Ducati SUPERBIKE reviews

All is well when we talk in line 4 cylinder in Moto GP category, shame comes in when all you offer to real people is V twin torque. Gigi , use your gift to lead us all, not to misslead us all ! I am in the matrket for $ 30 000 super bike !!! What do you want me to get , V twin ? Happy holidays you all Show less

Had a 749s 2 years ago, and managed to convince the wife that I was missing something from my life! Welcome the Father's day present, the 848. Whilst the 749 had termi's, the standard 848 pipes do sound rather nice. Yes there is heat from under the seat (noticed with around town stop/start riding), open road no problem. Again the ridng position won't suit a lot of people, however it is comfort vs smile on the face performance that wins out! Fantastic Bike! Show less

I've been riding for many years and always admired Ducatis from afar. In 2006, I finally got one- an ST3s. I could go on and on about how wonderful that bike is, but I had always wanted a flat-out, no-compromises superbike. Not to replace the ST3s, but as an alternate for the street and track. I took the plunge in August 2009 with an 1198. All the glowing reviews are right: it is simply awesome! Let me explain the difference in more human terms: All the bikes before my first Ducati were nice girlfriends. Some better than others, all satisfying in their own way, but no feeling worth a long-term commitment. The ST3s, on the other hand, is that once-in-a-lifetime, love-at-first-ride soulmate. Think beautiful Italian woman in a perfect, low-cut, evening gown. Sexy, classy, and strong. Gina Lollobrigida or Claudia Cardinale at her very best. The 1198? Angelina Jolie in tight black leather. Got the idea? Show less

First I want to say this bike is awesome, I love nearly everything about it after my mods other than the fuel tank size. Most of my riding is longer 200-300 mile rides that are not in the city so my bike opinions and mods all reflect that. As a stock bike four issues I had were: 1 Suspension was rock hard and needed to be re-sprung or completely reworked for my weight and riding style. 2 Seat was not good for anything over an hour. I was ok up until that point but wasn't comfortable afterward. 3 I can't believe how bad the mirrors are! Horrible stock mirrors even with the extenders on which allow you to see past your elbows. 4 Gas tank size! I mean what the heck, after your low fuel light comes on it takes 2.5 gallons and if you run it dry it will maybe take 3.6 gallons. If ridden the way it was meant to that means you're empty at 100 miles which may be fine 90% of the time but can cause issues. I'd like a bit more but haven't done anything yet. Probably will go with a 5.62 gallon ETI fuel cell but I don't know yet. Suspension was easily remedied and gave me a chance to tear it down and see how well this bike is engineered (better than I would have guessed). The rear wheel removal is shockingly easy with the single sided swing arm. One clip with bolt and it is off. Remove the rear & mid sections of exhaust and the rearsets and you can drop a new shock in without issue. Forks were equally as easy to remove/replace once you get the many fairing bolts pulled to remove the fairings. One issue is the number of fasteners, in short there are LOTS. The seat took some time as I first bought a Sargent which have always been good in the past. I really didn't care for it as the side edges are not comfortable for aggressive riding although long term comfort was good. The Ducati Performance neoprene race seat is better. No edges and comfort is better than stock and you don't slide into the tank with this one. I can do 4 hours on it and my butt feels fine. A few of the mods I did improved the overall fit and function. The adjustable clipons added a bit of comfort and the progressive throttle tube with roller bearing movement makes off/on throttle transitions much smoother. The taller windscreen makes a big difference in fatigue level for longer periods at highway+ speeds. The CRG mirrors allow you to actually see behind you, Great! The Termi exhaust is uncorked and sounds awesome and may help with throttle response although I never rode the bike with stock ECU and cans as I had them pulled before I took it home. The carbon stuff is mostly just because I like it. Overall, This bike is light and I mean really light. With a full tank of fuel this bike is under 430 pounds. That is around 45 pounds lighter than the new R1 WOW! You can tell it's light when you ride it, really good stuff. It's also a narrow bike which I LOVE. Compared to my 07 CBR1000rr it's a dream and I think it may even have more seat to rearset room. The bikes flickability is a bit heavy stock but is better with the suspension changes and gets through twisties just fine with faster transitions. Brakes are outstanding and I wouldn't change a thing. Brembo Monoblocks, good job. Braided steel lines, good job. Brembo master cylinders, good job. The engine is awesome with torque galore and good top end punch. It power wheelies effortlessly and is super easy to control. Add the beautiful sound of the Italian L-twin and HOHA, it's a dream. Revlimiter is hard On a side note, women love this bike. When stopped for one of your many fuel stops during a ride don't be surprised when the most attractive young women around flock to your bike and ask you all kinds of leading question. It's true, so be ready. What else to say? I love it and plan on keeping it for a long time to come. Show less

This bike is addictive on open roads and in the country. If you are running around town in traffic, it sucks. Needless to say, it is a piece of art and everyone takes a picture with their phone camera if they know anything about exotic bikes. I can't own an F1 car or an expesive Ferrari, but it you look around, you can own a world class racing bike that delivers the goods. It's the damn speed limit that really kills the fun on this type of bike. Oh well, style counts for something. Show less

I just took delivery of my 1098 Tricolore after what can only be described as a gut wrenching sleepless 6 months of waiting and crossing off each day of the calendar. My previous ride was an 06 1000 DS and I enjoyed that so much that anything better would be a dream come true. I wasn't wrong This bike is way more comfortable to ride, the power is awesome, and although I don't get the supplied Termis fitted for another couple of hundred kms, the standard cans sound very sweet indeed. The data analyzer and the instrument panel also give hours of fun with all sorts of bells and whistles. As for the look of the bike, my own was the first I have seen in the flesh and let me tell you, there isn't a picture in the world that does it justice. The entire paint work has a fantastic luster and the insignia white flash (looks light grey against white) on the fairing brings out the pure brilliant white in a way that only a true artist would dare to attempt. Riding this machine fills you with confidence because you know it stops as well as it goes. Unlike some others that have purchased 1098 models, I have had no teething problems nor has it stalled on me. It has been better than perfect from day one. An expensive ride sure, but worth every penny. Also, on this model the dry clutch lever doesn't give you a huge left bicep and the data acquisition erase feature lets you scrub the computer. When you ride this toy you know you're on a bike and not just a screaming bumble bee. Show less

First off, I have the 2006 model in black. I'm at a loss of what to say about the bike that hasn't already been said, so I'll tell you about a couple of my experiences so far owning and riding it. I usually get at least 1 of 3 questions every time I stop somewhere to hang out while out riding..1) How much was it? 2) How fast is it? and 3) What kind of bike is it? I've on mulitple occasions been stopped and asked if a picture of my bike can be taken, even once while at a red light and a guy using his cell phone camera. I recently told my wife that I wish I had a hidden cam attached to my helmet so she could see the looks I get while on my bike. Is it the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden? Of course not, and I didn't expect it to be. Is it the best handling bike I've I ever had, absolutely! The most fun to ride, affirmative! The cheapest to buy and maintain, duh? Of course not. The bottom line is if you can get one of these Italian masterpieces to call your own, then by all means do so. It's not a coincidence that the vast majority of reviews you read about this bike, or other Ducati superbikes for that matter, are all the same. I'm just thankful that I've been blessed with the good fortune to be able to have one best superbikes ever made. Show less

The new Ducati 1098 S Tricolore is awesome! I also own a '07 CBR1000RR Repsol, 06 YZF R1 LE #301 & '05 919. This is my first twin and first Italian. After a couple minor hiccups the first day; low battery, loose fairing screws & two stalls; the subsequent 750 miles has been flawless. I've ridden 750cc & 1000cc sport bikes for 30 years, racing 750cc Superbikes in AMA, WERA & CCS 10 of those years, back in the day. Nothing compares to the sensuous experience of riding the Ducati 1098 S Tricolore. The looks, the feel, the sound and the way this machine talks to and encompasses the rider is nothing more than sensuous. The analogy that best compares the toys in the garage is the oriental stable mates are like a Corvette; fast, strong, velvety smooth power and refinement. The 1098 S Tricolore is more like a Lambo or Ferrari, delivering similar performance but with pure brute force and bravado! Viva la Italiano! Show less

I recently took delivery of a 1098S. Here are my thoughts regarding the bike. The 1098S is beautiful to behold in photos, but even more stunning in person. On looks alone, this bike is fantastic. However, any Ducati worth its' salt is not only drop dead sexy, but has the performance that the Ducatisti have come to expect and at this point demand from their bikes. Top end pull on this Italian wonder is amazing. This is my first Superbike, however, is my 6th motorcycle. For performance and fun, nothing I have owned can even touch it. It corners on rails pulls like a cheetah on steroids and sounds absolutely awesome with the full Termi kit. For a full aggressive sportbike, the riding position for me is just right. I can ride for several hours with a big grin. The bike has just been broken in and as with any Ducati gets better and better as it is ridden. This bike is a real treat to ride. Have not had any issues with it. Show less

What else can I say? Truly exotic and gets looks everytime all the time. I find myself just staring at it after every ride and would wake up in the middle of the night just to stare at it again. Is that silly or what? No - that's a Ducati! The Italians really knows how to look sexy. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Maserati, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianni Versace and so on. They all have sex appeal but/and I haven't even talked about the performance of my bike yet. The 749/999 has this distinctive sound when in idle and when it revs. The dry clutch is a thing of beauty. You'll know it's a Duc when it passes by. I have read magazine articles where older Ducs when tested/pitted against more powerful Jap Superbikes with the expert riders/testers scratching their heads and wonder why this less powerful bike clocks faster lap times than the more powerful Jap superbikes?! The other bikes when leaned over has a tendency to stand up where Ducs will remain in it's lean angle position all day all night. Truly mysterious but amazing. There is nothing else like it in the world - well except another Duc. I rated comfort as 1 star - the worst. C'mon guys that's the truth. It was primarily designed for speed and not comfort - get a CBR Honda if that's what's important to you. I would not ride my Duc from Cali to Las Vegas(9 hrs.) but I will track the bike all day for 9 hrs. with 15 minute breaks after each hour. Getting old or what? :( Anyway, if you have money saved up for a sportsbike like a Gixxer, Kawi or Yammie R6/R1 - save a little bit more and get a Duc - it's well worth it. Why do I say that? Well check out current rider's on these Jap bikes and how they drool and sweat when they see a Duc pass by. They always talk about upgrading to a Duc someday. Why upgrade - just go straight to the point and get a Duc instead. Show less