Cool-Motorcycles reviews Ducati Superbike 1198

The 1198 is a race bike, pure and simple. It is immediately recognisable for its purposeful, no-nonsense attitude. Performance is first and foremost in every detail.

Trademark Ducati features like the high tail section and compact front end combine with twin under-seat silencers and single-sided swingarm to express the sheer engineering beauty of aerodynamics and agility. Add the 1198 Testastretta Evoluzione engine as the hearts of the machine and the result is all-out performance Ducati Superbikes that look fast even when parked.

The 1198 features fully adjustable 43mm Showa forks, with an additional special low friction titanium oxide treatment applied to the sliders.

The 1198 uses engineering solutions taken directly from the World Championship winning ‘R’ model of Troy Bayliss. From engine capacity and specification to advanced electronics, many

details that helped Troy to the 2008 World Superbike title have been applied to the 2009 road-going 1198. Never before has so much factory rider feedback been put into production.

FEATURES

Instrumentation – The display, which now has a bright white LED back lighting, presents rpm and speed, with the former displayed across the screen in a progressive bar graph. Additionally, it displays lap times, time, air temperature, coolant temperature, battery voltage, two trips and a trip that automatically starts as the fuel system goes onto reserve. Warning lights illuminate to signify neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, low oil pressure, fuel reserve and scheduled maintenance. The instrument display is also used as the control panels for the DDA system as well as listing lap times recorded by using the high-beam flash button as a stopwatch.

Headlamps – The horizontal twin headlamps, a signature Ducati style from the iconic 916, have been modernised with the latest lighting technology. Two polyellipsoidal units light the way with a powerful beam while maintaining an aggressive look to the front of the machine in pure Ducati Superbike tradition. The units used on the 1198 and 1098 R now save over 0.5kg (1.2lb) over previous versions, reducing weight from a crucial high frontal area which enhances the overall vehicle handling and all-important  ‘feel’ of the front-end.

Fairing – Carefully designed for aerodynamic efficiency and to hug the sleek lines of the chassis, the 848, 1198 and 1098 R bodywork enables the rider to blend effortlessly into the race-oriented riding position.

Frame – Developed in cooperation with Ducati Corse, the lightweight Trellis frame features 34mm main section tubes with a material thickness of 1.5mm. The result is an incredibly rigid construction that remains one of Ducati’s lightest frame solutions ever.

Rear Suspension – The high-efficiency linkage features a fully adjustable Showa shock absorber. A strategic feature of the rear suspension linkage is the possibility of adjusting ride height without altering spring preload or any other suspension setting.

Rear Swingarm – The dual construction technique used for the single-sided swingarm sees the main operational components use individual aluminium castings so as to ensure strength around the pivot points, wheel hub and suspension links, with fabricated aluminium sections used to complete the construction into a single, beautifully engineered component. The 848 swingarm is colour finished in natural aluminium while both 1198, 1198 S and 1098 R swingarms are in black.

Wheels and Tyres – The 1198 rides on new style 10-spoke wheels finished in a subtle graphite grey.  The 1198, 1198 S and 1098 R models are fitted with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC at 120/70 ZR17 for the front fitment and 190/55 ZR17 for the rear. These tyres provide shoulder areas designed to maximize contact patch area and length and carcass specially designed for stiffness under heavy braking and precision during high speed cornering.

Front Forks – 43mm fully adjustable Showa fork with treated slides.

Monobloc Brakes – Racing-style, radially mounted, high performance Brembo Monobloc brake technology.

SPECIFICATIONS

Chassis

• Frame: Tubular steel Trellis frame in ALS 450
• Wheelbase: 1430 mm / 56.3 in
• Rake: 24,5°
• Front suspension: Showa 43mm with TiO fully adjustable upside-down fork
• Front wheel travel: 127 mm / 5 in
• Front brake: 2 x 330 mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc calipers 4-piston, 2-pad.
• Front wheel: 10-spoke in light alloy 3.50 x 17
• Front tyre: 120/70 ZR 17
• Rear suspension: Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Showa monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm
• Rear wheel travel: 127 mm / 5 in
• Rear brake: 245 mm disc, 2-piston caliper
• Rear wheel: 10-spoke light alloy 6.00 x 17
• Rear tyre: 190/55 ZR 17
• Fuel tank capacity: 15.5 L (of which 4L reserve) / 4.1 US gal (of which 1 US gal reserve)
• Weight: 171 kg / 377 lb
• Seat height: 820 mm / 32.2 in
• Instruments: Digital MotoGP derived unit with displays for: Speedometer, rev counter, lap times, time, air temp, coolant temp, battery voltage, A trips, fuel reserve trip, scheduled maintenance. Warning lights for: Neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, oil
• Warranty: 2 years unlimited mileage
• Body colours (frame/wheels): Rosso (Nero / Grigio) – Bianco perla (Nero / Grigio)
• Versions: Dual seat

Engine

• Type: L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, liquid cooled
• Displacement: 1198.4cc
• Bore x Stroke: 106 x 67.9mm
• Compression Ratio: 12.7:1
• Power: 170hp – 125kw @ 9750rpm
• Torque: 97lb-ft 131.4Nm @ 8000rpm
• Fuel injection: Marelli electronic fuel injection, elliptical throttle bodies
• Exhaust: Lightweight 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and lambda probe. Twin stainless steel mufflers
• Emissions: Euro3

Transmission

• Gearbox: 6 speed
• Ratios: 1st 37/15, 2nd 30/17, 3rd 27/20, 4th 24/22, 5th 23/24, 6th 22/25
• Primary drive: Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.84:1
• Final drive: Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 38
• Clutch: Dry multiplate with hydraulic control

Ducati Superbike Motorcycles
Ducati Superbike 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition
Ducati Superbike 1198 S
Ducati Superbike 1198
Ducati Superbike 1098R
Ducati Superbike 1098S
Ducati Superbike 1098
Ducati Superbike 848

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Cool-Motorcycles reviews Ducati Superbike 1198