I covered just over 30,000 hard kilometers on my 899 and loved it, but it had developed an oil leak, was covered in chips and dents and I was becoming tired of the poor brakes and rear shock, especially on track. I didn’t upgrade it because my best friend has a collection of 18 unbelievably good mainly Italian superbikes from 1992 onwards and he likes me to help him exercise them. So while waiting for the V4 to come out I fell totally in love with his Bimota DB7 and was thinking to get one of my own, but my one bike is my only form of transport and I didn’t want to run a DB7 into the ground like I had with my 899. Also Bimota had closed recently (but their website is back up so I don’t know what’s going on) and I was unsure about parts, they are mostly all handmade. Out of all the bikes my friend has, the 748R with no dB killers is the greatest sounding thing I’ve ever heard, especially when you are right behind it and it’s above 6000rpm. It’s ridiculously fast too. When the V4 came out I was as surprised as anyone that I was actually disappointed with it, too many electronics and the sound was SO disappointing compared to RSV4s and the original D16 and I don’t want to have to spend 3k upwards on an exhaust on top of the 30k asking price. Also I want/need a challenge, with a lot of risk and reward. I’m also not keen on VW generally, sorry. The DB7, 748 and the rest taught me about real riding, real danger, real reward, real sound, real torque, real beauty instead of a bike that was designed to be moron proof like a Honda. Launch control? No thanks, let me work on improving my skills please. So I decided my best option was an 1198s, the last of the Bordi engined monsters. My local Ducati dealer found me a beautiful 1198s with full 70mm Termignoni, slipper clutch, lithium battery, brand new Supercorsas and some carbon, with full dealer history and he gave me a 12 month full mechanical guarantee, all for €8800 and he offered me €9500 for my half ruined 899. Why wouldn’t you??? I’ll keep this thing forever if it doesn’t kill me first. I just wondered if anyone here had any important tips on looking after it, or any mods that make it more reliable for daily use that only a long term owner would know. I will collect it early next week and post some photos and videos. Thanks so much!
Get it down to CJS' Dyno to get it mapped. Oh, your in Italy. get it properly set up on a dyno. Then hang on for dear life. I'n my view, the 1198 is the last truly great Ducati. I wish I hadnt sold mine. Ive a 1299S thats getting sold after summer. I'm after a 1098R, thats if Exige has left any crumbs for us back in UK. (Or a 996R, my other ultimate fave). Either will do and I'll keep it forever.
I’ve gone back to a 848 evo in a similar move in terms of wanting the last of the old school. I’m not one of these people that says that electronics are crap etc but I just like the look and feel of the older stuff
The 1198s is a very quick bike, I found it a bit much if I’m honest when I test road one, as it wanted to wheelie everywhere. Lovely ride though, proper old school Ducati presence and beautiful design. Congrats! I love my 996, and don’t plan to ever sell It. Shame about the V4, I was thinking this might be a future addition. But agree that the pleasure of riding is in acquiring the skills.
I knew what I was getting into when I bought my 1299. I do appreciate and like it for what it is, however, I'm so glad I kept my 998,to me,it has all the elements that attracted me to the brand. Congrats on your 1198,good choice.
Best mod??? Get your suspension sorted to your weight. I had a 1098s and spent a lot of time messing with settings,i found once i had softened the suspension it was much more forgiving and better handling on real roads. Also i went for sbs brake pads as they have a softer bite, i found the brembo to vicious in a panic breaking situation.
Agreed. Sorting suspension transforms any bike or car. Next on my list are upgrade the front brake master cylinder (had this on my previous 998S which I should never have sold...) and some Oz racing wheels... again, both will improve handling and that all-important feel of the bike.
I put the 1198s wheels on my base 1198 not only ate they lighter than most after market wheels they look bloody lovely too.
Thanks so much for all your replies. I really can’t wait to get my hands on it! I was definitely going to get the suspension set up, there is a racing team with a workshop near me called Fucile Racing that are great with that. I was also thinking that I might need it remapped because I can’t run it without db killers where I live, the police are on us really bad, I’ll have to see how it starts and runs with them fitted. My dealer is awesome! But he looks after us Ducatisti because he’s all we’ve got really, also he has a great old guy in the workshop who has seen it all and knows the bikes inside out so he’s guaranteed to get repeat business from us. Attached is a photo of us when we all had Panigales, what a noise we made and we ride fast, no wonder the police hate us! I have a few mild videos on YouTube on the channel The Ducati Twins, nothing crazy but it shows what life is like riding here...
I had 1198s with full system, man that thing used to drop my friend out of the bends on his hp4 and on overtaking!! such a powerful bike in the low-mid. kinda miss it but it only works when your riding above 60mph+ Enjoy
You should import one from Italy look at www.moto.it, there are always a few on there... I didn’t get one for the same reasons I didn’t get the DB7 even though I would love one. I hate to go on but my friend has a 996R too, he won’t let me near it though. I think there were only 350 of them sold to the public and it’s the one bike out of his collection that is display purpose only. Apart from the 998R, that’s display only too these days. I will stop now. If it’s any consolation he picked them up years ago before anyone really appreciated them and just thought they were unreliable old money pits.
As a matter of interest, how much "quicker" is it? I ask because when my bike was last serviced I was told I had one fitted, but not by me it wasn't! There is about a third of a turn from fully closed to fully open. Thanks
Around that, maybe a 1/4 turn.... It feels about half the movement of a standard one. I really recommend it now I've adjusted to it
