Mike Robins
New member
i rode the 1098R and the KTM RC8 back to back this afternoon doing about 40miles on each. A Roads, national speed limit, twisties, some riding thru the villages at 30. If you read my previous post you'll know that I was smitten by the RC8 because it is so nimble, so flickable into turns and flatters the rider, unlike my 1098 which I have to wrestle everywhere.
well, I have some other thoughts from a second back to back ride. i guess you guys want to hear them, right?
Now first lets start with lining them up outside the garage. the RC8 is industrial design. i luv it. but engineering beauty belongs to the 1098R. I know its apples and oranges price wise, but the Ducati wins for feel (good factor) and quality. it oozes special.
starting them up couldn't be more different. the KTM's starter spins up the motor in an instant and its soon settled into a muted v twin thrum. standard exhaust you see. akro on order, can't wait to see what that does to noise and weight. the red devil in contrast begins to turn over with a wheezy, lumpy uncertain lollop. badum, badum, catch...stall. a couple of times. but then there she is, i've the termi cans on, so the deep bass rumble is there right from the off. brilliant.
first off it's the KTM. I can't wait to fly as free as a bird, flicking and turning, what a joy. a great ride. pulls well, the power isn't overwhelming, but it's certainly well enough for lots of fun. great dash, the multi functions are useful and inspiring. the fuel reserve screen comes on and is a mine of info on how long before you run dry. i squeezed 12 litres in by the way. the clutch is a delight, so light, but it engages late in the reach, so i stalled a couple of times at junctions expecting power to be delivered a bit earlier. i'm using the clutch a lot as i'm travelling because my first ride was littered with missed gear changes. a firm foot and use of the clutch clears the problem. guess i just got lazy on the duke, whose gearbox is so perfect by comparison. onto the brakes. brembo, but can't be the monoblocs that i'm used to on the 1098. they'll stop you, but you have to engage hard with 2 or 3 fingers.
it's time for the 1098R. stiffer clutch right away. the bite from the front brake is instant at the end of my driveway. right thru the ride i love the brakes on the ducati. once you've had such stopping power you don't want to go back to anything less. then there's the engine. remember i'm still running the bike in, so i'm short shifting up at 6-6.5k. this bike has mega power. it's an animal. no it isn't.....ride this bike hard and it's like the winged attack dog of beelzebub! A snorting, barking, head shaking beast that catapults you towards the horizon. a couple of clicks are added to the steering samper. the slipper slutch is awesome! overall, the RC8 is dull by comparison. well, make that "more usuable", if you don't like red hot chilli performance.
i spent a lot of time thinking about turning the bikes since there's such a difference between them. the 1098 hates the start of a turn. it feels like a gyroscopic effect preventing you initially moving it off the vertical. once it's tracking a line, it's solid and dependable. don't try and shift the line quickly though is my experience. could it be the front piston/cylinder so low down making it behave this way? who are the engineers out there in DuN land with the answer? the KTM is easy to fling, not much effort required at all. the 1098 needs anticipation, thought, planning and active execution. i guess in the hands of a good rider, it'll go around any bend as fast or faster than a RC8, but the rider will definately be working much harder in my view.
so there we go. i am pleased to say that the biggest grin factor award was won by Ducai this evening. the weather was warmer and the roads were dry. i was up for it, and i had a grin on my face the whole time.....worth every penny!
m
well, I have some other thoughts from a second back to back ride. i guess you guys want to hear them, right?
Now first lets start with lining them up outside the garage. the RC8 is industrial design. i luv it. but engineering beauty belongs to the 1098R. I know its apples and oranges price wise, but the Ducati wins for feel (good factor) and quality. it oozes special.
starting them up couldn't be more different. the KTM's starter spins up the motor in an instant and its soon settled into a muted v twin thrum. standard exhaust you see. akro on order, can't wait to see what that does to noise and weight. the red devil in contrast begins to turn over with a wheezy, lumpy uncertain lollop. badum, badum, catch...stall. a couple of times. but then there she is, i've the termi cans on, so the deep bass rumble is there right from the off. brilliant.
first off it's the KTM. I can't wait to fly as free as a bird, flicking and turning, what a joy. a great ride. pulls well, the power isn't overwhelming, but it's certainly well enough for lots of fun. great dash, the multi functions are useful and inspiring. the fuel reserve screen comes on and is a mine of info on how long before you run dry. i squeezed 12 litres in by the way. the clutch is a delight, so light, but it engages late in the reach, so i stalled a couple of times at junctions expecting power to be delivered a bit earlier. i'm using the clutch a lot as i'm travelling because my first ride was littered with missed gear changes. a firm foot and use of the clutch clears the problem. guess i just got lazy on the duke, whose gearbox is so perfect by comparison. onto the brakes. brembo, but can't be the monoblocs that i'm used to on the 1098. they'll stop you, but you have to engage hard with 2 or 3 fingers.
it's time for the 1098R. stiffer clutch right away. the bite from the front brake is instant at the end of my driveway. right thru the ride i love the brakes on the ducati. once you've had such stopping power you don't want to go back to anything less. then there's the engine. remember i'm still running the bike in, so i'm short shifting up at 6-6.5k. this bike has mega power. it's an animal. no it isn't.....ride this bike hard and it's like the winged attack dog of beelzebub! A snorting, barking, head shaking beast that catapults you towards the horizon. a couple of clicks are added to the steering samper. the slipper slutch is awesome! overall, the RC8 is dull by comparison. well, make that "more usuable", if you don't like red hot chilli performance.
i spent a lot of time thinking about turning the bikes since there's such a difference between them. the 1098 hates the start of a turn. it feels like a gyroscopic effect preventing you initially moving it off the vertical. once it's tracking a line, it's solid and dependable. don't try and shift the line quickly though is my experience. could it be the front piston/cylinder so low down making it behave this way? who are the engineers out there in DuN land with the answer? the KTM is easy to fling, not much effort required at all. the 1098 needs anticipation, thought, planning and active execution. i guess in the hands of a good rider, it'll go around any bend as fast or faster than a RC8, but the rider will definately be working much harder in my view.
so there we go. i am pleased to say that the biggest grin factor award was won by Ducai this evening. the weather was warmer and the roads were dry. i was up for it, and i had a grin on my face the whole time.....worth every penny!
m