In with the new out with the old (Praise the 999)

**stonedecay** · 24 Nov 06, 07:37 PM

Is it me or was the Motorcycle news review/road test of the new 1098 particularly 'sneery' and disparaging of the 999?

It read like 'Ducati gone it seriously wrong with the 999 and have now corrected that mistake' !!!!

I thought that the 999 was MCN's Bike of the Year in 2003 (perhaps I was wrong)

**Spikey** · 24 Nov 06, 08:24 PM

as i,ve said before i will end up with one of the new ducatis , the "R" in 08 looks the most viable , but why oh why oh why ( to quote ann robinson ) has everybody and his dog jumped on the band wagon dissmising the "9" series as a hicup in the "pure " ducati line !!!!

bollox is wot i say !! i like my 999 and i wish i had one of them time machines , cos i,ll bet you that the "9" series of bikes will be remembered , as have all the ground breaking duke designs even the PASO

" spike the proud 999S owner "

**khushy** · 24 Nov 06, 09:21 PM

I agree!

Having owned a 748SPS and then my 999s the 999 is MILES ahead in EVERY sense.

Without the 999 - there would be no 1098.

In 08 - I too will buy myself a 1098 - maybe an R variant who knows and I would love to keep my 999 as its the best bike I have ever ridden - I love it.

**RodH** · 24 Nov 06, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khushy

I agree!

Having owned a 748SPS and then my 999s the 999 is MILES ahead in EVERY sense.

Without the 999 - there would be no 1098.

It's all subjective and down to personal tastes

In MY opinion there is no way you can compare the 748 with the 999. They were designed by different designers, with different ideas, and with different goals in mind. Also the engine characteristics are worlds apart.

I've owned an 851Bip, 916Bip, 916SPS, 998Bip and 999s and they have all been different. On the track the 916SPS is, for me, the best and much more focused than the others - 999s included. On the road the 999s is the best as it's smoother, more refined and more comfortable.

I've also got a 1098s on order because it takes the evolution to the next level, in the same way as each of the others did.

But as I said at the beginning, it's all subjective and down to personal tastes, and anyway they are all Ducatis and that's all that matters really

......and actually without the 851 there would be no 1098

**khushy** · 24 Nov 06, 10:33 PM

ok ok

but I think Ducati made such a leap with the 749/999 series of bikes which are in terms of construction worlds apart from the "lash up" the 748/916/996 was!!!

Everything on the 999 is bang uptodate and well thought out IMHO!

I am guessing that the 1098 is more evolution rather than revolution.

I am going to do a better picture (the angle on my pic is not right) but here is my first rushed attempt - they are not THAT different IMHO!

(the 999 is the Ducati for the 21st Century - the 1098 is the Ducati that includes the 20th Century!)

**ducati2242** · 24 Nov 06, 10:33 PM

MOTORCYCLE NEWS what a bunch of ****S . When the 999 first had its reviews in late 2002 it was the best bike ever. Since then they have changed their testers and got a bunch of DONE NOTHING, NO NOTHING, PAST IT, NO HOPERS to pose as people that can tell you what the bike is really like. If they had riders like SHAKEY BURN or FROSTY that could ride a bike better than most then they would be worthy of there opinions. But unfortunately we have to put of the rabellings of the poor second best opinion.

**khushy** · 24 Nov 06, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducati2242

MOTORCYCLE NEWS what a bunch of ****S . When the 999 first had its reviews in late 2002 it was the best bike ever. Since then they have changed their testers and got a bunch of DONE NOTHING, NO NOTHING, PAST IT, NO HOPERS to pose as people that can tell you what the bike is really like. If they had riders like SHAKEY BURN or FROSTY that could ride a bike better than most then they would be worthy of there opinions. But unfortunately we have to put of the rabellings of the poor second best opinion.

or poor third/forth etc etc - ME and YOU!!!

LOL

Khushy

**Richard** · 24 Nov 06, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spikey

as i,ve said before i will end up with one of the new ducatis , the "R" in 08 looks the most viable , but why oh why oh why ( to quote ann robinson ) has everybody and his dog jumped on the band wagon dissmising the "9" series as a hicup in the "pure " ducati line !!!!

bollox is wot i say !! i like my 999 and i wish i had one of them time machines , cos i,ll bet you that the "9" series of bikes will be remembered , as have all the ground breaking duke designs even the PASO

" spike the proud 999S owner "

Quite agree with you.
The 999 was a superb bike and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise. The 999 was a progression from the 916 but still a gorgeous bike. I wish people would appreciate the 999 for what it is!!

**RodH** · 24 Nov 06, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khushy

I am guessing that the 1098 is more evolution rather than revolution.

You may well be right, and of course there is nothing wrong with the evolution approach to development. This has been demonstrated admirably well in the car world by Porsche with the 911 (and I ran those for 14 years 8))

All of the discussions on the 1098 vs whatever, are really being based on spec. and looks, I guess we will only know the truth once we've all had a ride on one.....and I'm really looking forward to that day

**diamondbrit73** · 24 Nov 06, 10:59 PM

i think eveyone is getting quite excited by the new 1098! those who havnt bought the 999 will be properly be more up for the the new bike!

the fact the ducati central have got a 160 bhp plant under that fairing should make all the difference! a back to back test with the 999 should be interesting!

each to there own!

**ducati2242** · 24 Nov 06, 11:28 PM

From as long as i would like to remeber when you bought a ducati superbike you were buying into ducati heritage. You were buyng a race bike. You would look at it in the window . You would look at it on the race track. You would want it more and more. Now seemingly you are buying a bike that will never reach the race track. You are buying for fashion. I only hope that in the future ducati RACING heritage isnt gone forever and you can actually buy the bike on the track. AKKA 1098 OR 1198.

**theoldbuzzard** · 25 Nov 06, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducati2242

Now seemingly you are buying a bike that will never reach the race track. You are buying for fashion.

You've lost me a little bit here d2242, as I understand it the 1098 will be racing in Superstock in 2007 and WSB in 2008.

The difference between us and the journos is that we own and ride these lovely bikes. We are able to smile and walk away knowing what we know, and what they don't :wink: 8)

**Laz** · 25 Nov 06, 12:47 AM

IMHO the 999 only fell out of favour cause they dropped the sinlge sided swingarm and gave it those cyclops lights, when i first saw the 999 in flesh those were the only things that bothered me, there was still bits i loved on it.

But as it has been said it is only personal tastes - ive never been on a '9 so have no ideawhat theyre like - but i bet theyre damn fine ride!

the ten nine eight has moved back towards the 916 style with swingarm, lights etc as feedback Italy got must pointed that way.

Was the 999 Ducati's flat nose Porsche - depends who you talk to!

Its all personal taste! but lets face it we're relieved the ugly ducking is gone!!

BTW 916's RULE!!

**ducati2242** · 25 Nov 06, 01:01 AM

The 1098 maywell race in superstock in 2007 but the R version supposebly out in 2008 that will race in wsb and bsb is an 1198 doublesided swingarm version. Whitch to me is a completely different bike to what you can buy now therefore making the 1098 somthing similar to racing a monster or an ss and not anything near a true replicer of a world super bike.

**RodH** · 25 Nov 06, 01:47 AM

d2242 I'm not sure that you are on solid ground with some of your arguments.

If the 'R' does have a doublesided swing arm, then I'll accept part of your point on that, but let's wait and see if it has first.

But with regards to the racers having different engine sizes to the road bikes, Ducati has always done this:-

Road 916............WSBK 955cc, then 996cc
Road 996............WSBK 998cc
Road 998............WSBK 999cc

Based on your arguement that writes off the standard 916 as a fashion model, as the only road bike during that time which had a 955cc engine was the extremely rare 955SP and the only 996cc engine was in the 916SPS.

Similarly during the 996 era only the R had a 998cc engine, and this carries on with the 999cc engine in only the 999R.

So what are the true WSBK replicas, presumably only the 955SP, 916SPS, 996R, 998R and 999R making most of Ducati's Superbikes over the past 12+ years mere fashion accessories