DUCATI 1098S 2007-2011, £7000-£8500
Power: 160bhp Weight: 173kg (dry) Seat height: 840mm
After the dark age era of the 999, Ducati were determined to make the 1098 a showstopper. They did this with the introduction of the all-new Testastretta 1099cc V-twin powerhouse replacing the outdated Desmoquattro motor that had played its part as the firm's flagship motor since the introduction of the 851 in 1988.
The Evoluzione motor was a ground-up new engine that was designed for mass production and Ducati made it far more cost-effective to build. It was the first time the company looked at a motor and thought ‘how can we produce this motor and make money on it' rather than ‘let's just build a great engine.' The Ducati 1098's Testastretta Evoluzione was the most powerful production V-twin motorcycle engine ever built at launch, making 160bhp and
92lb.ft of torque at 8000rpm.
The 1098 works beautifully and feels instantly familiar. Stopping and tipping it into corners becomes easy and makes chasing the apex a delight. Although overshadowed by the 916 and rendered obsolete by its Panigale successor, the interim 1098 remains a classic (if not definitive) Ducati superbike.
BUYING ONE
The motor is very robust if serviced correctly, but the chassis is another story. The swingarm collects water on early models and can cause the lower shock mounting to rust. Later models have a modified swingarm with a drain hole, but always check this area.
The fuel pump and ignition relays can be a problem, and mechanics recommend you swap them at every service as they only cost a few quid each. Other than these fairly minor irritations, the 1098 is very solid.
‘I love mine!’
“The handling is sublime, it pulls like a train and you've got to be careful or the front is in the air. It's not a bike I'd like to, or ever will, take touring and the V-twin rattles a bit, but I love it.”