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The Elixir of Attitude
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Robb Report MotorCycling Ducati 1098 Special
Basem Wasef
12/01/2007
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Photography by Cordero Studios/corderostudios.com
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While the system allows the fitment of silencers designed to
take the edge off the decibel level, the lure of hearing the engine’s uncensored
cry is a hard thing to deny; some restraint is called for when piloting through
public places or blasting past officers of the law, since all it takes to stir
unwelcome attention is a few extra millimeters of throttle twist.
The 1098 Special is dappled with various external pieces that,
while slight of weight, also serve to accentuate the bike’s purpose-made
appearance. Footpegs designed in collaboration with Ducati Corse are constructed
of billet aluminum, and are 4-way adjustable. A carbon fiber instrument panel
cover, ignition switch frame, rear mudguard, and rider heel guards streamline
some key points of contact, and carbon air duct side covers and under-tank side
panels continue the premise. These touches of functionality complement the
1098’s lean form, which also support its theme of focused performance.
Furthering the pursuit of reduced unsprung mass are forged magnesium wheels.
Although similar in appearance to the stock aluminum units, the lightweight
wheels offer nimbler handling and improved ride quality thanks to careful
hollowing. "They’re so light you can toss them like a Frisbee," laughs John
Paolo Canton, Ducati North America’s Public Relations Coordinator. Wrapped in
Pirelli’s excellent Diablo Corsa III tires, the Martini 1098 is more agile than
the stocker and turns more quickly without appearing to sacrifice stability or
neutrality.
The stock 1098S is graced with race-ready Öhlins suspension
components, including 43mm FG511 forks that incorporate a low-friction titanium
nitride coating, and a fully adjustable 46PRC rear shock. Improving upon this
setup would have likely proven to be an exercise in futility, so they remain
stock, as does the adjustable Öhlins steering damper. The standard issue 1098S
also features massive 330mm Brembo monobloc calipers up front, which provide
remarkably powerful, fade-free stops. Further decelerative forces would have
verged on the ridiculous, adding a level of bike-stopping capability that
ventures into the realm of the unsafe for street use, so the 1098 Special’s
brakes were also left untouched.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: Shoei RF-1000 Diabolic Zero TC-5
Jacket: Dainese 8-Track
Gloves: Spidi Race Vent
Pants: Dainese Delta
Boots: Sidi Vertigo Corsa.
While the Ducati 1098 Special is a street legal motorcycle, at
its heart, it is a track bike. Photograph by Don Williams. (Click image to enlarge)
On the other hand, virgin expanses of bodywork were viewed as a
blank canvas for visual expression, and what began as cut and paste musings in
Photoshop eventually progressed into a perfectly executed replica of the Martini
Racing paint scheme. One-off period decal sets were researched, recreated, and
printed by Cut Grafix of Australia using special decal transfer paper. Finishing
Touch of Monterey, California was assigned the task of designing the distinctive
Martini stripes, which inhabit far less real estate than on the racecars that
made them famous. The challenge of incorporating the striations was an aesthetic
one, involving riffing on the functional aspects of the bike’s architecture.
Thus, they streak off the squinty headlights like contrails, over the nose and
towards the rider’s shoulders. The arc of the front fender is accentuated with
stripes that run across the top, while the leading sides of the fairing are
treated with thicker stripes that converge slightly. The effect adds delicacy to
the bodywork intended to hide the engine and shield the rider from wind. Stripes
pick up again close to the seat and above the tank, allowing for just enough
negative space to give breathing room. The rear end is merged with a
continuation of the stripes that wrap around the monoposto tail guard.
 Riding the 1098 Special reveals a hint of the sharp edge
associated with purebred racing machines, mitigated with a modern twist. On one
hand, the responsiveness of the machine is astounding, and approaches alarming.
While the original 1098S weighs in at 377 lbs stock, the Special’s mass is
trimmed to an estimated 360 lbs, and although 17 lbs is a relatively small
amount of weight, it translates to a big change in feel. Along with the
reduction of rotational mass in key moving parts—primarily with the engine and
wheels—the shortened gears and quarter-turn throttle kit serve to heighten the
bike’s responsiveness, making it considerably more sensitized to input. Thus, an
already sharp tool becomes even more incisive, demanding greater attention,
precision, and care from the rider. Micro additions to throttle result in
considerable amounts of thrust; feathering the clutch smoothens acceleration
only so much, before the torquey L-twin eagerly shoves power to the rear
wheel. (Click image to enlarge)
 The 1098 Special’s modifications also enhance maneuverability. Reduced mass enables the front end to lighten more easily under acceleration,
and the changes impart the illusion that the bike’s wheelbase has been
shortened. The effect makes the bike’s longitudinal axis more dynamic; the
Special becomes a bit more lively, more eager to respond to input, sometimes
seemingly before the rider even thinks about the intended change in course. (Click image to enlarge)
Turning is a similarly clairvoyant experience. The 1098, more
stable than agile in stock trim, gains acuity with its leaner poundage and more
purposeful demeanor. The forged magnesium wheels coupled with the Öhlins
suspension enable the double benefit of compliance with road irregularities
(thanks to reduced unsprung mass and sophisticated shock technology), and—just
like the Special’s razor sharp acceleration—the bike simply wants to turn at the
slightest provocation. It is like a hummingbird infused with a shot of
adrenaline; every moving part of the motorcycle has become a bit more alive,
maximized for that function for which it was originally intended.
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