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2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride Photo Gallery
Ducati unleashes a beast to the streets, we attempt to tame it in our
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
.
Ducati had us seeing red in Portugal, with its latest Superbike ready to show us what 100cc displacement can offer.
The Ducati 1198 cranks out 170 horsepower, ten more than its 1098 predecessor.
Only two years removed from the arrival of the brilliant 1098, the 1198 is thoroughly redesigned and this is the first opportunity for the press to sample the goods
This year the 1198 connects corners even faster and with less effort than before.
Getting on the gas hard out of the corners is much more manageable for mere mortals thanks to the DTC.
Turning laps with three-time SBK champ Troy Bayliss.
Hutch sizing up Bayliss for an inside pass! No, this is Troy Bayliss letting us play with the big kids - proving what the racing paddock already knows - that the three-time SBK champ is one of the nicest guys to ever turn competitive laps.
The 1198S and 1198 feature 1198.4cc of displacement, up 99cc over last year, and the same 106mm bore and 67.9mm stroke dimensions as the R model.
We’ve long been fans of the way Ducati L-Twins accelerate and as their traits have evolved over the years, so too has our taste for Italian power.
Grab too-much throttle on the exit and the DTC keeps you in check, another highlight for this racing thoroughbred.
Like its predecessor, the 1198 handles well and is quite stable through the corners.
Row through a few gears on Algarve’s smooth surface and you’re hauling serious ass when the brake markers arrive
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
Make no mistake the engine is the soul of the 1198.
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
The 1198S/1198 engines are essentially 1098R engines without the expensive top-shelf internals.
At the heart of this new motorcycle is a stroked version of the Testastretta Evoluzione engine. It revs quicker, makes ten-more horsepower and is lighter and more durable than predecessor
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
The Brembo brakes are superb, offering loads of power without a bunch of initial bite, which can make the front end dive abruptly under hard braking.
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride - Portimao Circuit - Portugal
2009 Ducati 1198 First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198S First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198S First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198S First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198S First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198S First Ride
2009 Ducati 1198S First Ride
Ducati had us seeing red in Portugal, with Motorcycle USA tesing the Italian marque's latest superbike at the new Autodroma Internacional Algarve circuit in Portimao.
The Ducati 1198S cranks out 170 horsepower, ten more than its 1098 predecessor and it's a tad bit lighter as well.
The brakes and suspension combination invite the rider to trail-in deeper than they maybe should but don’t give any reason not to either.
Accelerating out of a turn is one of the easier ways to drop lap times, or get high-sided, depending on how it plays out. The 8-way adjustable DTC system cuts ignition at the first three levels of retardation before cutting fuel as a last resort.
Like its predecessor, the 2009 Ducati 1198S handles well and is quite stable through the corners.
