In stock form the rear ride-height could be raised a little to speed-up the steering (standard Ducati and this new R isn’t half as bad as they used to be) but once in the corner you simply can’t upset one of these bikes mid-corner or push it anywhere near its capabilities. The quality of the Öhlins suspension, which is about as trick as anyone outside the MotoGP paddock can get their hands on, is untouchable and the feedback from the front end simply stunning.
On the fast flowing smooth corners of the mountain the 1098R was amazing to ride. Keeping the speedo between 90 and 120mph is the perfect zone for the power and chassis to all gel together and return a unique riding experience with a glorious soundtrack from the booming silencers. You’re just plugged into the 1098R, it becomes an extension of your body and your senses as you look way ahead, planning the next corner, feeling the bike working underneath you. All day I saw the same riders who were happily razzing up and down the 12-miles of unrestricted road on their bikes, some with British plates, but also a fair few with Manx registrations, locals who were making the most of a sunny day.
On the road the 1098R is like a very expensive bottle of Champagne. Made of the finest grapes and fermented with love and care, it’s just desperate to pop its cork and release all that brilliance. So much about this bike doesn’t make sense. It’s hideous in town, uncomfortable at normal speeds, the engine sometimes decides to quit for no reason and a tank range of 70 miles (at full bore) makes it of limited use. But you just don’t care.
This is a bike full of passion, real Italian passion, and it bleeds red-raw out of every bolt and screw-head. From the sound the R makes out of the pipes to the way it feels in third gear when you hit 8,000rpm to the uncrashable squish of the Öhlins mid-corner, no Japanese superbike on earth can come near the Ducati in terms of feel. If you’re looking for some kind of ultimate in the way a sportsbike should feel, this is it. And the Isle of Man was the perfect place to experience it.
Specifications
Ducati 1098R
Price: £24,000
Engine: 1,198cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 8-valve V-twin
Power: 180bhp @ 9,750rpm
Torque: 99.1lb.ft @ 7,750rpm
Front suspension: Öhlins 43mm USD, fully-adjustable
Rear suspension: Öhlins Monoshock, fully-adjustable
Front brake: 330mm disc, four-piston radial monoblock calipers
Rear brake: 245mm disc, two-piston caliper
Dry weight: 165kg (claimed)
Seat height: 820mm
Fuel capacity: 15.5l
Top speed: 180mph
Colours: Red
