Based in Bologna, Italy, Ducati is the most successful non-Japanese sportsbike builder, and has won 12 World Superbike championships, as well as the 2007 MotoGP championship. Its current flagship range is the V-twin Superbike, comprising the 1098 and 848 models. The 1098 superbike first appeared in 2006, powered by a 1,098cc water-cooled V-twin engine with Ducati’s trademark desmodromic (‘desmo’) valves. Desmo valve engines use a camshaft to positively close the inlet and exhaust valves as well as open them, giving better control of the valves at high engine speeds.
Built to replace the rather unpopular 999 superbike, the 1098 harked back to Ducati’s earlier superbike range, the 916-996-998 series. So the 1098 has similar styling to the 916, including twin underseat exhausts, dual horizontal headlights and a single-sided rear swinging arm.
The 1098R appeared in late 2007, and is a much higher specification model. In fact it is produced merely as a ‘homologation’ model, to permit 1098 to race in production-based Superbike championships worldwide. It has a larger, 1,198cc engine and makes an incredible 180bhp. The chassis is also much more advanced, with forged aluminum wheels, Brembo brakes and Ohlins race suspension.
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