For fans of Ducati perhaps Ducati 1198S Corse Special Edition is a good choice Engineered by the stopwatch, designed by the race track.
The 1198 S Corse Special Edition marks the historic introduction of a new Ducati Corse logo and features a factory team-style aluminium fuel tank, bold Corse colour scheme and a race kit.
Superbike heritage
Ducati Superbikes, designed, engineered and built in Bologna, Italy, have always represented the pinnacle of Ducati motorcycle technology and racing success. For Ducati, racing and winning are a way of life and a way of thinking for our designers, engineers and everyone at the factory. Our unique engineering solutions are proven on the race track, where the only way to win is to have technical superiority and dependable performance.
Ducati have dominated World Superbike racing, winning more Riders' and more Manufacturers’ World Championship titles and more individual races than any other manufacturer. Add these unequalled performances to the historic achievement of winning the MotoGP World Championship, and the results speak for themselves.
Engineered by the stopwatch
Ducati Superbikes are the most advanced, most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycles ever built. They are the product of a team of designers and engineers who have combined their Ducati MotoGP and World Superbike technologies to create the finest sportbikes in the world. From race-level engine specifications to World Championship-winning traction control, the results are pure excellence. The Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system further underlines our technology flow from racing to production and demonstrates how solutions developed for the track can be applied to enhance safer performance on the road.
Designed by the race track
Ducati Superbikes are race bikes, pure and simple. Their striking aerodynamic shapes create a natural riding position, confirmed by our development and factory team riders as the optimum for speed and agility. Performance is first and foremost in every detail.
Trademark Ducati features like the high tail section and compact front end combine with twin under-seat silencers and single-sided swingarm to express the sheer engineering beauty of aerodynamics and agility. Add the Testastretta Evoluzione engines as the hearts of the machines and the result is all-out performance Ducati Superbikes that look fast even when parked.
S philosophy
The 'S' version Superbike creates a dream package by taking everything that the 1198 model has and adding top-of-the-range suspension, lightweight chassis components and Ducati's impressive DTC traction control system.
The 'S' sets the standard for lightweight performance. On any sport or race bike, the most effective area to reduce weight is its 'unsprung weight'. These are components like tyres, brakes and wheels. Lighter wheels have a lower 'moment of inertia' that is beneficial with every direction change and application of the brakes. The 1198 S addresses this important area by mounting forged and machined wheels. Both front and rear are super lightweight and their benefit is immediately apparent. The weight saving is further enhanced with the application of a carbon fibre front fender.
Ducati Corse Special Edition
The winning of both the 2009 World Superbike and Superstock Manufacturers’ titles is a fitting stage on which to present two exclusive and exciting special editions built to mark the historic introduction of a new Ducati Corse logo. The 1198 S Corse Special Edition and 1198 R Corse Special Edition are both equipped with factory team-style aluminium fuel tanks, Ducati Traction Control and a special celebratory Ducati Corse livery.
Engine
Desmodromics
The incredible valve performances of our engines 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. With the Desmo system, the valve is closed mechanically with the same accuracy as it is opened, enabling steep cam profiles and radical cam timings.
This system is used on every single Ducati power unit including our world-beating Superbike and Desmosedici MotoGP engines.
Magnesium alloy covers
The weight-saving cam covers in magnesium-alloy are evident by their gold colour.
High-effieciency cooling
Its race-developed fairing design ensures perfect integration with the cooling system by providing efficient flow through the advanced, large surface area coolant radiator, which is assisted by lightweight, high flow electric fan assemblies and oil coolers.
Exhaust system
Incredibly lightweight, the exhaust system has been engineered with a power-increasing symmetrical 2-1-2 layout that uses 52mm-57mm diameter tubing with a wall thickness of 0.8mm (0.30in). It is equipped with a catalytic converter and two lambda probes for optimum engine mapping and Euro3 conformity. The system terminates with Ducati's trademark twin under-seat silencers, delivering that unmistakable signature sound of the big bore Desmo 90° L-Twin.
1198 Testastretta Evoluzione
The Testastretta Evoluzione engine is the crowning glory of our development and the perfection of the L-Twin engine. World Superbike dominance for almost two decades is the result of continual commitment to our twin-cylinder configuration. We now share the reward for that commitment with World Championship-winning technology constantly flowing from the factory race team into our production engines.
Volumetric efficiency through the four valves per cylinder is optimised with valve diameters at 43.5mm for the inlet and 35.5mm for the exhaust.
Vacural® crankcases
The 1198 Testastretta Evoluzione engines are the lightest ever used in Ducati Superbikes, thanks to Vacural® technology, a crankcase vacuum die-cast manufacturing process yielding weight reductions of 3kg (6.5lbs) compared to the 1098 Superbike cases. The process ensures consistent and precise wall thickness and increased strength from absolute material purity.
Power & torque curves
The 1198 engine produces 170hp (125kW) @ 9,750rpm and a class-beating 97lb-ft (13.4kgm) of torque @ 8,000rpm.
Crankshaft
The 1198 capacity is achieved using exactly the same 106mm x 67.9mm bore and stroke as the factory race bike.
Elliptical throttle bodies
To keep the highly efficient Testastretta cylinder heads breathing to their full potential, the injection system uses MotoGP-derived elliptical throttle bodies with an equivalent diameter of 63.9mm.
Race-derived detail
The 1198 engines all share the same attention to race-derived details.
Race-designed 1198 pistons have a distinctive double-ribbed undercrown to achieve high strength and reduced friction by using minimal piston wall surface area. Using technology developed for the Desmosedici MotoGP project, the design enables reliable operation of the 106mm diameter pistons when performing at high rpm.
Racing-type rocker arms are 'super-finished' for reduced friction and fatigue at high rpm.
The gearbox's carefully calculated specification allows the use of a high ratio 6th gear, fully enabling the speed increase achieved from additional performance modifications (suggested for track use only). 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.
Chassis
Trellis frame
Developed in cooperation with Ducati Corse, the lightweight Trellis frame features 34mm main section tubes with a material thickness of 1.5mm. The result is an incredibly rigid construction that remains one of Ducati's lightest frame solutions ever.
Through decades of racing and development, Ducati has proven that innovative chassis engineering and evolutionary frame advancements win races. The tubular Trellis frame, used on every Ducati motorcycle, is a signature design element.
This unique Ducati frame is light, rigid and beautiful thanks to its ingenious Trellis design and use of high quality ALS 450 tubing. Each tube is mitred and micro-fusion welded in a complex triangulated pattern and our incredibly strong L-Twin engine cases are functional 'stressed members' of the chassis.
Brembo Monobloc brakes
Machined from a single piece of alloy, Brembo's powerful Monobloc callipers achieve a higher rigidity and resistance to distortion during extreme braking. The resulting increase in hydraulic efficiency not only delivers incredible braking power, but also provides an enhanced and precise 'feel' at the brake lever. The twin Monobloc callipers each have four 34mm pistons that grip huge 330mm discs to help achieve spectacular brake performance. The weight of the discs has been kept to a minimum by employing racing-style narrow braking surfaces.
Superbike aerodynamics
Carefully designed for aerodynamic efficiency and to hug the sleek lines of the chassis, the Superbike bodywork enables the rider to blend effortlessly into the correct riding position.
Its race-developed fairing design ensures perfect integration with the cooling system by providing efficient flow through the advanced, large surface area coolant radiator, which is assisted by lightweight, high flow electric fan assemblies and oil coolers. Aerodynamically shaped air ducts positioned just below the headlamps are precisely calculated to provide ample air delivery to the pressurised airbox.
The lightweight bodywork contributes considerably to overall performance by reducing weight, protecting the Testastretta Evoluzione engine's power output, and assisting the rider to effortlessly 'tuck in' from the wind stream and reduce drag to achieve maximum straight-line track speeds.
Magnesium front sub-frame
Producing a front subframe in magnesium underlines the attention to weight-saving detail in the Ducati Superbike range. Its construction provides secure support for the headlamp, instruments and fairing, and the weight-saving around this high, forward position contributes considerably to overall 'feel' and control of the machine.
Öhlins forks
The high performance, fully adjustable 43mm Öhlins forks, which sport low friction titanium nitride-treated fork sliders, respond effortlessly to every imperfection in the tarmac. Beyond their advanced engineering solutions, one of the most important characteristics of Öhlins forks is their ability to communicate the condition and quality of the tyre-to-road contact patch, a feature that puts you in superior control.
Öhlins rear suspension
The suspension set-up at the rear features a fully adjustable Öhlins rear shock equipped with a ride enhancing top-out spring for outstanding drive and traction. An adjustable rear ride-height, independent of spring pre-load and other suspension settings, enables the perfect set-up for personal riding style or track conditions.
Öhlins steering damper
The front-to-rear Öhlins suspension package is completed with a control-enhancing Öhlins adjustable steering damper.
Aluminium fuel tank
The new beautifully formed factory team-style aluminium fuel tank comes in a bold red, white and black colour scheme. It weighs 1kg (2.2lb) less than the original tank and boosts the bike's fuel capacity by 2.5 litres (0.66 US gal) to 18 litres (4.75 US gal). The tank is formed in 2mm thick aluminium, brush finished and clear-coated to maintain a factory race tank feel and proudly displays the new Ducati Corse logo on top.
Marchesini 7-spoke wheels
The lightweight front wheels used on all Ducati Superbike models substantially reduces the moment of inertia, enabling a faster change of direction and enhanced acceleration and braking performances.
The 'S' and 'R' rides on beautiful black 7-spoke lightweight, forged-aluminium, machine-finished wheels by Marchesini, and are fitted with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC at 120/70 ZR17 for the front and 190/55 ZR17 for the rear. These tyres have shoulder areas that maximize the contact patch and carcasses specially designed for stiffness under heavy braking and precision during high speed cornering. This precision in tyre construction enabled Ducati technicians to create extremely fine programs for the Ducati Traction Controls systems used on the bike.
Single-sided swingarm
The dual construction technique used for the single-sided swingarm allows the main operational components to use individual aluminium castings so as to ensure strength around the pivot points, wheel hub and suspension links, while lightweight, fabricated aluminium sections are used to complete the construction into a single, beautifully engineered component. The swingarm is finished in natural aluminium to match the new factory team-style aluminium fuel tank.
Equipment
Single-seat cover
All 1198 models are fitted with a passenger seat which can easily be changed in seconds with a single-seat cover supplied with the bike. The colour-matched part gives the bike an instant racing-style rear-end.
Race kit
Included with the bike is a race kit consisting of a slip-on carbon fibre muffler kit by Termignoni with a dedicated ECU and a Ducati Performance rear paddock stand.
Stopwatch
The digital display is programmed with a stopwatch function that, when enabled, can be triggered by using the high-beam flash button and each recorded time stored in a memory. After your journey or track session, the times or lap times can be recalled from the memory and scrolled through by using the instrumentation buttons on the left-hand switchgear.
Controls
Ducati Superbikes are equipped with adjustable levers that operate Brembo radial-type master cylinders with remote reservoirs. Add easy-to-use switchgear with stopwatch function and DTC and DDA management and it becomes clear that functionality plays a major role alongside performance.
Lighting
The horizontal twin headlamps, a signature Ducati style from the iconic 916, are modernised with the latest lighting technology. Two polyellipsoidal units light the way with a powerful beam while maintaining an aggressive look to the front of the machine in pure Ducati Superbike tradition.
The rear light employs a specially designed strip of LEDs enhanced by a high diffusion lens shaped into the sleek lines of the tailpiece. The same LEDs are intensified for brake lights.
The directional indicators also use the latest in LED technology for illumination. The frontal indicators are beautifully integrated into the rear view mirrors.
Mirror extension kit
All Superbike mirrors come with an optional spacer kit enabling an extension of 30mm over the standard mirror stem length.
DDA
The Ducati Data Analyser (DDA), which includes PC software, a USB-ready data retrieval card and instructions, enables you to review and analyse your performance and that of the bike's, and to make comparisons between various channels of information.
The system records numerous channels of data including throttle opening (A), vehicle speed (B), engine rpm (C), engine temperature (D), distance travelled (E), laps and lap times. It also automatically calculates engine rpm and vehicle speed data, enabling it to display gear selection (F) as an additional channel of information. An additional channel of information is now dedicated to recording the DTC index (G) which can then be viewed as a graphic trace and indicates the amount of DTC interaction during wheel-spin (Subject to model).
At the end of a ride or track session, up to 4mb of data can be downloaded ready to compare, analyse and get an inside view of the performance of both you and the bike.
Carbon fibre
Weight saving is further enhanced with the application of a carbon fibre front fender.
GP-derived instruments
This pure racing digital instrumentation originating from Ducati's MotoGP project has no switches or buttons to compromise its clean, minimalist lines. Instead, information additional to the default read-outs is managed from the left-hand handlebar-mounted switch gear, allowing the rider to scroll through and select from various menus.
The display, which has a bright white LED back lighting, presents rpm and speed, with the former displayed across the screen in a progressive bar graph. Optionally, the rpm and speed can be displayed in numeric values. Additionally, it displays lap times, DTC level selected (if activated on 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse) time, air temperature, coolant temperature, battery voltage, two trips and a trip that automatically starts as the fuel system goes onto reserve.
Warning lights illuminate to signify neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, low oil pressure, fuel reserve, DTC intervention (if activated on 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse) and scheduled maintenance. The instrument display is also used as the control panels for the DDA (DDA kit supplied as standard on 1198 S, 1198 S Corse and 1198 R Corse) and DTC systems as well as listing lap times recorded by using the high-beam flash button as a stopwatch.
DTC
Ducati were the first manufacturer to introduce a true competition-level traction control system on a production motorcycle. The Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system further underlines Ducati's technology flow from racing to production and demonstrates how solutions developed for the track can be applied to enhance performance safety on the road.
DTC uses the same software logic developed and used by Ducati Corse for their World Championship-winning MotoGP and World Superbike motorcycles and offers a choice of eight settings developed by their professional test riders and racers.
Accessible from the left-hand switchgear and displayed on the digital instrumentation, the system offers a choice of eight profiles, each one programmed with a wheel-spin tolerance matched to progressive riding levels of skill graded from one to eight. While level eight administers a confidence-building, high level of interaction from the system by activating upon the slightest amount of wheel-spin, level one offers a much higher tolerance and, therefore, much less intervention for highly competent riders.
