2008 Ducati 1098 Comparo Photo Gallery

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V - Wallpaper

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

Superbike Smackdown V - Wallpaper

The core testing facility for Superbike Smackdown V was Spring Mountain Motorsports Park in Pahrump, NV.

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

The Ducati 1098 allows the rider to carry insane speeds and lean angles into the turns.

The Ducati 1098 allows the rider to carry insane speeds and lean angles into the turns.

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

It may not have the hp performance numbers to brag about, but the torque-heavy Ducati delivers stomping power to the rear wheel.

Across the board, the Ducati is regularly the third-fastest bike among our field of test riders.

A racing marque, Ducati makes no excuses for making a track-biased superbike.

Slice and dice. The Ducati 1098 is the lightest bike in our test and a nimble handler.

Another wheelie pic? But of course!

Torque figures from the 1098, the highest in Smackdown history, are put to good use.

Rejoice Twin junkies! The Ducati may not be tops in our Smackdown, but if you want torque out the ying-yang and a racetrack weapon - the sexy 1098 is your baby.

With its Brembo Monobloc calipers and massive 330mm rotors, the 1098 has got the goods and the score sheets reflect it.

A smooth throttle dials in the juice from a pair of massive elliptical throttle bodies without any disruptions or abrupt response.

It's crazy to know that you can get two 1098s for the price of one 999R. What was previously the most gnarly Twin-cylinder superbike ever made is barely a match for the base model of the latest incarnation.

Justin Filice: The Ducati 1098 is an excellent handling motorcycle, it's very stable, has a great set of brakes and has good torque through the revs. It just doesn't have the top end that the In-line Fours do.

It's not often that a motorcycle comes along and changes the fate of an entire company, but that's exactly what happened after the Ducati 1098 materialized on designer Giandrea Fabbro's monitor.

The 1098 has the power and torque that make it a blast to ride and the stable chassis is equally sweet, so as long as you are actually moving forward and concentrating on why riding is so much fun rather than why you are strapped to this torture rack, you'll be OK. Send in the gimp!

0-100 Acceleration Results - Superbike Smackdown V - Wallpaper

The lonesome Twin in our Smackdown, the Ducati 1098 sounds and feels like nothing else.

Torque - Superbike Smackdown V - Wallpaper

Quarter Mile Results - Superbike Smackdown V - Wallpaper

Horsepower - Superbike Smackdown V - Wallpaper

The Ducati 1098 features key performance pieces derived from Ducati's recent racing effort, but is it enough to tip the balance of power in favor of the Italian Twin?

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V

2008 Ducati 1098 - Superbike Smackdown V