry Christmas.

    ;-)

    Doug

  • Tim M

    You’ve voiced what I’m sure any number of people going through right now and probably ended up with the same conclusion. I’m not wild about the 1098′s “face”. It’s not like the “Holy shizzle!” that the 916 received nor the “What the hell?” that the 999 got. I think it’s more like, “Huh. Well, I guess I could live with it.” The side view and arse look good, and as you stated the specs are stellar though it’ll have to be if it’s quicker than a Gixxer 1000 in the quarter like Ducati claims. I wonder how they could drop the price by so much and still have spendy stuff like Brembo monoblocs? Anyway, I think you made the right choice. I hope the 1098 sells like hotcakes though the displacement limit for WSBK is still 1000cc for twins so I wonder what Ducati will race. Thanks for the excellent and highly entertaining blogging this week and congrats to Motor Milt with his new bagger. Have you started going to a new shop in your area (gee, would that be in Vegas?) or are you making the trek in to PI?

  • Mudpuppy

    It won’t be a Christmas present. They don’t arrive until February at the earliest…

    Jealous, I am…

  • Mark

    Congrats Dylan, despite the fact that I agree with Tim on the looks, the way you make a decision like this is totally in line with the bike you ride… For me riding the Duc is all about emotion, and that’s what your purchase comes down to in the end…

    Well done!

  • http://www.powerwheelie.de Ben

    Dylan mate, good choice and thumbs up for being irrational ;) It´s much like the way I buy motorcycles. It´s that certain feeling that floats around you when you get out of bed, when you sit there during lunch, while letting your thoughts fade away.

    I think you will be happy with the Duc, since it still is the V2 you like. I think it´s hella sexy as well. But I´ll pass on it. I saw what happened to the first 999´s and I don´t want to be part of that game.

    By the way, I´ll pick up something new this winter, too. I´ll let you know what it is when the time has come ;)

  • http://www.twistingasphalt.com Dylan

    Purchasing a motorcycle is most definitely an irrational act – but we try to apply as much logic and rationalization as we can don’t we? ;)

    I certainly have my doubts about the quality control in the first generation of a new Ducati model, but as with most Ducati related things it seemed like the right time to act for other reasons… So I’ll see what happens and go from there – at least DNA has always been fair with me and I’ve got a shop I trust completely backing me up…

    As for the ship date – that’s no big deal to me. The SoCal rainy season is about to start and frankly, I’ve got months of work piled up at the moment, so the wait and the anstisipation will only add to the satisfaction of the experience. I’m also not sure that even Ducati knows when they will start shipping these things – at first it was reported as mid to late 1st Quarter next year, but then yesterday in Milan they seemed to suggest the regular edition 1098 bikes would show up in December. So who really knows…

    Tri-Color? I think I’ll pass. The color scheme simply doesn’t do anything for me. Had they offered the Paul Smart Silver or even the black that might have been a different discussion – But then after having already owned a yellow 999, I’m pretty sure that my heart lies with the classic Italian Red…

  • Gazbusa

    Congrats Dylan, put my pride and joy busa on the market and gonna do the same,,,covered 40k miles on the busa and am still alive and have a license so time for a change, will buy 1098s on the condition they take it back in 2008 as trade in for 1098R,,,,,, bit of a change but what the hell think its the best looking/performing duke to date,,, hope so its got a lot to live up to!

  • KatoomMnky

    I spent way too much time myself thinking about how the 1098 was close to the right look, but not quite right – then it dawned on me that the styling of the Triumph Daytona 675 looks more like a proper 916 successor than the 1098 itself does. Kind of ironic.

    Anyhow! Many congrats – The 1098 is still a very slick looking machine, and I’m thrilled to see that Ducati has finally dropped the 1000cc ceiling.

    … and for the Japanese fanbois who make noise about Ducati twins being competitive only on a tilted playing field, you’re forgetting that a 4-cylinder machine always has an inherently higher valve area/displacement ratio. In other words, if you insist on holding displacement as a constant but allowing unrestricted valve design, the 4 will always fill itself faster. The playing field is only level when the rules account for the difference by either increasing the displacement on the twins or decreasing the permissable valve area on the fours.

  • motorcycleboy

    “When I look at a 916 or a 998, I appreciate it for the icon it was, but also see it as a dated design. That’s borderline sacrilegious to say of course, but the world – especially in the arena of design – moves forward at a rapid pace.”

    What you don’t seem to understand is that Ducati has gone retro in the design of the 1098 — the styling is purposely based less on the 999 and more on the original 916. For example, the single-sided swingarm (916) vs. the dual swingarm (999) even though this presented more of an engineering challenge.

    The 916 is almost a classic (will be as it ages some more) but the 999 will be seen as the Ducati that temporarily reversed their positive market trends, despite winning races. Ducati has made the right decision in concluding the 999 series, even though I hear at the current U.S. price of $14,995 the 1098 represents a loss of nearly 800 dollars per bike. In the long term the 1098 will help Ducati increase its market share — but there will likely be a price increase with next year’s 1098.

  • http://www.theconscience.org clive

    dylan – i did the same thing on the weekend……i’ve had a 999 for 2 or 3 months. i’ve done about 2000kms. i do love it….but seeing the tricolore [online only]…..i walked into Ducati Sydney on the weekend and signed on the dotted line. why – because it is it….for now at least. i don’t care about the money, that i have not even taken a ride on a 1098. i have a saying:

    “Sit on the fence, two things happen. (1) you get a stake up your ass. (2) you get splinters getting off and something will hurt”.

    i guess nike said it best – “just do it”.

  • Adrian Willis

    I just took delivery of a tricolore and it’s great! Neighbours were woken at 530am this morning to the beutiful sound of the race cans, I haven’t spoken to them yet but I’m sure they will have enjoyed the roar :-) Previous bike was a blade, so it’s a bit of a learning curve, but much more chalenging / rewarding! Hoping to do some long distance racing in the near future. It looks much better in the flesh than in the photo’s

  • http://www.abcreative.net.au Adam Burke

    Dylan, know the feeling…

    About 20 minutes ago i walked out of my local dealer less my deposit for 1098s with full 70mm termi system. I hadn’t even got out of the shop before a young GSXr 600 riding lass approached me and asked what i had just bought. when i told her, her eyes lit up and she smiled one of the most beautiful smiles i have ever seen. “mmmm, hot bike!” she winked back.

    I haven’t ridden one yet (the bike, not the girl…yet) but i’ve put in some serious procrastination time on youtube. I can live with the looks (it’s not a 916 but i’m not slashing my wrists), and with 162 bhp at the rear wheel with the new full system i reckon any concerns will quickly fly out the window.

    It’ll be worth the wait…and it would want to be – i’m looking at 5 months till delivery. Shame you can’t program phone numbers into the USB datalogging system – i seriously can’t believe i almost picked up just putting down a deposit!

    Anyway, congrats on the decision – if you get yours before mine, let us know how it goes.

  • shelby

    Oh, yeah.

    As I sit here looking at my brand spanking new 1098S Tricolore, I am in starstruck. Even though my ride was was a short one, oh man….you can feel it. Power out the wazzu, and a comfort, that didnt exist at all in the 996, 998 era. The 999 was a great step. We owe much of the greatness of this bike to the 999, as much as we owe it to the 916. Its the looks of a classice Ducati, and the ride of an even better 999 (maybe even an R1). WOW!!! And to think, I was always trying to figure out to get a 998R and a 999R. Now I have a better big than these two supersstars??? Unreal!!!!! Perhaps they will come out with the 1099 in two years. 08′ will be about the 849 and the yellow 1098. The R will have to fit nicely between the Desmo and the Tricolore. 165Hp? With less weight with Carbon body panels?…and a 30k or even 32k price tag.

    Stop the madness!!!

  • chuck

    I, too, am a victim of emotion. I have an 06 Triumph Daytona 955i. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Triumph, but wehn I saw the 1098, I had to have one. so a deposit later and a couple of months wai, I will be the owner of an 08 Black 1098S. I have sat on an 07, but I anticipate the ride more than anything.

  • Jeff

    Put a deposit on a 1098s. I will be the first on the list for an 2008 in my area. Kind of frustrated with no new and rumor but still waiting. Traded in my ride (04 R1) and had to take the Hypermotard for a test ride to get a temp. riding fix. I am tired of the you tube vids and the dealer is tired of my constant calls to no avail.

  • Rob

    I have also put a deposit on a Tricolore here in west oz (been on its way since feb and its almost sept now), Ive been told 10 days to go. woohoo.
    Had a 06 ds1000 this was my first experience on a duc and I gotta tell ya its just a tad addictive. had to sell the ds1000 for the funds for the tricolore and that was a very very sad day
    I didnt even want to ride the demo 1098.
    it was just one of those OMG !!! moments.

  • T

    nice pic of the 1098 the 1098s should look sweet with the black body fasteners and gold suspension

    still trying to decide between this and the Hayabusa

  • Fab

    Well guess what, you arent going mad because i did the same thing as you did, so i’m glad we aren’t the only insane ones around here.

    I have an 04 ST3 and its my daily rider, i wanted something different for the weekend use. So about a month ago while on a ‘turismo’ with a bunch of 280 other ducati riders, i managed to jump on a tri-colore. Well, it was an amazing experience.

    By the time i got back to my home town 3 days later, I walked in to the new Ducati store and signed up for one (mind you, there was no guarantee i would get one). Two days ago I bumped into the general manager of the store and like a little puppy i asked him if there was any news. He had this grin on his face and i knew that he was going to tell me one was put aside for me. i was like a kid in a lolly shop not to say the least when he said yes.

    I then had to wait until the end of January to have it shipped when he rings me the next day and says, “i have one in another city as the guy couldn’t come up with the money, do you want it? And you can have it by the end of next week” what does one say while in shock….

    Well, I cant wait to get my hands on it… and just in time for Christmas too. Who said Santa only provided to kids…

  • Rob

    Congratulations!!!,

    I did the same sight unseen purchase with my Tricolore and waited 7 gut wrenching months for delivery. It is now my daily ride with all my other bikes taking a back seat I literally cant get my butt off it, even my girlfriend is jealous of it.
    You will love this bike like a best friend.
    Rob

  • Rob

    ps, the bike evolves again with termis they are a must have accessory.

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