Ducati 1098S Desmosedici first test. <-- Bikeintro Motorcycles

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Sep

Ducati 1098S Desmosedici first test.

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Ducati’s 1098 is going to be one to watch. It looks trick, has all the ingredients on paper to be a winner, and has huge expectations from almost every bike fan from around the globe. This bike might be able to take the Italian company back to the fame and success it once had in the streetbike market when the ground-breaking 916 was first released in 1994.

The 1098’s official worldwide launch was held at Kyalami in South Africa back in early December, giving moto-journalists the first opportunity to swing a leg over the Italian work of art. The high altitude of Kyalami zapped the horsepower from the 1099cc Testastretta engine, meaning the test riders on hand couldn’t quite get the ultimate feeling for the impressive 160 claimed horsepower that the 1098 releases.

My chance to ride Ducati’s 1098 came at an Australian launch held at Eastern Creek Raceway, in Sydney, New South Wales - the venue for the Australian round of the World 500cc Grand Prix Championship back in the mid-1990s.

The model on hand at the Aussie launch was the 1098S, the up-spec version of the 1098. It features high performance 43mm Ohlins fully adjustable FG511 fork, Ohlins fully adjustable 46PRC shock absorber, Ohlins steering damper, lightweight forged and machined Marchesini wheels, a carbon fiber front fender, plus Ducati’s all new DDA (Ducati Data Analysis) logging system.

All these features make the S model a very special machine, and Ducati claims the 1098S is the most powerful and lightest twin-cylinder superbike in history. The engine remains the same as the standard 1098, but the featured add-ons provide you with an unbelievable package on what is already a ground-breaking superbike.

The 1098 S is a further 4 lbs lighter than the standard 1098 as it weighs in at a purported 377 lbs, thanks mainly to the forged alloy Marchesini wheels, which feature a red pinstripe to signify their high-tech S-model status. The lightweight wheels help the bike steer easier and quicker on changes of direction, as the lighter wheels equal a lower inertia.

Upon arrival at Eastern Creek, I couldn’t take my eyes off the 1098S. The bike looks sharp and small, while also having the racy look - just like the incredible road-going Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica.

For the 1098, Ducati has kind of gone back to the future in a way, as they reintroduce a bunch of features that made the ultra-successful Ducati 916 model so popular in the ’90s. These features include the return of a single-sided swingarm and twin under-seat exhausts that sit under a high tail section at the rear of the bike, while the front end of the bike is compact with horizontal twin headlights that look stealth.

The simple, clean lines of the fairings are good looking, while also being efficient for aero purposes. They are drowned with Ducati’s famous Italian red colors with just a few simple silver logos indicating the bike’s brand and model.

Now’s time to climb aboard and try this beauty out for myself as my excitement grows and the bike deeply growls upon start-up. Straight away I feel more comfortable than I ever have on its 999 predecessor. The ‘bars have far less reach, allowing me to position my 5′5″ height more comfortably on the bike with less strain.

The controls feel excellent, with perfect quality and plenty of adjustment on the front brake lever. The seat is comfortable as it angles you toward the controls while the narrow fuel tank gives plenty of room to help move around on the compact-feeling bike. The position of the ‘pegs are also an improvement over the 999, with easy access to the gear-shift and rear brake lever.

The Desmosedici-style digital dash is spectacular. Derived from Ducati’s new GP7 800cc MotoGP bike, it flashes upon engine start-up and flashes “SBK 1098″ across the screen - a sure reminder that this bike has been developed from Ducati Corse’s racing experience. The default readout shows rpm and speed, with the rpm displayed in a unique bar graph - much like racing superbikes. It also has the usual features such as warning lights, fuel level, tripmeters, etc.

I complete my first lap and the racing-width (190/55 ZR17) Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa Pro tires - the street version of Pirelli’s homologated race tires - heat up quickly and provide almost instant grip on the hot summer day. In fact, the very cool temperature gauge on the dash tells me it’s 90 degrees F to be exact!

As I get a feel of everything, it is very noticeable that the 1098S likes to fall into the corner quickly and precisely, while the L-shaped twin-cylinder engine has a heap of torque to pull out of any situation as I lag it around the track. Both the standard 1098 and the 1098S have the same engine, so the Creek test was a good place to find out what Ducati’s new machines have to offer without the altitude of Kyalami.

The 160-hp Testastretta Evoluzione engine is quick, and as I get up to speed the extra 101cc over the 999 is rewarded with extra power - 20 horsepower more than the 999. The steep hills out of Eastern Creek’s Turns 5 and 7 are no such trouble for the 1098S as the rear Pirelli begins to squirm under acceleration. The feedback from the tires and chassis are second to none on acceleration in third gear, while the engine is more than capable of doing big things as I shift up gears at around 10,000 rpm.

As I come out of the tight right-hand Turn 9 and ease on the power, the front wheel begins to get light, hovering slightly above the asphalt before making my way around to the final corner on to the straightaway, and over a crest where the front wheel again gets light due to the massive torque of the engine. The 1098’s power is impressive and is by far the fastest twin-cylinder superbike I have sampled.

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