More ‘09 Duc Rumors - Hell For Leather Says 1198
Brooklyn based Hell For Leather Motorcycle Magazine has thrown the proverbial high octane racing fuel on the rumor mill fire — They claim to have first-hand black-ops knowledge of Ducati’s planned announcements at the Milan Motorcycle Show…
Our source has just confirmed that the 1198 will have 170bhp. While the base 1198 receives a $500 price bump (to $16,495 in the US), the 1198S will remain the same at $20,995 (US). We’ve also learned that 1198 will be lighter than the outgoing 1098 and may receive a facelift.
The same source also says to expect two versions of the 2009 Ducati Monster 1100, the regular 1100 and an S with Öhlins suspension. There’s also an all-new model that, “is a cross between a Tuono, Brutale and fits between Monster and Hypermotard.” It will be powered by the outgoing water-cooled 1099cc engine from the 1098, but with a smaller airbox that means less power and shotgun-style dual exhausts mounted on one side.
You can read the whole scoop here.
2009 Ducati Model Rumors - Fact or Fiction?
Once again the new model rumor mill is heating up as we get closer to the annual Ducati USA dealer meeting and the Milan Motorcycle show in November, where historically the company introduces their new bikes to the public.
Just a few days ago Ducati itself toss fuel on the fire by announcing that both the Multistrada and Hypermotard will be available in pearl white. I guess that means we won’t be seeing a retooled Strada this year after all…
Of course the big news before and after that minor announcement has undoubtedly been the reported cell phone camera shots of the new Ducati Monster 1100 taken by an Italian Ducati Riding Club member. In short order they appeared all over the net, including a featured spot on AutoBlog - Clearly when it comes to the Monster everyone wants to know what’s coming next…
The grainy cell phone images seem to foreshadow the next new Monster - The same look as last years 696 but with more power in the form of the 1100 DS engine found in the Hypermotard. If this in fact turns out to be the big news at the Milan show you certainly can’t fault Ducati, after all it’s the next logical evolution of the new Monster design. Yet am I the only wondering when we’ll see a 1098 derived Monster? Isn’t that really the naked bike we’re waiting for???
Another Duc Rumor: The 1120?
There’s another 999 big bore rumor going around, apparently according to Motorcycle Racer magazine (Great Britain) is reporting that:
“Ducati is already developing a big-bore version of it’s current Testastretta engine.” as part of it’s future showroom lineup. It states that Claudio Domencali has given the go-ahead to launch a 1,120cc 999 superbike to the public in the next year or two, and that Ducati still sees the 999 as it’s flagship customer bike for the foreseeable future.”
You can read more about it over on the Club Desmo message boards.
