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Whatever Happened to the Ducati 1098?

Ducati 1098

Ducati pulled out all the stops in late 2006. The announcement of the new Ducati 1098 model created a stir in the riding community. The success of the 916, arguably Ducati's most beautiful model, inspired the design of a new light sports bike that would grab the attention of fans of Italian design and prestige. Spycams captured images of the new model before the Milan show. It prompted Ducati to issue a press release. Ducati's 1098 was one of Ducati's most expensive new releases. The high price didn't dampen the spirits of enthusiasts. Those of you who have fond memories may wonder whatever happened to the 1098?

The history of the Ducati 1098

The Ducati 1098 was released for sale to the public from 2007 through 2009. According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_1098#:~:text=The%20Ducati%201098%20is%20a, remained%20in%20production%20that%20year.),it was the successor of the 998 model. Three versions of the Ducati 1098 were released. These include the standard 1098, The 1098S, and the 1098R. Gianandrea Fabbro is the design master behind the Ducati 1098. By 2009, the 1098R was the only variant within the line produced. It was sold simultaneously with the new 1198 that became the successor of the line. All versions of the Ducati 1098 were available in a choice of yellow, red, black, or the special edition Tricolore, featuring red, white, and green which represented the colors of the Italian national flag.

Contributions of the Ducati 1098

Ducati 1098 1

Wayback Machine provides an interesting piece of the history of the bike. The new model was extremely light at a dry weight of 381 pounds. Ducati achieved the feat of lightness even though this bike was equipped with a V-twin engine that produced 160 horsepower and 90.4 lb-ft of torque. The torque to weight ratio was the highest of any super sportbike in the world during that era.

Priorities of the Ducati 1098

Performance remained the focus of the engineering and design teams. Ducati insisted that every component down to the small details be pared to bare bones to maximize performance. The goals were to make the bike lighter, faster, and achieve faster lap times. All frivolities were dismissed. If an element was not necessary to achieve the overarching goals, the teams were directed to discard them.

The Ducati 1098: an expensive superbike

Ducati 1098 2

Ducati set the pricing high on this model. The least expensive variant was the standard 1098 Biposto that started at a retail price of $14,995 at dealerships. The S model started at $19,995. The Tricolore in red, white, and green was priced at $24,995 as a special limited edition. A few performance enhancements were added to the latter including a Termignoni performance exhaust system, and other upgrades.

Ducati paraded the Superbike in North-America

Before sales of the Ducati 1098 commenced, the superbike joined exhibitions throughout the world. Ducati formally introduced the new superbike to the North American market in Seattle during its International Motorcycle Show in December of 2006. This preview stirred a lot of excitement.

Racing history

Ducati 1098 3

Scrambler Ducati  highlights the history of the 0198 F08. The 1098 racing variant entered in the Superbike World Championship in its inaugural race in 2008. Troy Bayliss made his last race at age thirty-nine, riding in its first racing season. Bayliss won the race on the 1098-F08. The victory was bittersweet. The motorcycle model served as an introduction for the model and a farewell for the rider. Bayliss left with credit for winning Riders' titles on three generations of Ducati motorcycles. These were the 996R, the 999, and finally, the Ducati 1098. Bayliss signed the tank of the bike after his last race. The Ducati 1098 earned its place in the history books of the brand and the universe of Superbike Moto Racing

What happened to the Ducati 1098?

The last version of the Ducati 1098 rolled off production lines in 2009 in the form of the 1098R, a racing bike. It had served its purpose, and following the pattern of continual evolution, it was time to retire this model and to look to the future.

The Ducati Forum sponsored a lively discussion about the number of 1098s produced during its relatively short run. After a call directly to the Ducatti company, a site member revealed that just 1373 examples of the 1098R were made.

Pros and cons

Ducati 1098 4

The 1098R verified its merit by earning a title for the rider. According to Top Speed, smooth cornering and agility were not up to the level of the Panigale for the Ducati 1098 with 144 horsepower and 77 lb-ft of torque. These claims made it a force to be reckoned with on the track. As with any design, there were a few drawbacks. When riding in town, the seat tended to get hot from the pipes below, and the clutch was heavy. It was simply time for the newcomer to take its place with updates and improvements. To satiate the hunger of 1098 enthusiasts, the Ducati 1198, which succeeded the Ducati 1098, was offered in a Corse Special Edition that carried forward with a nod to its predecessor.

Final thoughts

There was nothing inherently "wrong" with the Ducati 1098. The model had served its usefulness and reached the peak of its cycle. It was time to stand aside for its successor to take the lead. This release from active production in no way diminishes the glory achieved by the bike. It was a member of the Ducati family and a part of the evolutionary process that demands new blood to emerge. It went the way of all important bikes, and that was to take its place in the history of Ducati to allow innovations to lead the brand into the next generation of motorcycles.

Benjamin Smith

Written by Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Smith is one of the managing editors of Moneyinc. Ben's been focusing on the auto and motorcycle sector since 2005. He's written over 1000 articles in the space and continues to learn about it each day. His favorite car is "any Bugatti" and he's a die hard Harley Davidson fan.

Read more posts by Benjamin Smith

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