Is the 1098 a "plug" product?

[parkec]

A friend of mine posted this on another forum/board.. is Steve right?



thought of something regarding the forthcoming Ducati 1098.

The 1098 will mark the first time that Ducati has built a superbike category motorcycle that they do not intend to race in World Superbike.

Ducati's World Superbike teams will soldier on next year with updated RSR/RS'06 bikes. The 1098's will not turn a wheel in anger in that series, because presently, they are not permitted.

The other consideration is that Ducati has been lobbying hard in the World Superbike offices for a displacement increase to 1188cc NOT 1099cc which is what the new 1098 bike actually displaces.

I get the distinct impression that the 1098 will be a doorstop model, or at best a transitory model, to hold the mantle of the Ducati superbike, for only as long as it takes for Ducati to secure the needed rule changes for World Superbike eligibility.

If I'm right the product cycle on the 1098 could be as little as 1 model year.

Think about what that would do to resale values of the 1098s when an 1188cc version comes to market.


This could explain the mysterious price drop for the entry level Ducati Superbike as well. Presently the standard 999 goes for $17,999, the new bike will retail for under $15,000, and features a much higher level of standard components. Since the 999 was selling reasonably well at the $17,999 price point, why drop the price by 26% when you are going to be delivering a supposedly superior piece of machinery?

My guess is that Ducati knows that the 1098 will not be long of this world, and they are trying to minimize the customer relations damage that will be done when the 1188cc bike comes to market in as little as 12 months time.

I'm not so sure that the 1098 is the answer that we've been waiting for from Ducati. I think that, at best, it is a comma (,). At worst, it could be a beta test.

[lastblast]

The 1188 will only be avalible as an R series which will also have the Standarded swing arm rather than the SSSA that everyone seems to love, other than that, who really cares, most of the people that love the new 1098 dont really seem to care if it is a race model or not, they just seem to care about what it looks like. Im sure it will be around for awhile as long as it sells and if it doesnt sell.............

[grendels_arm]

Maybe all those people shouldn't have bought 916's back in 1995 because a 996 was coming out in a few years. Did the 996 hurt the 916 prices? I don't think so. Same situation. Does your friend call the 916 a "comma" or a "beta test"? Ask him that.

People worrying about a potential 1198 when a 1098 is barely out yet is making me feel really fortunate of what I have instead of worrying about things that don't exist yet.

[El_Gladiator]

1) low price is ONLY for us market. In France and other european countries that do not over tax motorbikes, 1098 is 17195 euros, 1098S is 21195 euros.

2) All Bikes are plug products, excepted the last bike produced just before the armaggedon.

3) The 1098 is not only an engine (this engine is not only a bore), it's also a frame. Be sure the bike that will be the Factory Ducati in WSBK for 2008 will be 1098 cycle organs featured. Bigger engine? Smaller engine? Nevermind, that will be THAT.

4) Ducati has called a lot of bike with name that didn't reflect their true engine capacity. 1098 is in fact 1099 cm3, 998R is 999cm3, 996R is 998cm3, 916 SPS is 996cm3, 916 SPA is 955 cm3, 851 SP is 888cm3, 888 Racing is 926cm3, 749 is 748cm3.

5) 999cm3 Testastretta Racing fitted in 998R and 999R has never been seen in other bikes than R. Will be the same deal for the 1188. Pre-Homologation tests with a 1098 gives already 202 HP (yes, 202 HP) with only full system on a map. The 1188 could give 220 HP easily.
A motorbike is not only en engine, it's also a frame. I don't think a lot of people will be able to dominate the 160/170(with exhausts) of the 1098 V Twin......will be the same thing with 200 HP 1188 R "street version".

[Ducatibob749S]

Your friend is way off, like most people who get on this forum spouting about the woes or greatness of any of the bikes. He is also terrible at math, because last time I broke out the trusty math skills dropping the price from 18,000 to 15,000 is nowhere near "26%."
Now on to your comfort lesson so you can go out and buy you a brand new 1098, and feel good about yourself. This bike is fenominal, and will single handedly bring Ducati out of the dumps (my opinion). The fact of the matter is Ducati is not lobbying for a 1200cc bike they have been told by FG Sport and the FIM, that unless they build a larger displacement bike the rule change will not even be considered. Ducati, being the smarty pants' that they are built the 1098 because the likelyhood of every nation that races superbikes agreeing to a 1200cc, all dominating, bringer of the apocolypse to all who appose it, Ducati is slim and none. The chance of any of us seeing an 1188 is possible, but highly unlikely, chances are the 1098 will be approved (like it already has been in some European sportbike racing series), and it will be raced as such for years to come.
Let's face the facts, Ducati has finally realized, that catering to old yuppies who only ride on pristeen Sundays is going to make them go under, so they have finally come out with a dog fighter that can contend with the japs in stock form, is pricey, but attainable, and still has Ducati's elite beauty and status, without shunning the masses. As far as the price goes, if 999's are selling "reasonably well" at $18,000 why does my little brother have a pick of multiple '05 and '06 999's for $15,000. I love the 9's, I own a 749S and I race it and think the world of it, but those bikes were done before they started, which is sad because they are so great, but the 1098 is the future my friend.
Oh and the one year run of the 1098, if that does happen, which isn't bloody likely, how much do you think an '07 model year only 1098 will go for in 5 years? A #*!@ load more than $15,000 brother.
That's my two bits, keep it real, I'll be here all week!!

[Geof3]

The 1098 pricing is Ducati getting things right. They have made production cheaper, maintenance less hassle and are simply securing a very solid place in the world of Jap dominated sport bikes. They will bring the company back into the fray if you will. The 1098 platform will give Ducati a few years to play with, similar to the 916-998 series. Personally, I'll look into one in a couple of years, as I'm still getting the know my 996... I never really liked the styling of the 999 the 1098... cool. If I could figure out a way to do it the MotoGP copy would be in my garage in a heartbeat.

[critterdoc]

Originally Posted by Ducatibob749S

Let's face the facts, Ducati has finally realized, that catering to old yuppies who only ride on pristeen Sundays is going to make them go under

I thought "yuppies" stood for Young Upwardly-mobile Professionals...so can you BE an old yuppy?

Anyway, I don't just ride on pristine (not "pristeen") Sundays. If it's warm and sunny enough I ride on Saturdays too!

[1TRKMND775]

Hey Gladiator, there a bunch of us here that would love to know where you got your HP #'s you state on these "pre-homologation tests."

You also seem to think that if they do come to market with an 1188R in a year or so, that it will equal the output of the Desmosedici RR?

Sounds not too likely. Shed some light on your info source

[bevel450]

Your pal is nuts. E.G. his claim below that the 999's are selling "reasonably well". Now.....do you believe that ? If so, I've got a swell looking bridge to sell you. Honest !

When making claims about the sales success or failure of a bike, PUH-LEEZE check the Ducati website first. For the last quarter reported (9-30), they specifically state that the 999 sales for the three quarters to date, are 31% BELOW the same period of the prior year. ( If you are a serious student of 999 sales you can go to the archieves and see the entire bleak view of it.)

Now, flame me if you wish, but friend, that bike is a pig in the poke sales wise and your friend's analysis is just as silly. Selling "reasonably well" ? How about ROFL ? Wouldn't that be more to the point albeit less PC ?

Originally Posted by parkec

A friend of mine posted this on another forum/board.. is Steve right?



thought of something regarding the forthcoming Ducati 1098.

The 1098 will mark the first time that Ducati has built a superbike category motorcycle that they do not intend to race in World Superbike.

Ducati's World Superbike teams will soldier on next year with updated RSR/RS'06 bikes. The 1098's will not turn a wheel in anger in that series, because presently, they are not permitted.

The other consideration is that Ducati has been lobbying hard in the World Superbike offices for a displacement increase to 1188cc NOT 1099cc which is what the new 1098 bike actually displaces.

I get the distinct impression that the 1098 will be a doorstop model, or at best a transitory model, to hold the mantle of the Ducati superbike, for only as long as it takes for Ducati to secure the needed rule changes for World Superbike eligibility.

If I'm right the product cycle on the 1098 could be as little as 1 model year.

Think about what that would do to resale values of the 1098s when an 1188cc version comes to market.


This could explain the mysterious price drop for the entry level Ducati Superbike as well. Presently the standard 999 goes for $17,999, the new bike will retail for under $15,000, and features a much higher level of standard components. Since the 999 was selling reasonably well at the $17,999 price point, why drop the price by 26% when you are going to be delivering a supposedly superior piece of machinery?

My guess is that Ducati knows that the 1098 will not be long of this world, and they are trying to minimize the customer relations damage that will be done when the 1188cc bike comes to market in as little as 12 months time.

I'm not so sure that the 1098 is the answer that we've been waiting for from Ducati. I think that, at best, it is a comma (,). At worst, it could be a beta test.

[j911brick]

I think this is probably a complicated marketing study. I suspect the 1098 is an interem bike. It will dramatically increase sale for Ducati for a year, then they will pop a new surprize on us and sell all those customers a new bike again. Ford used to do this game where they would sell a new car a Mercury one year, then sell the same car as a Ford (Deluxe) the next year.