Ducati's 1098....some home truths

[topolino65]

Spoke to my dealer today in the UK and he had some interesting things to say about the 1098. Firstly there has been much talk both on this forum and the UK forums about "dealer conferences" in Salt Lake City and of disclosure agreements, paper pictures being handed around, lots of discussion about for those that were there how fabulous it looked, blah blah blah. From what ihave just learned nothing could be further from the truth. In the UK, little if ANY details were given about the bike. Pricing structure was not discussed nor images shown. In fact very little clues were given out. Every dealer worldwide has been invited to view the bike in the flesh one day in advnace of the press launch and as far as the UK, the ONLY person who has seen the new bike is the CEO of the UK importers and that is it. I doubt very much that the maketing of such an important product would differ so wildy in Europe to the States, who allegedly have been supposedly shown the whole nine yards bar the actual bike itself, which makes me doubt just how accurate all the b***sh*t is that people claim they gleaned from the US conferences. Also the so called spy shots of the bike undergoing road tests have resulted in one positive thing. The bodywork you see, clad in gaffer tape, has absolutely ZERO resemblance to the finished product. BUt the factory are hard at work in throwing us off the scent. If all the speculation on here is anything to go by I would say they are succeeding very well. In summary, all that is certain is when the wraps come off in Novemebr that is the ONLY time we will know for sure what this much hyped and lusted after bike will actually look like. Until then any notion of secret pics at US dealer conferences, spy shots of test bikes around Bologna and cheap Photoshop renditions to wet our imaginations are nothing but teasers. No one in an official capacity from Ducati gives them any credibilty at all and if you are the sort of person who likes to think for them self, neither should you.

[748SPecial]

Soke to somebody about the 1098 today, and yeah i`d say you are right really we won`t know untill November, but I did find out a little bit more than you...

Sadly sworn to secrecy though or I move from the top of the Desmosedici waiting list.

Gav

[Dave_R_996]

You are right, there were no photos passed around at the Ducati NA dealer meeting.....the new bike was there. It was quickly crated back up after it's showing and sent off to the next dealer meeting in Japan I believe.

[Chuckracer]

Originally Posted by 748SPecial

Soke to somebody about the 1098 today, and yeah i`d say you are right really we won`t know untill November, but I did find out a little bit more than you...

Sadly sworn to secrecy though or I move from the top of the Desmosedici waiting list.

Gav

Well there's a worthwile post. No profile, no info, nobody knows anything about you, you come here and tell us you know more than we do but you can't tell us or you'll "move from the top of the Desmosedici waiting list" and split.
Thanks for a stunning example of how not to behave in a forum.

[osayek]

the bike they showed at the dealer conference is a prototype still not finished.

From what my dealer said it looks alot higher than the current models. and nobody knows the pricing...

[Dark_Daddy]

Not another 1098 thread, Jesus! I will bet you will need to have a 1098 section before too long.

[Chuckracer]

Scott!!! Pretty Please!!! That's a great idea!!! Make it clicky-closable so we don't even have to see all the redundant thread titles!!

[WYDOPN]

Originally Posted by topolino65

Spoke to my dealer today in the UK and he had some interesting things to say about the 1098. Firstly there has been much talk both on this forum and the UK forums about "dealer conferences" in Salt Lake City and of disclosure agreements, paper pictures being handed around, lots of discussion about for those that were there how fabulous it looked, blah blah blah. From what ihave just learned nothing could be further from the truth. In the UK, little if ANY details were given about the bike. Pricing structure was not discussed nor images shown. In fact very little clues were given out. Every dealer worldwide has been invited to view the bike in the flesh one day in advnace of the press launch and as far as the UK, the ONLY person who has seen the new bike is the CEO of the UK importers and that is it. I doubt very much that the maketing of such an important product would differ so wildy in Europe to the States, who allegedly have been supposedly shown the whole nine yards bar the actual bike itself, which makes me doubt just how accurate all the b***sh*t is that people claim they gleaned from the US conferences. Also the so called spy shots of the bike undergoing road tests have resulted in one positive thing. The bodywork you see, clad in gaffer tape, has absolutely ZERO resemblance to the finished product. BUt the factory are hard at work in throwing us off the scent. If all the speculation on here is anything to go by I would say they are succeeding very well. In summary, all that is certain is when the wraps come off in Novemebr that is the ONLY time we will know for sure what this much hyped and lusted after bike will actually look like. Until then any notion of secret pics at US dealer conferences, spy shots of test bikes around Bologna and cheap Photoshop renditions to wet our imaginations are nothing but teasers. No one in an official capacity from Ducati gives them any credibilty at all and if you are the sort of person who likes to think for them self, neither should you.

AMAZING! Speculation about speculation while deriding speculators! And... with a ringing of the "Bullsh** Bell" thrown in for kicks. ALL from a continent away, and based on hearsay from one local dealer (combined with personal opinion based on limited actual information).

I haven't followed up my initial posts containing the 1098 specs because of the "PM Hell" I experienced afterward. As an enthusiast, I was trying to pass on early accurate news (albeit sensitive) about an exciting new product release. After editing the original entry content, many curious members asked for the 1098 info via PM as requested.

I returned dozens and many were satisfied, but THEN came a series of "baited" PMs from various newly registered members with no profiles. It soon became apparent these were coming from the Ducati affiliates/employees that fund/support/peruse this site. The nightmare of personal attacks and dodging veiled attempts to determine my source of "leaked" info ended only when I indicated I would not convert images to an uploadable format and post them publicly.

THEN comes an outpouring of sh** similar to THIS thread. A plethora of skeptics and idiots decrying facts and asserting ignorant opinions. I suppose with all the furor and anticipation, there have been many unbelievable forum entries based on supposition, speculation, guesses, wishes, and good ol' wet dreams! All of which makes it hard to distinguish fact from fiction from schlong-schlinging!

Here, once again and NOT TO BE EDITED, are the facts about the Salt Lake meeting AND the new Ducati 1098 specs. Take 'em or leave 'em.

The Salt Lake Meeting:
No images shown in ANY format, including printed.
Intense security with NO cameras, cellphones, etc. allowed.
The ACTUAL bike was present at the meeting.
Much drooling ensued.
My source SOMEHOW snagged a few shots of the bike.
I actually SAW the images of the bike.
I do NOT have the images in an uploadable format.
I will NOT convert the images to an uploadable format.

The 1098 Specs - Three Models:
$14,995 - 1098 base: 160hp/80+tq
$19,995 - 1098S: adds carbon bits, suspension upgrades, etc.
$24,995 - 1098 Tri-Colore - adds race exhaust in crate and special 3-color paint scheme
(Pricing subject to slight change)

Single-sided Swingarm
Dual-Cannister Underseat Exhaust
Dual Headlamps
Revised (and VERY gorgeous) Bodywork
37.5# Weight reduction
Monoblock calipers w/330mm Discs

Official debut at Milan in mid-November
Availability tentatively scheduled for February '07

At this point, I don't really care WHAT anyone believes. I'm posting this info for the interest of the enthusiasts that truly want to know the real facts.

If I'm full of sh**, then I'm the biggest a**hole EVER on this site in about six weeks! So... wait 'til Milan in November, then call me a lying bast***!

Whatever you believe about this info or my forum conduct and state of mental health, you will absolutely fu**ing LOVE the new Duc 1098.

[topolino65]

Originally Posted by WYDOPN

AMAZING! Speculation about speculation while deriding speculators! And... with a ringing of the "Bullsh** Bell" thrown in for kicks. ALL from a continent away, and based on hearsay from one local dealer (combined with personal opinion based on limited actual information).

Just trying to separate fantasy from fact, since the ONLY information that bears any likeness to the truth are the technical specs that were posted. I was calling into question not what you heard (since you admit you were given this information but were not actually in attendance yourself) but the fact that it differs so wildly from the experience of the UK dealers and those in Europe, who form a substantial slice of Ducati's market, more so than the US in point of fact.

Originally Posted by WYDOPN

I returned dozens and many were satisfied, but THEN came a series of "baited" PMs from various newly registered members with no profiles. It soon became apparent these were coming from the Ducati affiliates/employees that fund/support/peruse this site. The nightmare of personal attacks and dodging veiled attempts to determine my source of "leaked" info ended only when I indicated I would not convert images to an uploadable format and post them publicly.

Well I can honestly say I was not one of them. I did receive a PM from you after a civil request for further information, but it was a repeat of what had already been posted, so no revelation there then. It is human nature to be inquisitive when a forum is laced with teasing snippets of information, so it should come as no surprise that people would badger you for more of the same.

Originally Posted by WYDOPN

The Salt Lake Meeting:

Intense security with NO cameras, cellphones, etc. allowed.

My source SOMEHOW snagged a few shots of the bike.

Intense security you say? Obviously not that good

Originally Posted by WYDOPN

At this point, I don't really care WHAT anyone believes. I'm posting this info for the interest of the enthusiasts that truly want to know the real facts.

If I'm full of sh**, then I'm the biggest a**hole EVER on this site in about six weeks! So... wait 'til Milan in November, then call me a lying bast***!

I would not go as far as to label you that way, though you do seem to be taking this all very personally. I merely set to out to explain that the launch of the 1098 is a GLOBAL one not as it would seem the sole privilege of the US and the likelihood of Ducati affording one sector of their market such a big difference in a "heads up" on the new bike and keeping their European dealers completely in the dark makes no sense at all. For this reason and this reason ONLY, it comes across as a little dubious. I believe you believe what you were told is accurate, but you can only assume it be be factual when you did not have the luxury of being present. There is as you rightly point out a lot of ill founded speculation and rumour, but without hard evidence, it is just that speculation. Any information unless it is from an official source carries no credence whatsoever, so in reality neither of us are armed with anything other than hearsay. I welcomed the information you posted initially, as like most people, am eager to know more, but in my defense, if calling into question the accuracy of second hand information (which is ostensibly what you have provided) is a crime then I am guilty. I don't much care either what people think, since none of this really matters once the bike is revealed and I haven't got the life space to worry about it, but for once I think the disparity in information coming from dealers (and "sources" that were there) from both sides of the pond, just does not add up, whichever way you slice it.

[WYDOPN]

Thanx for clarifying your intent. I now understand your perspective, and I retract the harsh "tone" from my previous post. My information, though from a reliable direct source, IS technically "hearsay". Milan will certainly set everything straight for everyone.