Ducati 1098R first ride

Ducati's new 1098R is the closest thing the Italian firm has ever produced to a full-blooded World Superbike racer.
Costing £24,000 it has a 186bhp, 1200cc engine, top quality cycle parts, and for the first time ever on a road bike: traction control.

Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves travelled to the Ducati's world launch in Jerez to check it out. Read his full report in this week's MCN (Wednesday 30th January 2008)
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[@timord3063]

This was my holy grail bike and i was finally lucky enough to buy one last year. Hopefully i will still have it to show my grand kids. By then it will probably be illegal to fire it up...guess we'll gave to just sit and stare at it! Unbelievable bike in every aspect.

[@S29V8T]

13 years later I still love the look of this bike. The black stealth version was cool too

[@joshsvoss]

I remember when this was my absolute dream bike. Crazy to think that since then we've gotten the 1199, 1299, and now the V4, and suddenly this 1098R looks antiquated in comparison. Still an amazing bike, gotta love Ducati.

[@casey0haga]

in my opinion it looks better than any panigale.

[@zacha8934]

This is definitely still my dream Ducati. I’ll own one soon. Currently the owner of a 2007 Monster s2r1000

[@CatchtheBreeze85]

the 165kg is very impressive for a 1200. was reading in MCN today, it's 4 secs faster than a 1098s around the same track and 2 seconds faster than an R1.

[@BigUriel]

The normal 1098 engine delivers over 160 at the rear wheel with full termis, at normal temperatures and about sea level. The R easily gets 20 more ponies. Regardless the R1 will obviously have more max hp, being a 4 cylinder it revs much higher. But the point is the 1098 will have a lot more REAL power - max power is just a number on a paper, but you must keep the R1 in a very narrow rev range to get a pull from it, while a V2 will pull you out of a corner from pretty much any rev range.

[@FM1098R]

To those with bad comments on this bike....I own #85 of this bike and it is the most hardcore bike I have ever ridden. A bit to much on the road lol The race track is its home ! everyone should have the chance to try it............

[@csilva6676]

I have #16

[@damansbedi]

Love these! The new ones have more power but are neutered by electronics until you got high speeds. They don't have the character these do. About to bring home a 1098S that I will ride and keep forever!

[@gtaiana58]

Hy Faster, I had a very fast 996r but now I have the 1098r: I have never driven a bike so powerfull, really incredible.

[@ducati110]

The sound is wonderfoul i love it.

[@RubiconTSL]

Insane bike, Love the sound and it would be super cool to test that traction control some day, I hope other Companies start using it soon on their bikes they sell to the regular public!!!

[@kidsoxoxox]

1098R, a modern classic with price and collector status going ballistic in the decades to come, just like the '70s 750SS did. A 200MPH missile on 2x wheels.

[@carloscastillom.866]

El sonido de fondo de las demas ducatis es sorprendente, no me imagino escucharlo en vivo.

[@carloscastillom.866]

Increible sonido de fondo....

[@benjyboba]

Id say the advantage on torque makes riding the bike alot easier. You can also use a higher gear and it will still come out corners as fast. I test rode a 1098s with open termis and after my ride i can say that its the best bike i ever rode. The 1098s with open pipes has done a 1/4 mile in 9.79 @147.2 mph and it beat the 1L4 and it had less power. Torque and gripy vtwin being able to use its power is its advantage.

[@burner188]

This is my next bike...I’ll own a 1098 one day.

[@lifeisgood070]

This guy is cool... he explains things very well.

[@duti916]

THE THUNDER GOD HAS AWAKED!!! I don't have words for this super, beautiful, great Bike

[@Furiousme]

yeah you`re right . You can`t do wheelie on that bike :) They had to do that somehow. OFC when front slows down, diference in wheels speed will be biger. But I think TC works when rear accelerates sudenly, not when front slows down.

[@charlieryan1736]

Great review thanks for making this video

[@azguitar]

Great review! Finally...true traction control for the street.

[@smibru]

I thing you need to listen to the video when the person talking about the Ducati has being " 05.37 very difficult to get in and out of the turns. If your used to a agility 1000cc 600 or 750 Janpense bike, your going to find this quite hard to turn, quite hard to keep in line you have to ride it quite differently slow in, power out." The reason that V-twins fit perfectly in to a bike frame is because it was made for bicycles and that's how the first motorcycle was made. V-twin are antiques!

[@slickbluejet]

exactly right. Ducati needs to start pricing competitively

[@ValiRossi]

He said the race cans come in a box with the bike. Ducati = Awesome!

[@datrucolombianballer]

i usually only like cars but wow this bike is crazy way better than alot of 200 300 grand cars

[@williamyazmaciyanamaduni2794]

Beautiful bike .

[@mrgumball]

I'm in love with that bike

[@Furiousme]

no... He said that when rear wheel sudenly go much faster. Not when front slows slowly.

[@jskylinegtr34]

This bike is fun to ride in Midnight Club: Los Angeles, for 15k, if you can handle it properly and avoid crashing it.

[@darrenjgraham]

So many of the features of the Britten (John) bikes from New Zealand (Daytona 1990s) have come through to the new bikes of today, yes carbon but geometries? Early electrics yes... exciting but late Ducati. I do still love your earlier bikes

[@victor9191]

what a bike...someday maybe...

[@damian0d0unit]

the 848 is all ready out!

[@romoman9965]

i have #110 of this bike. its very beautiful indeed.

[@RHBTurbochargers]

this quite possibly is the best bike that you can buy

[@thesoapster]

I was at the Ducati dealer and someone there said they were going to get a 1098R in.

[@CBielski87]

can't wait for the 848!!!!!

[@CatchtheBreeze85]

u wouldn't say twins should be retired when a 1098R with a good 20% more torque than a four leaves you for dead comming out of a corner. a v2 engine fits perfectly into a bike frame, fours are for cars!

[@BigUriel]

"Almost" feels like an R1? The R1 needs to rev up to 12k to even come close to the power the 1098R makes at 9k, and even then it can't match it!

[@smibru]

You have to go to FIM World Superbike and look up it's history. I used to think Ducati's V-twin was a great engine too, until the announcer of the race stated that the next year all the engine restictions on the Japanese bike come off. They change to the rules to save Superbike, cause the racing was not fair and they were losing business. Fans in europe stop coming to the race because of the restrictions, the were calling World Superbike the Ducati cup!

[@Barkingjohnboy]

he has one of the best jobs in the world

[@michaeltawaka762]

Woòooo I've got a ducati 27 min of listening to him 15 sec of the bike

[@ducatisweden]

Yepp - I totaly agree!

[@HaloProps]

Night and day. Just don't crank your wrist too hard. Get a feel for the bike and stay in control.

[@subtlesuplex2394]

Ohh man I need some Termi's!

[@alanBastard]

I thought they would use BST wheels. My dealer has one for 22,000 and is only a few miles away. Damn.

[@benjyboba]

I believe it does have the racing internals in it. Its probably as close as the 1L4's are to there race versions if not closer. I know that the r1 etc all have extra welding on there frames when they race them. Haveing rode a 1098s with open pipes and seeing the new 1098r. I would say no way would this bike be a disapointment and its probably faster than the desmosedici rr for most. Useable power is what matters mostly when you have stupid amounts of power. Well were see it race this year.

[@kynigh]

I have one. In Midnight Club Los Angeles :D

[@Lev08e39M5]

Great review

[@rasqo3]

whhich one do you think? r got less weight and more hp than the s. so which one ?

[@bradlez996]

like i said mate, Europe make the best bikes. I got the Limited Edition Bayliss version of this bike.

[@smibru]

If you would glance at my first post on this subject you would've notice me giving your the reason why Ducati's dominated for so long. I will repeat myself with my previous statement: "By the way if you remember that in World Superbike the Japanese bike were all forced to have restrictors on the motors for years so the v-twin can have a better chance at performance. Now, World Superbike just change the rules for the racing last year I think, and where was Ducati in the championship?"Look it up!

[@RubiconTSL]

Dude, WTF??? I'm a Yamaha fan because all my life I've own Yamaha's and they are great, but I love the Ducati performance, name, history, etc, etc... But come on, I didn't see Stoner "proving it" like you said in 2008, Ducati's a great bike, but even if Valentino was riding a Kawasaki (LOL), He would still be the Greatest of all time!!!!

[@diablo29]

actually for racing torque is more important then power, anbd like James Toselands Hanspree Honda team manager (sbk) said, "I would give bhp for more torque". Think about it a track is mainly corners.

[@benjyboba]

Its the costs and so that the people can have a twin with power like there racer. There 999 engine wouldnt last if it made the same power as the fours for the road. I would say it depends on the racetrack to whether the twin or four is better. The twin on shorter tracks is better and the four on fast straights has the topspeed advantage. The twin is the better bike to ride in my opinion. If you get a chance, test drive the new 1098r or even a 1098s round a set of twisties.

[@ELLORD92]

i just wanna ask smth but i want a serious answear plz a honda cbr 1000rr or a ducati 1098R which is cooler plz answear

[@coolmikelarocque]

sick review

[@chriswilkes5972]

Why do the vid close to the track? Cant concentrate!

[@dynoroad]

Dont get angry now but, Yamaha is not telling the truth about their bikes power, They say the R1 got 189 hp, it has 162 rwhp on the dyno and 27 hp from crank to "rw" is just too much the 1098r looses about 10-15 hp from crank to "rw" so the actual poweroutput of the R1 should be 175 hp. Peace man!

[@bob119911]

why in on like testing videos the only have the right light on?

[@macgibbon]

10 years later, 186hp has become 226hp....

[@damansbedi]

Yeah insane! BUT the electronics tone it down and neuter the bike until you get up to much higher speeds... The new ones just won't have that character. Just about to bring home a 1098S that I will keep FOREVER!

[@Calvin19244]

alt+f4 for skipping commercials

[@RLtW88]

1098R

[@BigUriel]

Not better than Ducati, seen as on MotoGP their budget is way higher than that of the Italian manufacturers, and Ducati still mops the floor with them.

[@BeechSundowner]

Good video!

[@jbird330]

magnesium or titianum internals? you tell me?

[@diablo29]

ofc

[@lammiura]

@yourleftnut1 I think you'll find that Ducati's have sorted out there reliability issues, People who don't ride Ducati's always say they are unreliable!

[@Ryosaeba24]

ducati has always won in superbike

[@junglejim8781]

24k 10yrs ago... makes the panigale V4s an absolute bargain

[@berd219]

Things like a fucking lion!!

[@estin87]

that's a silly question...DUCATI 1098R! why get a honda when you can have a dream machine!

[@bradlez996]

@racerguy996 The Hayabusa and all fast Japanese bikes have been limited by their manufacturers to about 295km/h for years now. Europeans bike companies dont have that agreement with each other, so Ducati, as well as Aprilia, MV Agusta and BMW all make bikes that will easily go over 300km/h.

[@linoruggieri]

would been nice with out the back ground noise

[@rogase68]

I want one!!!

[@mehrzweckreiniger]

This bike raped the s1000rr in FIM superstock and WSBK

[@theant9821]

2 world championships isn't bad though, the this and 999, 998, 996, 916 slaughtered everyone for nearly 15 years

[@smibru]

I see your are missing the point! What is 990-800=190! That's 190 more cc just to keep up with a inline 4. By the way if you remember that in World Superbike the Japanese bike were all forced to have restrictor on the motors for years so the v-twin can have a better chance at performance. Now, World Superbike just change the rules for the racing last year I think and where was Ducati in the championship? V-twin are slow don't fool yourself. Japanese 600cc, Ducati 748 just to keep up!

[@philip5798]

How far KZbin review videos have come.

[@BigUriel]

That's like saying buying an Evo and tunning it up beats buying a Ferrari.

[@StarZiggy3]

fortissima w la ducati!

[@45Mang]

i would trade my hayabusa for one of these sexy ass ride!

[@Lebmob3]

i can't agree with you more

[@MarcS4R]

oh my god i want that so bad

[@DoctorNumber46]

ducati has an advantage because they have 200 extra cc's of displacement in WSB so of course the Japanese bikes are going to be slower.

[@benjyboba]

I say no way is a 4 cylinder better. Ok moto gp is at the top of performance but youll find that the world superbikes are actually now faster in a straight line than the motogp 800. The 990 was even faster but lap slower than the 800. I saw the twin with the power is more usable and this bike is already 2-3 seconds a lap faster than the latest 1L4.

[@gwsoldier1]

in norway it sadly costs 43500 pounds :(

[@gtothejay]

the other side is the high beam

[@apriliaracer49]

DITTO =] im bringing mine to a ducati twin day on the 27th and takin her for some hot laps with larry pegram. viva italia.

[@XcrusseX]

the bugatti was founded by an italian,ettore buggatti.now it's owned by volkswagen but this doesn't mean that is german

[@theant9821]

You need to look closer at the map mate, bugatti was French (hence why all their famous race cars were blue, the racing colour of france)

[@smibru]

What are you talking about? I understood everything the announcer stated. You are the one that will not listen or read. So, I realize you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink!

[@inkmonster0u812]

Now if it was about 15.000grand it would be a gr8 deal.I,ll stick with a gixx.I think i like the super duke better.

[@benbonifas]

did you notice he said 24 grand, not 24,000 pounds?

[@vatoencabronado]

Come to the US, it's only 20k dollars more ;)

[@maverickthebastard]

Sex on two wheels. You don't have to ride this bike to enjoy it! The Pannigale does not do it foe me.

[@beastinblack4055]

lucky bastard!!

[@CatchtheBreeze85]

modern fours sound horrible almost like they're running on an electric motor. love the deep bass roar of twins. triples and V4s arent bad, bad hate straight fours

[@Reckord]

that would be 20 grand in pounds, not US dollars. I think it's 41 grand here.

[@kul1tz]

$39.000

[@PepegaPig]

lol marchesini do loads of wheels for ducati so it probably cost them 50p.

[@diablo29]

I think it should have been 1100cc for twins

[@airs2k]

@racerguy996 You can't compare it. You can't ride a busa like you can ride this bike.

[@animeonperseest]

1098r

[@SollyMotherF]

Rubicon mate. Yamaha should stick to makeing keyboards! They took time out of racing to work on roadbikes. Quite realist! Seeing thats any bike companies bread and butter!