(originally published January 25th, 2010)

Awaking this morning, I decided to put together this little rundown of my two liter-class twins. For a pair of bikes with remarkably similar dimensions, and engine type, their characters are vastly different. Some of this is clear in the HP and weight differences, but it goes beyond that. There is a ‘feeling’ you get when riding a Ducati that no other bike I’ve owned, delivers.

Here is the 411:

2008 Ducati 1098 Superbike		2004 Suzuki SV1000S
Dimensions
Wheel Base:	56.3 in.	Wheel Base:	56.5 inches
Seat Height:	32.2 in.	Seat Height:	31.9 inches
Fuel Capacity:	4.1 gal.	Fuel Capacity:	4.5 Gal
Dry Weight:	381 lbs.	Dry Weight:	407.9 pounds
Suspension / Wheels
Front Tire:	120/70 ZR17	Front Tire:	120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire:	190/55 ZR17	Rear Tire:	180/55 ZR17
Front Forks:	Inverted, adjustable preload, adjustable compression & rebound damping	Front Forks:	Telescopic, cartridge-type, adjustable preload, adjustable compression & rebound damping
Engine and transmission
Displacement:	1099 cc	Displacement:	996 cc
Bore and Stroke:	104 x 64.7mm	Bore and Stroke:	98 mm x 66 mm
Compression:	12.5:1	Compression:	11.3:1
Fuel System:	Marelli EFI w/ elliptical throttle bodies	Fuel System:	Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve fuel-injection system
Horsepower (bhp):	160 bhp	Horsepower (bhp):	106 hp
Torque (ft./lb.):	90.4 lbs	Torque (ft./lb.):	75.2
Transition:	6 speed	Transition:	6 speed
Fleet Status
Acquired:	Feb. 2008 (new)	Acquired:	Aug. 2009 (used)
Mileage:	12081	Mileage:	6103
Duty:	Occasional track days, special riding excursions, photography prop	Duty:	Daily commuting, general riding.
Modifications:	* CRC forged levers * Woodcraft billet clutch cover * Ducati Performance spider pressure plate * AVVI Billet Rear Sets * Custom painted brake, clutch and slave reservoir caps * Ducati Performance exhaust and 1098R ECU * H11 HID low-beam lamp * Reflector delete	Modifications:	* Frame sliders
Riding Impressions
Wicked fast. Scalpel sharp handling. Loud and Proud		Solid liter class twin Easy commuter Inconspicuous