Ducati 1098/1198

[Mr_Tickle]

I've fancied a Ducati for a while now, problem is that I can only afford a house with space for one motorbike. Therefore, whichever bike I own will be used for everything: commuting, weekend blasts and the occasional trackday.

The main use of my bike is commuting, all year round. At the moment I'm only doing about 7k miles a year but that could easily change if I end up commuting into Central London again in whcih case I'd be doing nearer 15k miles a year.

So should I consider a Ducati 1098/1198? Or am I completely mad to even consider it?

I'd like to get some feedback from people that have actually owned these bikes, particularly if you've commuted on them too. Can I feasibly run one all through the winter? Are the running costs much more than the equiavlent Jap bike? Anything I should especially look out for?

Thanks in advance!

[spareparts]

Mr_Tickle said:

I end up commuting into Central London again in whcih case I'd be doing nearer 15k miles a year.

So should I consider a Ducati 1098/1198? Or am I completely mad to even consider it?

I'd like to get some feedback from people that have actually owned these bikes, particularly if you've commuted on them too. Can I feasibly run one all through the winter? Are the running costs much more than the equiavlent Jap bike? Anything I should especially look out for?

Thanks in advance!

Based on the above, I would state a definitive NO.

Reasons:
- heat management
- ergonomics in start/stop traffic
- likelihood it will get stolen.

(owner of a 1098R)

[Superhoop]

spareparts said:

Based on the above, I would state a definitive NO.

Reasons:
- heat management
- ergonomics in start/stop traffic
- likelihood it will get stolen.

(owner of a 1098R)

To add to that, i's also say:

The cost of maintaining one doing that mileage (valve clearances, belts etc..)
The hit it will take in depreciation @15k per year.

oh and of course to reiterate - heat management

[phil4]

I commute on my 848 Evo... but no, I'd not recommend buying as a year round commuter.

Heavy clutch, not much steering angle, like riding an oven. Riding position. Genuinely feels awkward at slow speed (like an oil tanker). Chugs below 20mph in 1st unless you're slipping the clutch (and you get stuck maneuvering on lots of roundabouts and junctions in 1st because you can't quite get up enough speed in traffic to get into 2nd).

I'm sure you can something about some of these things, but not all.

On the plus side, it can be noisey (which has to help), often they are bright red (mine is), which again should help. They're great to ride, full of character. I just wouldn't choose it to commute daily rain or shine.

I realise I'm talking about an 848, but I'd expect the two you listed to be very similar on the gripes, just more grunt and speed.

[Mr_Tickle]

Cheers for the replies, good to see people not working too hard on a Fri afternoon.

I should add that I currently commute on a CBR600rr and I find that a great commuting bike. It also has underseat exhaust, which while a pain in the ass sometimes (literally), is bearable. So would the Ducati be noticeably worse for heat management and ergonomics than the Honda.

[spareparts]

phil4 said:

Heavy clutch, not much steering angle, like riding an oven. Riding position. Genuinely feels awkward at slow speed (like an oil tanker).
...
I realise I'm talking about an 848, but I'd expect the two you listed to be very similar on the gripes, just more grunt and speed.

And keep in mind the 848 has a wet clutch compared to the 1x98 dry clutches which will be squealing like pigs with the excess clutch dust build up...

Mr_Tickle said:

Cheers for the replies, good to see people not working too hard on a Fri afternoon.

I should add that I currently commute on a CBR600rr and I find that a great commuting bike. It also has underseat exhaust, which while a pain in the ass sometimes (literally), is bearable. So would the Ducati be noticeably worse for heat management and ergonomics than the Honda.

CBR6 is a fridge in comparison.

[podman]

Mr_Tickle said:

Cheers for the replies, good to see people not working too hard on a Fri afternoon.

I should add that I currently commute on a CBR600rr and I find that a great commuting bike. It also has underseat exhaust, which while a pain in the ass sometimes (literally), is bearable. So would the Ducati be noticeably worse for heat management and ergonomics than the Honda.

So, your looking for someones opinion who has had a 1098/1198 who previously had a CBR600 before that?

I would say only you could be the judge of that one and do the only real option and take an 1198 for a test ride..Id love a 1198, still my fave Ducati sportsbike but I think I would put £1000 aside for a Winter commuter and leave it for warmer days.

[upsidedownmark]

Pretty much what phil4 said. I also ran an 848 for a while. Lovely, but I eventually had to accept I couldn't find its purpose and it wasn't for me.

I put a -1t sprocket on which helps with the absurdly long 1st gear problem.
Not great commuting - really stretched / heavy on wrists position (my current R6 feels like a trailbike in comparison)
Doesn't make sense anywhere within kissing distance of the national limit. From 70+ yes, but..
Couldn't get on with it on track, doesn't want to turn. That may be just me, but I'm a heap faster on the R6 simply because I'm not fighting it.
And the 848 is supposed to be sweeter /easier than the 1x98...

All that said I still miss it for being utterly beautiful, shouty and turning heads. And those few moments where you just pin it wide open and keep throwing gears at it.

[Dakkon]

Have you test ridden one? All the weight is on your wrists, which is fine at speed as the wind blast helps support you, but around town it is noticeable, plus as already stated not much steering angle.

However, they look amazing, at speed they are great and they sound sublime

[3DP]

Nope - they do not like slow running, they get very hot, the riding position is too aggressive and town work is a misery on them. Aside from the running costs being higher, they do not like rain - there are a bunch of annoying issues including starter not engaging when it rains (water in ignition).

My experience? All weather touring with friends on 1098R, 1098S and 1098. Personal ownership of an 1198.

They are absolutely stunning bikes and so much better than my previous 996S, but all things considered, not right for your needs.

If you really want a Ducati for this purpose, I'd recommend an early Multistrada.

Ideally though, as a do it all bike only 2 country's bikes tick those boxes and neither are Italy. You want Jap or German. If it has to be a V twin then I'd look at KTM RC8R.

[obscene]

All the reasons mentioned above are on the money. I went +2 in the rear on my 1098R to stop it chugging so much below 30 when I have to stick to the limit. The amount of heat generated by it is also unbelievably more than a CBR600RR. The only positive side is that it would keep you warm during winter. I definitely wouldn't want to commute on one but for everything else they are fantastic bikes.

[mywifeshusband]

I currently commute into Harrogate on a daily basis using a Multistrada 1000. It's a mix of town and open A road. The Multistrada gets warm but not as bad a fully faired Ducati.
If you want a more sports orientated Ducati then I'd say consider a S4R Monster. The ergonomics would be better for commuting but it can hustle along out of town or on track. Again they don't like plodding along at below 4K revs so shortening gearing would be called for.

[MrOrange]

I concur totally. Not a great bike in slow traffic. Awful, actually, even after changing the gearing (-1 on the front)

Heat, grabby clutch, wrists, fuel range, turning lock, mirrors, storage, nickability, running costs and reliability are miles worse than a CBR6.

But, they are lovely.

[babatunde]

obscene said:

All the reasons mentioned above are on the money. I went +2 in the rear on my 1098R to stop it chugging so much below 30 when I have to stick to the limit. The amount of heat generated by it is also unbelievably more than a CBR600RR. The only positive side is that it would keep you warm during winter. I definitely wouldn't want to commute on one but for everything else they are fantastic bikes.

Concur
On the heat thing, we call 1098's ball burners for a reason, an MV is almost as bad.
As for theft if you don't have secure parking odds are it will go.

[Michael_B]

I couldn't have my 748R as an only bike. Town riding is terrible for all the gearing, heat and rider position reasons stated above. It's great in the countryside or on a track, but every day? Oh no.

IMO a big trailie is the ideal Swiss army knife bike, but a Multistrada still runs a bit hot, has sportsbike-sized wheels so handles oddly, and I wouldn't want to put big miles on one in terms of maintenance costs and reliability. My KTM 950 is still going strong after 55k kms and 11 years, but maybe I've been lucky.

All that said I put 30k miles on a 1998 R1, commuting to central London, trackdays, France touring, etc. so a sportsbike *can* be an allrounder. But probably not a Ducati.

[Driver Rider]

wow these bikes sound like a massive compromise!

[phil4]

Driver Rider said:

wow these bikes sound like a massive compromise!

Oddly, I'd say they're the exact opposite. They're designed and built to go fast, especially on tracks. They aren't compromised with that as their goal particularly at all. They're quite single minded as it happens.

Indeed, I'd say that it's a bike that tries to be a fast sports bike for tracks, but compromises that goal with sops to usability and town riding that's the compromise.

The problem is, the OP is suggesting he use a Ducati for something that it wasn't designed for, and as it's made so few compromises isn't suited at all well to it.

[R8Steve]

I've got a 1098SP and couldn't think of anything worse to commute on.

Amazing bikes but not for that purpose. As others have said they run too hot, are too lumpy going slow, don't like the wet and maintenance costs a fortune.

It's a shame you can only have one bike as the CBR6 and the Duc would be a great combo (I should know, I had that very one!)

[3DP]

R8Steve said:

I've got a 1098SP and couldn't think of anything worse to commute on.

Amazing bikes but not for that purpose. As others have said they run too hot, are too lumpy going slow, don't like the wet and maintenance costs a fortune.

It's a shame you can only have one bike as the CBR6 and the Duc would be a great combo (I should know, I had that very one!)

This was a good combination



as was this:



Unfortunately the 1198 had to go due to a lower back problem, to be replaced by Speed Triple which has equal character in a different way.

The 1198 is still the most fk off aggressive engined bike I've owned. Great fun even if slower than the 2015 Blade point to point, but as a commuter, something that doesn't really work below 3000 rpm, yet wheelies off the throttle in 2nd at 4000 rpm and produces more power at 6000rpm than a sports 600 - is not the most commuter friendly bike. Gearing -1 on the front sprocket makes them a bit more useable at low speed but the short first 3 gears and the engines obscene torque then ups the anti when the rev approach the bottom of the mid range. It's hilarious, but not on a winters morning in 4 degrees in the wet.

[Desiato]

3DP said:

If it has to be a V twin then I'd look at KTM RC8R.

I too really want(ed) a Ducati, but also do between 10 and 15k commuting through London per year. Lots of people said the RC8 wouldn't be any good either, and in fairness, it's not as good an all rounder as my previous GSXRs. But it is doing a great job, isn't too lumpy in traffic, pulls like a train and is fine filtering through the narrow bits.
It does throw out some serious heat but so did my GSXR1000s and it is a bit thirstiest than the fours.