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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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As focused and capable as the standard 1098S may be, the
addition of Ducati Racing Accessories parts enable the bike to become an even
purer distillation of its originally intended goal—a race-ready Superstock spec
bike with license plates. Quick, responsive, and durable enough to withstand lap
after lap of abuse, the 1098 Special is a one-off whose capabilities demand
finesse, precision, and discretion. Like a finely tuned instrument, it is able
to discern the most nuanced of inputs—the slight engine braking from clutch
slip, the subtle hip swivel at turn-in, the touch of trail braking—and translate
it directly through the machine and towards the road. Handled irresponsibly, it
will reveal you for the indelicate brute you are. Modulate your hands, feet, and
body just right, however, and it will reward you with superb performance.
 This is not a bike for the faint-hearted or the weak of
constitution. It demands complete attention and rewards those who respect it by
delivering virtually anything most riders can dish out, without the aid of
drastic modifications such as turbocharging. "The beauty of the 1098 Special,"
explains Jon Bekefy, Ducati Accessories Manager for North America, "is that
[these modifications] are pretty pain free. Building it was so plug and play, it
was easy." (Click image to enlarge)
As for the 1098 Special’s aesthetics, its unique styling took a bit more
work, and its graphic treatment could have only been created from the "what if"
conversation that arose from enthusiasts with the resources available to execute
their vision. Though racing stripes often add the implication of motion to a
static motorcycle, the Martini scheme on the 1098 Special tempers the theme of
speed with a nostalgic disregard to conventions of color wheel rules and
contemporary style. More than simply a trendy decoration, the Martini livery
speaks to the fearless embrace of absolute power, and machines of the past that
have reached a near mythic status in the world of racing, thanks to their raw,
challenging nature.
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