Is the 1098 more fun?

This is a question I have been asking myself for the last few rides on my 1199. I had a 1098 with the Ducati quick throttle, slipper clutch and Leo Vince system prior to buying the 1199, and had the 1098 for 5 years. Loved the 1098 but fancied the latest Ducati being a total Ducati fan so put my deposit down about 18 months before it was due for delivery and had one of the first 1199's on the road.

It now has just over 1300 miles on it and I am not convinced that the 1098 isnt a better bike! The 1098 had loads of proper old school v-twin character and thats was I love about Ducatis. It had real low down punch and surge of torque that meant on the road you just short shifted through the box with the big booming sound track.

The 1199 isnt quite the same, it needs revs and doesnt have that low down kick. It also isnt as comfortable, for me, as the 1199 is much heavier on the wrists than the 1098 and regardless of throttle mode it hasnt got the same feel through the throttle as the 1098. I think it might be that the throttle needs a little more weight to it. Or it could be the "race" seat that I have fitted putting me a little taller than I was before.

I think I need to play with the suspension, for the badly surfaced roads in the south east of England the suspension in Sport is a little too harsh. Probably needs a couple of clicks taken off the compression damping to make it a little better.

I also think the gearing needs dropped, one tooth off the front sprocket should do it. The 1199 is the first bike that I actively need to use 1st gear on, anything up to around 25 mph needs first whereas the 1098 just immediately short shifted into 2nd.

I think the bike needs a few more miles, and needs a couple of tweaks here and there but as things stand I am starting to have rose tinted images of the 1098 which unfortunately was sold a couple of months before the 1199 arrived.

Perhaps the perfect bike for the road is the 1199 with the 1098 engine? Or perhaps I am just an old school V Twin fan that needs to realise the world has moved on.

Am I alone?

Well if true that would sux. I sold my 1098 a few years ago because of many reasons that you seem to like over the 1199 (which I don't have yet). I find I was riding too, on top of the 1098, it was rough to ride in traffic, at 6'1 I was always feeling I was over the handlebars. Too much front end diving under braking. Bad mirrors, stalling etc. I went with a 1000gsxr and a Hayabusa after that and a Repsol and they are cool but no character like a Ducati

The character of liter bikes has been changing over the past 5 years or so. In the pursuit of peak horsepower redlines keep going up. Remember an engine is basically an air pump and the more air you get to go through the pump, the more power you get. The by product is power also moves up higher in the rev range. Try riding a modern inline 4 literbike with a 14000 rpm redline. As redlines rise these increasingly ride like 600cc bikes with a big top end hit.

The 1199 moves the redline up ~1000 rpm from the 1X98 and in return gains about 20 hp and "a loss of torque". It really isn't a loss of torque, it is just the torque comes higher up in the rpm range. The good news as my tuner says "gearing can multiply torque". so if you want your 1199 to produce power like your 1x98, a gearing change should make you happy. If you gear for 1x98 torque, watch out when you hit the powerband and the extra 20 hp.

FWIW, I bought the 1199 because compared to the CBR1000RR and S1000RR which I used to own, I wanted more traditional literbike power characteristics. Compared to these bikes, the 1199 delivers allot more torque, but then again it has a 3000 rpm lower redline.

I raced the 1098 and 1198 in full race trim and they where very difficult to ride, it was hard to put down a fast lap on tracks with any sharp turns. Even after sorting all the geometry and suspension issues. The problem was TOO MUCH torque down low, you had to short shift the bike and hang on for dear life trying to keep the front end down and accelerate...

That being said, it is much easier to go MUCH faster on the 1199 because the power is more balanced, not to mention Ducati has addressed most geometry issues.

So if you want a fun street bike you are probably right, not sure why someone would want one of these for the street altogether. but if your desire is to do track days or race this panigale is MUCH MUCH better.

"not sure why someone would want one of these for the street.."
I think its a safe beat that most will not take it on the track. I would think there is a balance somewhere between riding a Harley and a race track only bike.

If it rides and sits worse then a 1098, I may reconsider.

Pani bars are higher and closer with the standard seat, but the DP race and comfort seats are much thicker. That means the bars would be lower relative to the seat than a std XX98 and the seat height a good bit higher, thus negating (& then some) the ergo improvements they made for the bike. Not sure what they were thinking there...

Coming from the Truimph Daytona as a mixed road and track bike, I don't have any issue with the ergos, in fact they're a little less extreme than the Daytona.
However, I might steer clear of the race/comfort seats if they're much thicker, maybe a re-cover of the original seat. As for it being heavy on the wrists, there are two cures - grip with your knees and use your stomach muscles more (free workout and you'll be able to steer better) or go faster, much faster, so the wind props you up

Never ridden the 1x98 and so I'm not a torque addict, the 1199 fits right in my sweet spot as the superquadro isn't far off the delivery of the 600 triples, which I love. It just comes with BIG top end hit.

Yeah, I guess what I was saying is not a great commuter for a number of reasons, back roads and track days. But ergos are quite good for a Ducati.

BTW, I am with Team Latus Motors Racing, and Jason got second again yesterday at Miller on our triumph Great Bike! That damn Cardenas on his Suzuki... I tryed contacting Tonya Harding to see if she could help out with this situation but she has not returned my call yet.

DesiDude said:

.... Or it could be the "race" seat that I have fitted putting me a little taller than I was before.

I think I need to play with the suspension, for the badly surfaced roads in the south east of England the suspension in Sport is a little too harsh. Probably needs a couple of clicks taken off the compression damping to make it a little better.

Click to expand...

There you have it: Set up the suspension for you and dump the silly "Race" seat, that no one will ever use to race with, learn to rev it and I'm sure, like me, you will appreciate how much better the 1199 puts down the power compared to the 1X98.

The 1199 is much easier to ride fast than my 1198 was.

Well look at it this way, if you REALLY dislike the bike that much, it wouldn't be hard to get rid of at pretty much the same price as you bought it with such a high demand market for the 1199 right now! Then you can get a 1098 or 1198. You could even go all out and get an R or an SP in some cases.

I was pleased 2 see this thread today.... I have a 1199 on order but we have just had a big bill fixing the roof on the house.

I can still stretch to get the 1199 but the wife said can i look at cheaper options...

So I took a 2012 - 848 Evo out but found it vibrated heaps.. apparently you can change the front tooth and it stops that. But I wonder how much.

Also I took out a 2007 - 1098s Tricolore out - 11,000 KM's, That seemed very smooth and fun.

What are the thoughts on these two bikes, my plan is to own it for a couple of years and then go for the new version of the 1199.

Cheers for any advise, im getting sleepless nights!!!

BTW, both of these bikes are the same price.

So I loved my 1098 like no bodys business as well. The torque was awesome. However that being said. I pull up to a light and street race a simple GSXR 1000 and yank on the throttle at green and the bike wants to stand up where the gixxer builds up slowly and takes off futher down the rd. If I didn't gage my take off perfect this was a problem. I am changing my front procket one tooth to change the takeoff for the 1199 and it should be the perfect combination.

times are changing and Ducati Engineers can not compete in the HP wars with s1000rr and zx10r if they did build the superquaddro engine. I test rode the Panigale and it is true that the 1098/1198 will trump it in the lower rev range but come 7,000rpm, the Panigale is way much faster and when the Panigale hits the 10,000rpm mark, it is just plain crazy!!

When I watched the FIM superstock. a year ago, I hate to see long straits in the track because this is where the zx10r and the s1000rr catches up with the 1098r and sometimes even overtake the beloved 1098 but this does not happen in this seasons superstock. the Panigale accelerates just as fast as the zx10r and s1000rr in the straits. Currently panigale is the number 1 bike in FIM superstock with 53 points, followed by bmw with 50, then another Panigale with 48 pts.

About the ergonomics, first of all, Ducati superbikes are not built as daily commuters. I can see that you Ride a Multi Strada and imho, that bike is a fantastic commuter bike. SO just ride the Multistrada when you have to ride around town.

One of the selling points of the Panigale is it is more "comfortable" than the 1098/1198, It is true. but it is still not as comfy as a standard bike like your Multi, or the monster or the Diavel.

Now if you do not see the Panigale as fun as th 1098, you may have valid points but you can not deny that the 1199 has advantages over the 1098 too. Such as it is lighter, it has 20+hp more, better electronics, and according to Troy Bayliss, Faster Lap times.

Just a case of getting used to it, and realising it isn't like a traditional thumping v twin. Don't get me wrong, I love the bike and it handles much better than the 1098, it's just that the power delivery is so different I thought I would challenge that whilst it is undoubtly faster is it actually more fun...

Spoke to dealer today about changing the gearing. Seems I am the first to suggest to them that the front sprocket might do with a tooth off it. They are going to look into it and see if Ducati recommend anything. Apparently changing the gearing will mess with the traction control and electronics. In what way or to what extent I am not sure, I suppose its a case of try it and see.

As a former 1098Tri & 1198 owner and current MV rider, I really appreciate the honest responses. I don't feel the need to change so soon - which is fine since the 1199's in such high demand right now.

I joined this forum in November '11 with anticipation of buying a new 1199. For me this was big deal as I never buy new vehicles due to the loss of value as soon as it leaves the lot.

After much research, I bought the 1098R for the same price as a 1199S. I love the bike, it runs perfectly, titanium vales, sand cast ect. The bike is as light as the 1199, has a better powerband than the 1199, meaning a flat torque curve, and the only reason the 1199 has a higher HP rating is it rev's higher than the 1098R. Unless, you ride at redline the 1199 will feel underpowered.

Ergonomically, 1098R is more comfortable than my S4RS Monster and feels much safer at speed. With that said, you have to ride the 1098R with very light hands similar to riding a Thoroughbred. With light hands the bike is super stable and very fast - you can not muscle through curves, if you do be prepared to be punished.

The 1199 is the most beautiful bike Ducati has ever made but I think the 1098R/1198R is the best bike Ducati has ever made.

I think more than a few will agree that the 1098 might be more fun. I think (don't have my bike yet) that for myself, having grown up on Japanese 600s, I'll prefer the 1199 powerband that's a slightly softer in the middle. My 1198 put the fear of god in me with it's powerband while leaned over. It was fun under certain conditions and I loved it to be sure, but I really missed being able roll on the throttle comfortably on my 600s at lean. Plus turn transitions I felt were heavy on the 1198, and the 1199 has corrected this to some degree from what I've read on here. I'm really looking to my first ride on the 1199.

Definitely the 1098/1198 is an excellent bike, It won its debut race way back in 2007 and it has several wsbk championship trophies. But think of it this way, the 1199 is currently in demand and trying to find stock for the bike is as hard as finding a virgin in a strip club. If you want an 1098/1198, all you have to do is go to the dealers and you can get a good deal right away.

now if the 1199 get's this years FIM superstock trophy , then it's credentials as a race bike will increase dramatically. If it wins next years WSBK, that will be awesome!!

Tricolore said:

I joined this forum in November '11 with anticipation of buying a new 1199. For me this was big deal as I never buy new vehicles due to the loss of value as soon as it leaves the lot.

After much research, I bought the 1098R for the same price as a 1199S. I love the bike, it runs perfectly, titanium vales, sand cast ect. The bike is as light as the 1199, has a better powerband than the 1199, meaning a flat torque curve, and the only reason the 1199 has a higher HP rating is it rev's higher than the 1098R. Unless, you ride at redline the 1199 will feel underpowered.

Ergonomically, 1098R is more comfortable than my S4RS Monster and feels much safer at speed. With that said, you have to ride the 1098R with very light hands similar to riding a Thoroughbred. With light hands the bike is super stable and very fast - you can not muscle through curves, if you do be prepared to be punished.

The 1199 is the most beautiful bike Ducati has ever made but I think the 1098R/1198R is the best bike Ducati has ever made.

Click to expand...

I went the same route,.....ordered the 1199 and then bailed out when a tricked up 1098r bayliss came up at the same money,....

Funilly enough,the guy that I bought the bike off,...has bought an 1199s and said he regreted selling the bayliss,...in his words,..he missed the bottom end and the mid range grunt of the 1098r,...about the same top end he said,...but the bike has the corse cam kit in it.

Panigale vs 1198

It seems to me that the panigale gets beat by 1198 on the straights at will on all the videos on YouTube.I'm thinking Ducati knows they gruff up with the panigale