Hi All, Possibly purchasing a 1098 next week and would like to ask a few questions if I may, I am coming from a K4 GSXR1000 and at 6ft 4" am wondering how the 1098 will be for me compared please? Any other tall riders out there? I had a short test ride last weekend but ended up mostly stuck in traffic around the city centre. (i didn't want to go too far as I don't know the area) The leg room felt pretty similar to my GSXR but the palms of my hands were numb! Any issues to look for on the 1098? Looking at an 08 plate. Thanks! Phil
All Dukes (sports models) are heavy on the wrists, they're very focused bikes you have 2 options really.. ride more and eventually your wrists will become stronger buy aftermarket bar risers Plenty of info on the site and elsewhere regarding the specifics around issues
Thanks Freak, Going to try another test ride on saturday if the weather permits. Love the bike, love the noise etc etc. Possibly worst case scenario would be a set of risers then er and mirror extensions too!
Quite a few have fitted bar risers after googling. Some are swopping standard brackets from left to right and inverting them too! Still be interested to hear from some tall riders please.
Cant help you on the tall issue :tongue: But must say that you need to get the bike on the open road they hate going slow, I cant stand my 999 in the traffic
Yeah thanks MR C, one of my mates has the only ducati in our pack. Its a 749 and he tells me the same.
I'm 6'3" and comfort-wise 1098 is absolutely fine for me. In fact is better than any sportsbike I've ridden before. It may be worth investing in a Ducati Performance or Sargent seat and weighted bar ends. BTW... I'm considering selling mine 1098S so if you're interested PM me and I'll give you all details, photos etc. :smile:
I am 5'11" and went from a GSXR1000 K6 to a 1098. In town, the GSXR is more comfortable because the overall mechanics/controls of the bike are lighter and the engine/wet clutch make it easy. The GSXR never gets hot either, whereas the 1098 will roast your thighs at gas mark 10 within a short while if stuck at traffic lights. Heat management is genuinely the worst and weakest aspect of the Ducati. On the open road, however, the tables turn. For a 200+ mile day on either bike, the 1098 is surprisingly far more comfortable despite having a more aggressive riding position. I put this down to one crucial thing: the tank is narrow allowing your abdominal and lower back muscles to work properly. On the GSXR, your knees are relatively very wide apart, your back muscles do not provide the same support/strength. Legs apart just isn't a natural position for men :wink: I have ridden the 1098 for 300+ miles in a day with absolutely no concentrated aches/pains the following morning. Whenever I did the same on the GSXR, I felt a cripple the next day.
I'm still not really getting the idea of buying a bike that you feel uncomfortable on and then trying to change it into something it's not and never will be. I thought that was the whole idea of a test ride, to find the one that right before you buy. I don't really mean you in particular timberwolf.....just people in general.
Im 6ft 4, no problem for me. The stock seat is a bit slippy so I have a DP Neoprene seat which helps save your wrists. I also fited the DP higher screen otherwise the stock item obsured the clocks. It does take a while to adapt but i tour my 848 no problem. Just done 1300 miles in the Pyrenees without any major pain. Given the tank range it's never long before you get a break for fuel anyway.
+1 on that Anth. That's why I bought the ST3, the test ride confirmed it was comfortable, then the 3 hour ride home, which left me without any aches or pains just made me even more certain I'd made the right choice. As someone who has back issues that was a revelation, I just wanted a cup of coffee and a fag, and I'd have happily got back on and done it again!
Thanks for all the replies. Dont get me wrong, i am not looking for a sofa tourer! I maybe did not explain clear enough, basically i find my K4 quite acceptable as a sportsbike for my height. I have also ridden the pyrenees spoonz(best biking roads I have found to date :smile I managed a quick test ride in the cold and heavy traffic on saturday but that was it. I have owned a daytona 600, ZXR750 and even a KR1S ! I think Freaks answer was spot on and am also encouraged to hear other members at my kind of height getting on with the bike ( i think i probably just wanted reassurance after owning my gixxer from new for the last seven years, and jumping in at the deep end with a ducati which I am unfamiliar with lol) Good reply spareparts, that was the first thing i noticed about the tank and us men spreading our legs lol! Thanks again for all the replies, seems a good helpful bunch on here! Phil
6'2 here, 100kgs. Ive have two 1098s, in between gsxr1000k7's, i would say the ducati is just as comfy, good legroom and the clip ons are quite flat similar to suzuki, i find the r1 a torture rack on the wrists. The tank range on the 1098 always narked me compared to suzuki, the first one dropped gears and stalled, second was perfect. I must admit i think the 848evo is a better bike on reflection, smoother and sharper and probably better on juice. i want something i can do more distance on these days, just got a multistrada 1200s, blimey its exciting and with a full system louder than my 1098s with a 70mm termignoni full system on it.
If you want a comfortable V twin try a KTM RC8, I've had loads of Duke sport bikes but none of them compare in the comfort stakes.
Long story but i also took a new multistrada out on saturday and its the most comfortable bike i have ever ridden Sirich. Great choice for distance stuff. Dealer has an RC8 in the showroom but to be honest, at the side of the 1098, well it just does not do it for me drinky. I hear they have great ergonomics but after many years of riding I think its time for a ducati.
Before I bought the 848 I test rode the RC8R for a couple of hours. It was a great handling bike, and whilst riding it felt comfortable. As soon as I got off it my back was killing me! I got back on my R1 and rode home..........et voila, back ache disappeared. The 848 hasn't given me back ache at all (yet!), though the riding position is far more focused than all the JIL4's I've had. It did make my wrists ache but now I'm used to it I don't get that anymore. :smile: Ps. The finish of the RC8R was nowhere near as good as my Duc. At best they are plasticky.
Phil, in my own experience as a bigger bloke i found the ohlins was bloody brilliant wheras the standard showa shocks had me bouncing out of the seat, it was a noticeable difference. my advice is the 1098 is in a different class to the gsxrs which i respect in a big way, but do try buy from a ducati main dealer and get a ducati approved warranty as they are not as reliable as japanese so best to have some decent warranty backup till you have confirmed its a good one. good luck its a really special bike no doubt about it!
Thanks again guys, The bike I am looking at is from the main dealers and will come with a warranty sirich, thanks for the heads up! I will make my final decision on saturday. Phil
