Ducati fans. Which are the real landmark sports bikes?
Discussion
For me, my current bike (1098S) tells me that the 1098 model deserves it's place amongst the genuine leap-forward Ducatis.
The others are the 998, the iconic 916 and the 851.
Going back further, my 900SS of 1978 was a brilliant bike, for it's time.
Which of the big Duc-vees are special to you?
The others are the 998, the iconic 916 and the 851.
Going back further, my 900SS of 1978 was a brilliant bike, for it's time.
Which of the big Duc-vees are special to you?
Not now Kato said:
xspencex said:
Think the Monster should be included (possibly the M600 or M900)... Ducati power and character to the masses!
Only a BMW rider could call a M600 a 'landmark sports bike'. Not now Kato said:
xspencex said:
Think the Monster should be included (possibly the M600 or M900)... Ducati power and character to the masses!
Only a BMW rider could call a M600 a 'landmark sports bike'. 
for me ducati really started with the 916, although Im now starting to look at and learn about the earlier models...
The 851 was an all-new bike. Landmark.
The 916 had a combination of style, sound and performance like never put together before on a motorbike.
The 998 took the somewhat fussy 996 engine and gave it revs and power and reliabilty anew.
The 1098S is, quite simply, the best road bike i have ever owned.
Shattering outright performance, good day to day usability (for a supersports and way better than a 916) and looks, sound and exclusivity to die for.
Totally awesome, i just wish i could have got the 1098R as planned originally.
The 916 had a combination of style, sound and performance like never put together before on a motorbike.
The 998 took the somewhat fussy 996 engine and gave it revs and power and reliabilty anew.
The 1098S is, quite simply, the best road bike i have ever owned.
Shattering outright performance, good day to day usability (for a supersports and way better than a 916) and looks, sound and exclusivity to die for.
Totally awesome, i just wish i could have got the 1098R as planned originally.
Beemer-5 said:
The 851 was an all-new bike. Landmark.
The 916 had a combination of style, sound and performance like never put together before on a motorbike.
The 998 took the somewhat fussy 996 engine and gave it revs and power and reliabilty anew.
The 1098S is, quite simply, the best road bike i have ever owned.
Shattering outright performance, good day to day usability (for a supersports and way better than a 916) and looks, sound and exclusivity to die for.
Totally awesome, i just wish i could have got the 1098R as planned originally.
Never ridden a 1098 admittedly, not sure I want to either, might tempt me to buy one. But I have decided to go back in time and acquire an original 916SP3/SP derivative to keep for life.The 916 had a combination of style, sound and performance like never put together before on a motorbike.
The 998 took the somewhat fussy 996 engine and gave it revs and power and reliabilty anew.
The 1098S is, quite simply, the best road bike i have ever owned.
Shattering outright performance, good day to day usability (for a supersports and way better than a 916) and looks, sound and exclusivity to die for.
Totally awesome, i just wish i could have got the 1098R as planned originally.
Yet another bottomless pit to throw spare cash into
As great as the 1098 may be at being a super bike, faster, better handling, comfort over distance, whatever, it will never be what the 916 is.
The 916 was designed as a race bike to win the WSB series. That is why still to this day its purity and focus as a race bike in road form make it much more involving to ride fast than a 1098.
When you've ridden a 916 hard for 100 miles, you feel like you've just won a super bike race. When you ride a 1098 hard for 100 miles, you feel like you've ridden a 1098 hard for 100 miles. That's the difference.
The 916 was designed as a race bike to win the WSB series. That is why still to this day its purity and focus as a race bike in road form make it much more involving to ride fast than a 1098.
When you've ridden a 916 hard for 100 miles, you feel like you've just won a super bike race. When you ride a 1098 hard for 100 miles, you feel like you've ridden a 1098 hard for 100 miles. That's the difference.
i used to love the look of the 916/748 shape bikes but i really think theyve aged now, not aged badly as i think thier an iconic bike but they dont look as fresh as some more modern stuff.
i also think that the Ducati exclusitivity(with the exception of a few models) is a misconception, most people who ride R1,Fireblades,GSXRS etc im sure would have little trouble in going out and aquiring a Ducati instead, they just choose not to, in fact i was very seriously considering getting a 1098 but have decided to wait until Aprilia release thier V4 to make up my mind.
i also think that the Ducati exclusitivity(with the exception of a few models) is a misconception, most people who ride R1,Fireblades,GSXRS etc im sure would have little trouble in going out and aquiring a Ducati instead, they just choose not to, in fact i was very seriously considering getting a 1098 but have decided to wait until Aprilia release thier V4 to make up my mind.
Edited by YamR1V64motion on Tuesday 26th August 21:16
I think you've hit another nail on the head there. The 1098 appears to be influenced greatly by Japanese styling cues. No one can deny the R1esque front end of the 1098 can they? Ducati have gone to great lengths to make the 1098 appeal to a more Japanese focused sports bike rider. This isn't a bad thing, unless from a totally purist Ducati perspective, I guess.
Rocket Pepper said:
As great as the 1098 may be at being a super bike, faster, better handling, comfort over distance, whatever, it will never be what the 916 is.
The 916 was designed as a race bike to win the WSB series. That is why still to this day its purity and focus as a race bike in road form make it much more involving to ride fast than a 1098.
When you've ridden a 916 hard for 100 miles, you feel like you've just won a super bike race. When you ride a 1098 hard for 100 miles, you feel like you've ridden a 1098 hard for 100 miles. That's the difference.
The difference is you can ride a 1098 for 100 miles without wondering when it is going to happen The 916 was designed as a race bike to win the WSB series. That is why still to this day its purity and focus as a race bike in road form make it much more involving to ride fast than a 1098.
When you've ridden a 916 hard for 100 miles, you feel like you've just won a super bike race. When you ride a 1098 hard for 100 miles, you feel like you've ridden a 1098 hard for 100 miles. That's the difference.
Whilst the 916 was an epic bike in it's day, I think the 1098 will have the same status the 916 does 15-20 years down the line when people fondly look back and realise how much of a milestone it was for them, quality, ability, reliability, power and so on. Plus I'd wager it still looks pretty decent though dated, much the same as the 916.
Also, for people like myself, the 1098 is a milestone in ducati's history because they're perfectly comfortable for the taller and fatter amongst us, not what a sports bike should be looked back on for primarily, but for a long time lover of ducatis it's nice to know there's one that can be bought without needing to spend the same again in spinal correction work.
Stu R said:
Also, for people like myself, the 1098 is a milestone in ducati's history because they're perfectly comfortable for the taller and fatter amongst us, not what a sports bike should be looked back on for primarily, but for a long time lover of ducatis it's nice to know there's one that can be bought without needing to spend the same again in spinal correction work.
Significant to riders like yourself, but it has yet to cement itelf in Ducati`s history, they have gone back in time and updated old technology to devastating effect, (the single sided swing arm) but nothing new, and as such I cant see the 1098 ever replicating the impact the 916 had on the world IMO.
For me the 996 SPS as per the bike I own, I believe I rode my Gixer and Blade quicker and was able to get on with them straight away, but now I spend a lot of the time having a coffee and staring at my bike prior to going out and it just feels a buzz to ride and listen to the Termis.
996 sps said:
For me the 996 SPS as per the bike I own, I believe I rode my Gixer and Blade quicker and was able to get on with them straight away, but now I spend a lot of the time having a coffee and staring at my bike prior to going out and it just feels a buzz to ride and listen to the Termis.
Totally....MattOz said:
For me it has to be the 888 SP4 or SP5. I rememeber lusting after them in my youth. I'd recently passed my test and at the time it was my absolute dream machine. 
My SP5.Cost £16k in 1993
I'm currently building a Corse replica with a 926 big bore kit, cams etc that will look like this.
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