1098's are done!

[Manny]

You're basing a "typical" cycle off of what they did twice? You have to remember that when the 916 came out they were just getting away from hand built frames so their whole assembly line might not have been up to par, I'm sure they are turning out bikes a lot faster these days anyway. Even if everything I said was completely wrong you have to look at who owned Ducati when all of this was going on. Cagiva Group owned Ducati during the design of the 916 but sold off to Texas Pacific just one year into the 916 being on the market. Now Investindustrial Holdings owns them, has since '05. I'm sure all three different owners have different ideas of what should be done and how long a certain model will stay on the market before a revamp.

I never really paid attention to the cost of the liter bikes over the years but the middle weights have stayed within about $500 of each other since the 748, maybe even before that. We're talking close to 25 years without a significant price increase. You really can't blame them if they do go up a little.

Im not sure what point you are trying to make, nor what you are disagreeing with me on.

Here are my points summarized.

1. I think the price of the 1198 will be higher than the 1098 and more in line with the 999 pricing. Just my guess.

2. I am surprised they only let the 1098 go for a 2 year run (but I certainly don't care, all it does is make my black/red 1098s more rare, particularly b/c they dropped the red frame for the new models).

If you disagree with point 2 and knew they would only last 2 years then I have no idea what reason you would have had to think it. For the last 3 generations of superbikes they never did something as aggressive as this, particularly with a hot seller. I think a lot of people were surprised.

[Brian675]

1198 is where its at bitches!

http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/my200...del=SBK1198-09

Wasn't the 1098R a 1198cc

[Brian675]

And as far as selling I'm not sure about the 1098 being a hot seller or not but Ducati North America just had there biggest summer. Maybe because the 848, I don't know.

[BCT748]

Im not sure what point you are trying to make, nor what you are disagreeing with me on.

Here are my points summarized.

1. I think the price of the 1198 will be higher than the 1098 and more in line with the 999 pricing. Just my guess.

2. I am surprised they only let the 1098 go for a 2 year run (but I certainly don't care, all it does is make my black/red 1098s more rare, particularly b/c they dropped the red frame for the new models).

If you disagree with point 2 and knew they would only last 2 years then I have no idea what reason you would have had to think it. For the last 3 generations of superbikes they never did something as aggressive as this, particularly with a hot seller. I think a lot of people were surprised.

I'm not arguing with your points, just your reasoning behind them

Wasn't the 1098R a 1198cc

Yup, and they still are. They still have the 1098R listed as a current model, along with that kick ass 1098R Bayliss LE. The R, even though it has the same displacement, still puts out more power. Along with all the suspension upgrades, exhaust, ECU......

[kamikaze]

Anyone know a website to get motorcycle sales figures?

[GixerJockey]

Maybe they just want to compete with the Japanese on every level, including frequency of model changes...

[DuncanMoto]

How about the Bayliss Edition???

http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/my200...SBK1098RBAY-09

[DuncanMoto]

I guess the yellow 1098 will go up in value now ;-)

[Kurlon]

Wasn't there a 955 in there?

Not for regular sale. They were building factory 955s out of 851s/888s for WSBK, etc. They were also blowing up cases left and right at the same time... : )

Oh, and to add to the confusion, the 996R was a 998 Testastreta motor'd bike, before the 998 was launched with that badge. 999s were 998s unless you got a 999R, which was 999cc with it's own bore and stroke...

Duc has this weird habit of refusing to label bikes correctly.

[BCT748]

Not for regular sale. They were building factory 955s out of 851s/888s for WSBK, etc. They were also blowing up cases left and right at the same time... : )

Oh, and to add to the confusion, the 996R was a 998 Testastreta motor'd bike, before the 998 was launched with that badge. 999s were 998s unless you got a 999R, which was 999cc with it's own bore and stroke...

Duc has this weird habit of refusing to label bikes correctly.

The 749 is a 748cc motor too but I don't think they could have gotten away with calling the 999 a 998 and the 749 a 748. There would have been riots in the streets!

[x2468]

it's about time.

but the R is still called 1098? but it's been 1198cc for a year or so now? why... i don't get it.

are there any fairing changes?

[Rye]

Ahhh, just makes everyone think they are only getting a 10% displacement break over the I-4's (when it's really 20%...sshhhh). 15 of the last 20 Championships...hmmmm.