Ducati Brisbane 1098 R

848 / 1198 / 1198 S / 1098 R / 1098 R Bayliss LE

Ducati 1098 R

Now updated with Ducati Traction Control for the road, the awesome 1098 R is also available in a 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition, celebrating Troy's victory in the 2008 World Superbike Championship and the end of a legendary career that has seen three World Championships on three generations of Ducati Superbike.

Built To Win

The 1098 R is the ultimate Superbike. The most advanced, most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycle ever. Built with the single objective of winning, it powered Troy Bayliss to victory in the World Superbike Championship in its debut year. Now it has been improved even further.

The 'R' is a race bike, pure and simple. Its competition specification and superior components together with advanced electronics and race-proven chassis technology deliver a level of performance that empowers with confidence and capability. On the road, it distinguishes its rider as a connoisseur of high-performance motorcycles. On the track it instantly promotes the rider to a higher level of skill.

The road-going 'R' version is closer than ever to Ducati's factory race bike. The 1098 R is not a replica - it's the real deal. An incredible 180hp L-Twin Testastretta Evoluzione engine in a race-winning Trellis chassis set-up tips the scales at an unbelievably lightweight 165kg (364lbs) and comes with Ducati Corse's world championship winning traction control system for the road.

Once again, Ducati raises the bar and sets the world standard for sport bikes while turning the heads and racing the hearts of enthusiasts throughout the world.

Superbike Technology

The 1098 R takes all the Superbike family features, reduces weight even further and adds an extra 10 horsepower (respect to the 1198), sand-cast crankcases, titanium valves and con-rods, fully adjustable Öhlins TTXR rear suspension and much more to produce the most awesome performance ever seen in this category.

Underlining its competition intention, the 1098 R is designed as a true 'monoposto' with no provisions to carry a passenger. This has enabled a 50% weight reduction of the rear subframe by producing it in aluminium alloy.

Other specifications particular to the 1098 R includes the fairing belly-pan, upper-fairing internal panels, tank lower side panels, seat assembly and front fender in carbon fibre, making the bodywork a considerable contributing factor to the overall performance of the machine.

In true 'R' style, 1098 R comes with red bodywork complete with white background number plates on the tail section and nose fairing. The Trellis frame is also in 'red' with the front and rear 5-spoke Marchesini wheels finished in 'racing gold'. The fairing belly-pan, front fender and side panels are left in a contrasting natural carbon fibre finish. Finally, the small red, white and green tricolore graphic, neatly shaped between the twin headlamps in the nose fairing, proudly underlines the Italian design, style and precision race engineering of this incredible motorcycle.

Race Kit

The 1098 R comes with a race kit (intended strictly for track use only) which boosts power output from 180 to approximately 186hp. The kit consists of a 102dB carbon fibre slip-on muffler kit by Termignoni and a dedicated ECU.

1098 R Testastretta Evoluzione power

The 1098 R engine represents the finest twin-cylinder technology in the world. It produces 180hp (132.4kW) @ 9,750rpm and 99.1lb-ft (13.7kgm) of brute torque @ 7,750rpm in standard mode and an astonishing 186hp when using the supplied race kit (intended strictly for track use only).

The specification of this engine underlines its no-compromise race technology. To help contain the massive 'R' power output, the crankcases have been sand-cast produced, a process that improves the molecular quality of the casting, increasing strength while ensuring that intricate shapes are achieved with absolute accuracy. Confirming the 1098 R's race specification by minimising weight and increasing performance, the crankshaft connecting rods are made in titanium, achieving a 34% saving over the stock 1198 rods while reducing their reciprocating forces and improving crankshaft acceleration. Cam belt covers moulded in carbon fibre and cam covers cast in magnesium alloy enhance the lightweight package.

The 1198.4cc capacity is the product of a larger bore and stroke of 106x67.9mm and is fed through four titanium valves per cylinder and compressed to a ratio of 12.8:1. The chrome nitride coated valves are larger in the 'R' engine, measuring 44.3mm for the inlet and 36.2mm for the exhaust. They are actuated by rocker arms that are super-finished for reduced friction and fatigue, and double overhead camshafts with radical race profiles.

These incredible valve performances are only possible because of Ducati's unique Desmodromic system, where valve closure is activated mechanically. At high rpm it would be almost impossible for the valve to follow the steep closure profile of the cam lobe if it were relying upon a normal valve spring, but with the Desmo system the valve is mechanically closed with the same accuracy as it is opened, enabling steep cam profiles and radical cam timings. This system is used on every single Ducati motorcycle including our world-beating Desmosedici MotoGP bike.

The pistons utilise the same design developed for the Desmosedici in the Ducati MotoGP program by using a distinctive double-ribbed undercrown to achieve high strength with minimal piston wall surface area and, therefore, less friction.

The 1098 R elliptical throttle bodies equate to diameter measurement of 63.9mm and the 'R' remains the only road-going Ducati to use twin injectors on each cylinder. The first centrally mounted injector feeds through a 4-hole nozzle while the second offset injector feeds through a 12-hole nozzle ensuring progressive and fluid power delivery throughout the rev-range. With this configuration the system has the capacity to provide much heavier fueling when used in competition.

The gearbox's carefully calculated specification allows the use of a high ratio 6th gear, fully enabling the speed increase achieved from using the supplied race kit (for track use only) or additional performance modifications. Also with performance in mind and because of its high resistance to fatigue, the gears are machined from the same high-strength steel used in Ducati Corse race applications and are subjected to a shot-peening treatment that further ensures their strength. Unique to the 'R' version, the dry, multiplate 'slipper' clutch reduces the destabilising effect of aggressive downshifting and helps provide the fine control required when used under extreme track conditions.

The 1098 R uses the same 2-1-2 exhaust system as the 1198, however, it terminates with Ducati's trademark twin under-seat mufflers beautifully formed in super lightweight titanium and stainless steel.