This may be a bit redundant for you R1-Forum guys (are we allowed to say that name here?) So just bare with me...I'm a bit excited.

So a few weeks ago, before the R1-forum went through it's "down period" I made a thread looking for testimonial from owners of the Ducati 1098. I was considering trading in my 2006 Kawasaki ZX-10R, which I loved. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Kawasaki. But...somehow I ended up pondering making the jump and giving the Ducati a try. There are a ton of opinions when it comes to the Duck. Some good...some bad. But that's the same with anything.

I decided to pull the trigger and got rid of the 10R. It took a few weeks to get the 1098 I ordered in. I went for a red, 2008, base model. The S would have been nice, but I was already spending more than I had ever spent on a motorcycle before, and I thought the standard would do just fine. I picked it up saturday and rode it home in the dark. I would have to wait till Sunday to get out and really experience what the Ducati had to offer.

It's not normal to have 65 degree days in November in Colorado, so I was thanking my lucky stars that I had a decent chance to get out on the new bike. It's 180 degrees from what I'm used to with the Kawasaki. Even taking it moderately easy and breaking the bike in, you can tell the power, torque and short gearing will be extremely entertaining. I don't anticipate missing the 15-20 hp that I've given up, in any way shape or form. I've heard that the handling out of the box on the 1098 can be a bit odd, but mine seems to be fantastic. once you're line is set, it's as if you could take both hands off the bars and it would ride itself around the rest of the turn. The brakes are absolutely insane. They really are scary.

At this point, I'm 100% happy with my decision to try something different. I'm falling in love with the Ducati already. Reliability and maintenance remain unproven as I've only put about 250 miles on the bike so far. But assuming things go smoothly, I don't anticipate anything worse than any of the other bikes I've owned.

Yeah yeah...enough babble...here are a few pics...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/ImperialRed/1098/DSC01802.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/ImperialRed/1098/DSC01794.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/ImperialRed/1098/DSC01793.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/ImperialRed/1098/DSC01798.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/ImperialRed/1098/DSC01769.jpg

Oh hell I guess I should throw in a pic of the old dog she replaced...I owe her that much! Hahaha

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/ImperialRed/DSC01748.jpg

Very nice bike man.... :bow


You will love it I'm sure... :)

:rock:rock:sex:sex

Very nice. Congrats on the new bike.


Ride safe.

Congrats! :thumbup :thumbup

Awesome, Andy! Congrats on the purchase!!!

Nice toy you got there. I also tried a Duc once, coincidentally also coming from a Kawi... Hope you have better luck with yours :crash

very nice :rock:rock

Saweeeeeeet!! :rock

Very nice!! How's the riding position compared to your ZX?

Jim

damn she is sexy :drool

awesome!

noice:rock

Thanks guys...As with any new bike, I end up just standing there staring at it. It's amazing how much time you can spend just looking at the damn things!

The riding position is definitely more aggressive than any other bike I've owned. Your balls never leave the tank and your shoulders take the majority of the load. The seat is as hard as I've ever sat on. But when you're moving, and everything becomes functional...it's heaven. You sit down in the bike, as opposed to on top. After putting 180 miles on the bike on sunday, spread out over a long day or riding, I wasn't any more tired than I would have been on the ZX-10R. I did have a little bit of soarness in my shoulders the next day though. It's something that I'll adjust too I'm sure.

I'm hoping ducati comes out with that new 8xx cc machine...would be badass.

very nice bike

Have you taken that one to the Gap yet? :lol

Reservations are already made Bogie! I'll be there in May!!!!

Reservations are already made Bogie! I'll be there in May!!!!

Sweet!! Looking foward to the pics of the Duck railing through the Gap! :rock