Ducati Superbike 1198

Engineered By the Stopwatch

The 1198 is a race bike, pure and simple. It is immediately recognisable for its purposeful, no-nonsense attitude. Performance is first and foremost in every detail.

Trademark Ducati features like the high tail section and compact front end combine with twin under-seat silencers and single-sided swingarm to express the sheer engineering beauty of aerodynamics and agility. Add the 1198 Testastretta Evoluzione engine as the hearts of the machine and the result is all-out performance Ducati Superbikes that look fast even when parked.

The 1198 features fully adjustable 43mm Showa forks, with an additional special low friction titanium oxide treatment applied to the sliders.

The 1198 uses engineering solutions taken directly from the World Championship winning 'R' model of Troy Bayliss. From engine capacity and specification to advanced electronics, many details that helped Troy to the 2008 World Superbike title have been applied to the 2009 road-going 1198. Never before has so much factory rider feedback been put into production.
 

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Power

The Testastretta Evoluzione engine is the crowning glory of Ducati's development and perfection of the L-Twin engine. World Superbike dominance for almost two decades is the result of continual commitment to their twin-cylinder configuration. Ducati now share the reward for that commitment as World Championship-winning technologies flow from the factory race team into production engines.

The incredible 1198 and 1198 S are powered by a liquid cooled, L-Twin, Desmodromic engine that produces 170hp (125kW) @ 9,750rpm and a class-beating 97lb-ft (13.4kgm) of torque @ 8,000rpm.

The 1198 achieves its new capacity by using exactly the same 106x67.9 bore and stroke as the factory race bike. Volumetric efficiency through the four valves per cylinder has been enhanced by increasing the valve diameters approximately 4% to 43.5mm for the inlet and 35.5mm for the exhaust. They are actuated by racing-type rocker arms, 'super-finished' for reduced friction and fatigue, and double overhead camshafts with radical profiles that achieve approximately 10% more lift than their predecessors.

These incredible valve performances are only possible because of Ducati's unique Desmodromic system, where valve closure is activated mechanically. At high rpm it would be almost impossible for the valve to follow the steep closure profile of the cam lobe if it were relying upon a normal valve spring. With the Desmo system, the valve is closed mechanically with the same accuracy as it is opened, enabling steep cam profiles and radical cam timings. This system is used on every single Ducati motorcycle including their world-beating Superbike and Desmosedici MotoGP bikes.

With increased capacity and improved volumetric efficiency, the elliptical throttle bodies have also increased in cross-sectional area by 13.3% compared to the 1098. Now boasting a size equivalent to 63.9mm diameter, the inlet body is exactly the same as the 'R' model.

The race-designed 1198 pistons have a distinctive double-ribbed undercrown to achieve high strength and reduced friction by using minimal piston wall surface area. Using technology developed for the Desmosedici MotoGP project, the design enables reliable operation of the 106mm diameter pistons when performing at high rpm.

The 1198 Testastretta Evoluzione engines are the lightest ever used in Ducati Superbikes, thanks to a new crankcase manufacturing technology which reduces weight by an incredible 3kg (6.5lbs). The vacuum die-cast process ensures consistent and precise wall thickness and increased strength from absolute material purity. The weight-saving cam covers in magnesium-alloy are evident by their gold colour, while the alloy outer clutch and generator covers now sport a black finish.

In line with the increased power and torque output, the 1198 gearbox introduces 'R' model internal ratios. The new gears are machined from the same high-strength steel used in Ducati Corse race applications and are subjected to a shot-peening treatment that further ensures their strength and reduced fatigue.

The 1198 and 1198 S feature a beautiful and efficient exhaust system. Incredibly lightweight, it has been engineered with a power-increasing symmetrical 2-1-2 layout that uses 52mm-57mm diameter tubing with a wall thickness of 0.8mm (.030in). It is equipped with a catalytic converter and two lambda probes for smooth engine mapping and Euro3 conformity. The system terminates with Ducati's trademark twin under-seat silencers, delivering that unmistakable signature sound of the big bore Desmo 90° L-Twin.

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Technical Specifications

Engine

Type	L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, liquid cooled
Displacement	1198.4cc
Bore x Stroke	106 x 67.9mm
Compression Ratio	12.7:1
Power	170hp - 125kw @ 9750rpm
Torque	97lb-ft 131.4Nm @ 8000rpm
Fuel Injection	Marelli electronic fuel injection, elliptical throttle bodies
Exhaust	Lightweight 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and lambda probe. Twin stainless steel mufflers
Emissions	Euro 3

Transmission

Gearbox	6-speed
Ratio	1st 37/15, 2nd 30/17, 3rd 27/20, 4th 24/22,5th 23/24, 6th 22/25
Primary Drive	Straight cut gears, Ratio 1.84:1
Final Drive	Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 38
Clutch	Dry multiplate with hydraulic control

Vehicle

Frame	Tubular steel Trellis frame in ALS 450
Wheelbase	1430mm / 56.3in
Rake	24.5°
Front Suspension	Showa 43mm with TiO fully adjustable upside-down
Front Wheel Travel	127mm / 5in
Front Wheel	10-spoke in light alloy 3.50 x 17
Front Tyre	120/70 ZR17
Rear Suspension	Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Showa monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm
Rear Wheel Travel	127mm / 5in
Rear Wheel	10-spoke light alloy 6.00 x 17
Rear Tyre	190/55 ZR17
Front Brake	2 x 330 mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc calipers 4-piston, 2-pad.
Rear Brake	245 mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Fuel Tank	15.5 L (of which 4 L reserve) / 4.1 US gal (of which 1 US gal reserve)
Dry Weight	171 kg / 377 lb * *excludes battery, lubricants and coolant for liquid cooled models
Seat Height	820mm / 32.3in
Instruments	Digital MotoGP derived unit with displays for: Speedometer, rev counter, lap times, time, air temp, coolant temp, battery voltage, A trips, fuel reserve trip, scheduled maintenance. Warning lights for: Neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, oil
Warranty	2 years unlimited mileage

Version

Colours	Rosso (Nero / Grigio) - Bianco perla (Nero / Grigio)
Versions	Dual-seat

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