It looks good on paper, but how does it taste? Excuse us, how does it ride.
As we write this, MCUSA Editorial Director Ken Hutchison is sampling the 2009 Ducati 1198 in Portugal. Hutch is testing the latest Ducati Superbike on the same circuit where Troy Bayliss ended his storied SBK career with a double victory performance on November 2. And while our man Kenny may not circle the new Autodromo do Algarve circuit with the same panache as Bayliss, he does promise to report on the performance capabilities of 1198. For those who missed out
2009 Ducati 1198 Superbike First Look article, here are the 1198 highlights:
New Testastretta Evoluzione Twin
The liquid-cooled L-Twin mill sports a bigger displacement at 1198.4cc with a 106 x 67.9mm bore/stroke. Its 1098 predecessor measured 1099cc with a 104 x 64.7mm bore/stroke. Also increased are the performance numbers, with an extra 10 horsepower and 6.6 lb-ft of torque totaling claimed peek numbers of 170hp at 9750rpm and 97 lb-ft.
Compression ratio has increased to 12.7:1 from 12.5:1. Valves are bigger at 43.5mm intake and 35.5 exhaust (42 and 34mm for 1098), with ‘super-finished’ rocker arms and changed camshaft profiles. Also tweaked are the throttle bodies, with the elliptical shapes increased from 60 to 63.9mm.
Other changes to the 1198 include a revised gearbox, borrowing the internal ratios of the SBK spec ‘R’ model. A new exhaust include an extra lamba sensor (2 total). Ten-spoke wheels replace the five-spoke hoops adorning the 1098 and out back the rear is now attached to a black swingarm.
Keep checking MCUSA for more info on the Ducati 1198.
Weight saving tricks make the 1198 a full four-lbs lighter than the 1098, with a claimed dry weight of 377 lbs. Translated to metric terms, the 171kg weight combines with the 170 hp claim to deliver effectively a 1:1 metric power-to-weight ratio.
Ducati 1198 S
The S version of the 1198 features Ohlins suspension components (Showa units adorn the non-‘S’). The 1198 S also rolls of the lot with the Ducati Traction Control and Ducati Data Analyzer as standard equipment. Different seven-spoke wheels fit the S and are a special bronze color to match the bronze frame. A carbon fiber front fender rounds out the upgraded package, with a four-lb lighter weight at 373 lbs.
Stay tuned for the First Ride report scheduled for December 1st.