WSBK champ Troy Bayliss says the 2008 1098R is the best racebike he's ever ridden!
What motorcycle enthusiast wouldn’t want to have a go on World Superbikes champ Troy Bayliss’ Ducati 1098R? Bayliss, who has among other things ridden a 990cc Ducati MotoGP bike to victory in Valencia in 2006, says it’s the 1098R that’s the best racebike he’s ever ridden, and that’s saying a lot.
The guys at Motociclismo recently had the opportunity to ride Bayliss’ 1098R at the Algarve circuit in Portugal. Here are some excerpts from what they had to say about the bike:
Once you get aboard the bike, it feels no different from the standard 1098 – this could be any 1098R, ready to roll on the street, albeit one with a hugely expensive Öhlins fork that costs many thousands of euros, and Brembos that offer extreme braking. But what’s really different with Bayliss’ bike is the electronics, which make the racebike’s brutal 200+bhp controllable.
Power delivery, especially when exiting slow bends, is smooth and consistent, and traction remains constant, reducing the intimidation factor for those riding the bike for the first time. And yet, when you open that throttle fully, the power seems to have no end – the bike wants to wheelie even in fifth gear, at speeds of more than 220km/h...
With more than 200bhp at the rear wheel, the only way this Ducati 1098R stays controllable is via expensive electronics, including its very sophisticated traction control system. It’s also a big psychological factor – knowing that that electronic safety net is there – and it allows the rider to open the throttle that little bit earlier, and take the bike to its absolute limit every time.
On the track, the bike feels supremely stable and secure. It may not be as agile as some of the Japanese WSBK racers, but the Ducati 1098R’s stability in fast corners is simply unbelievable.
Crashing the bike is not an option and we couldn’t take the bike to the outer reaches of its – and our – limits for obvious reasons, but really, Bayliss’ 1098R is like a dream to ride. Sure, there’ll be the 1198S next year, but for now, the 1098R is the best Ducati ever…!
For the full story, visit Motociclismo here
Troy Bayliss’ 2008 Ducati 1098R specs:
Engine: 1,099cc, 8-valve, liquid-cooled, L-twin
Fuel injection: Magneti Marelli
Power: 200bhp+
Gearbox: Six-speed
Chassis: Tubular trellis-type, with single-side aluminium swingarm
Suspension: 43mm USD Öhlins fork with 120mm travel, Öhlins monoshock with 127mm travel, both ends fully adjustable
Brakes: Twin 330mm discs with Brembo Monoblock callipers (front), single 245mm disc with twin-piston callipers (rear)
Wheels and Tyres: 17-inch wheels, 120/70 (front), 190/55 (rear)
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