So, absolutely love my 996. Dream bike for me for nearly 2 decades and always makes me smile. Love her to bits. But. Now I came by a 999, WOW, what a step forward! Just a great bike and want to ride her all the time. So, been thinking, if the 999 is so much better than the 996, how good is then10/1198?????
1098R = :Woot: :Happy: :thumbsup: Riding it for a day, and that's my full range of emotions covered right there.
Cool, that's the R though so a really special bike. Would love to know how a normal one stacks up to. I'm kinda wondering if bikes went to far at some point. I've seen a post where someone was asking about diming their display at night the other day. I'm still getting used to my first bike with a clock. Just spent to many hours fixing a neutral light, which I could easily do without and my 999 engine light comes on occasionally because it likes to complain if it's sitting still like a 4yr old child so now I'm spending hours fixing that, would not happen with an old analogue Speedo. New race type bikes just seem to small to me as well. I think the Panni would look silly under me as I'm 6'2" and I'd miss the dry clutch and I like an underseat exhaust. Maybe I'd change my mind if I could afford one. Buying the 999 made me realise why people chop and change their bikes so much but almost all I've spoken to with a 996 type regret selling. Would they have been happier long-term just sticking with a 996 is what I'm asking myself.
I went from a 749 to a 1098SF to an 1198S. The 1198s blows my socks off every ride, and not just because of the brutal amount of power. More the handling and lack of weight, it is like riding a mountain bike with an engine. I find the 749 quite heavy now. I also find it incredibly comfortable. However, when i open my garage and see my black 749 i do get a semi, don't really get that with the 1198.
I have a 1098 base. It is about as good a sportsbike I can get to suit my 6ft 4" frame. I have the race seat on it which gives an extra inch or so for the leg room. I sat on my friends panigale 899 last year when he got it and it felt like a mini moto size wise, no good for me. The bike is around 160bhp stock I believe but has Zard cans and a k&n filter so may be a little more. It is quick enough for sure so god knows what the R is like!
I go out of my way to ride as many bikes as I can get rides on and the progression between years is amazing. Last weekend I test rode a mates new 1199R ( as I'd really like to buy it but struggling to find the cash unfortunately) and it's a completely different animal in geometry and power to my 1199S which is only 18mths old. One surprising thing I've really noticed is that my Panigale feels a little longer and comfy than other modern bikes such as the S1000RR and RSV4, and it's only the latest versions where the geometry seems to have changed making them feel as small as the other bikes; the 1199R and presumably the 1299 as well which I'm getting to play with at Silverstone next week. As a result my Pani is more stable at high speeds and comfy for tall people on the road but it's not quite as sharp turning as the other bikes.
My 1st Ducati was a 916 with approx. 110BHP. I remember using full throttle on it many times and sometimes wanting more. Friend's Fireblades at the time were quicker, but I loved that bike. I've had a 996 and a 1098S before the current 1098R. (I've never owned a 749 / 999) The 1098R is brutal and I never feel like it could do with more. It has over 190BHP at the rear wheel and is an animal. But aside from the power, the handling and quality have jumped to another level too.
I'm convinced that the riding position on my 1098R is actually smaller than my 748R. The 1098R has the most brutal power delivery of any bike I've ever ridden and handles like a 600 which puts a huge smile on my face but it will not take place of the 748R which still is and always will be my dream bike. Andy
my 1198 is nuts! i love it, so much better than my 748/853 sps, and didnt cost me as much either i could just look at all day without riding it.
Just my 10 pence worth, I was a Ducati virgin when I bought my 1198 (base model) a few months back... Had always had a keen interest in Ducati's Superbikes and promised myself I would own such a machine when I was at school. Last week I had my 1198 in at Moto Italia for Desmo and Valve Clearances to be done along with a few other bits and pieces. Got a lovely 1299S as a courtesy bike for the full day and part of the following morning Within half a mile of leaving the dealership I was immensely impressed with the Pani and how easy it was to ride! A few miles further into the ride I was out in the countryside and had the opportunity to open it up properly, again I was staggered at how easy it was to ride quickly. Around half an hour in the initial comfort I had experienced started fading away and my knee's were feeling the slightly more cramped riding position. Whilst I had the Pani I covered around 200 miles on a wide variety of roads... The following morning when pulling up at Moto Italia I felt like the 1299 had made a lasting impression on me and had been placed on the 'to own' list... Following settling up with Terry, handing the Pani keys back to John it was time for a coffee where inevitably the conversation turned to 'so how did you find the 1299S??'... Having offered up my thoughts and opinions on the experience I was quite surprised to hear both John and Terry agree with me when I stated it was a fine motorcycle, but it felt a bit soft for my liking! The common feeling within the dealership seems to be that the 1198 is the most outrageous bike Ducati ever have and ever will produce! 25yrs worth of R&D brought together and perfected in what will more than likely be last Ducati available without all of the 'Electronic Interference Package' I hadn't really though of the 1198 in this way myself but can see where both Terry and John were coming from with this view. I can also agree with the comments surrounding the bike being an animal that commands respect, unless you want spitting off in to the ditch with your hair on fire that is!! During the ride home, I was glad to be back on the 1198 again and loved the slightly analogue feeling it has following having a good blast on the 1299S... The 1198 felt wonderful to ride again which I had previously feared may not be the case after having a taste of the latest machine, the only time I though of the Pani on the way home was when I pulled up at the lights and heard the dry clutch rattle which I missed when on the Pani. I suppose the best way I can summarise the outcome from this would be - I would most certainly pull the trigger on a Pani in the future, but only as a stable mate for the 1198 and certainly not a replacement for it!!!
I've owned a 748, a 848 EVO and now I have the 899, and while I had my 848 Evo I rode it back to back with a 1199S. I have to say that the 899 is the easiest to ride, the 848 had a really comfy seat position for 6ft people but the bars were a long way away, the 748/996 has the bar positioning somewhere between 848/1098 and 899 (Where they are the closest in my opinion). the measure of the bike must be how it makes you feel, the 899 is great to live with and I really like riding it but the 848 on the perfect day, on the perfect stretch of smooth fast road created some moments where the hairs on the arms stood up and I was laughing out loud at the way the bike would just dig in. I have loved them all for different reasons but the 899 is the only one I have actually been able to get on with and ride to work etc and do all those things I need my 1 bike to do. I really want to ride a 999/749, I really think it would give me a feel for Ducati's thinking through the model years.
See, I don't commute, I work from home so it is purely a play thing. To me from what you said the 848 would be better for me.
The worst thing about the 848 without doubt mate is the standard suspension, it's WAY too hard on the back and a bit harsh at the front. iF
Cream, I think if you have a go on one you will be smitten. Certainly the 1198, I would imagine the 848 and 1098 too as I haven't ridden those. Try and get a test ride with a local dealer who has one on a trade in.
