(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
|
Racing, Photography, Software and Politics.