Description
By: Marc Cook, 2nd hand book in very good condition
Description
When most motorcycle manufacturers go racing, it's because they hope that success at the track will create a "halo effect" that makes their street machines more desirable. For Ducati, racing is an entirely different matter. It's woven into the very DNA of the company, and informs virtually every aspect of its product planning and decision making. Within the modest yet incredibly productive confines of the Bologna headquarters, motorsport is the topic of the day, every day, and the desire to win is palpable.
It's no wonder, then, that under the direction of Claudio Domenicali, former head of Ducati Corse and now the director of Ducati's entire product line, Ducati's streetbike engineering is ever more closely tied to its race track endeavors. There's no better proof of this than the 1098 and 1198 Superbikes, and the smaller-displacement 848, which were developed with high-performance and racing applications at the top of the wish list.
In developing the 1098 and the follow-on 1198, Ducati applied the same back-to-basics philosophy that had produced so much racing success: create a bike that would be faster than ever by combining higher horsepower and overall torque with lower weight. The first goal was met by the new Testastretta Evoluzione (TSE) L-twin engine, which delivered a stunning 20-horsepower improvement over that of even the most powerful variant of the 999's engine. as seen in the 999R. The second required a complete review of every part used in the 999, with the aim of reducing each one's weight by 10-15 percent.
This potent mix of technical expertise, in-depth analysis, and methodical execution yielded a bike that was not only more powerful, but also more rider-friendly and easier to work on. Where the 1098's predecessor flaunted its design ethic and clever solutions to difficult engineering problems, the new Superbike is simplified, rationalized, and technically advanced in surprisingly practical ways. For longtime Ducati enthusiasts, the 1098's reflection (bordering on adoration) of the vaunted 916's raw sensuality would have been enough, but it's combined here with stellar dynamics. The 1098/1198 is passionate and evocative in the ways that made the 916 legendary, but with a practical side that delights on every ride, that's persistent as the kilometers pile up.
Ducati 1098/1198:The Superbike Redefined tells the story of the development of this most powerful and charismatic Ducati Superbike from the perspective of the designers, stylists, engineers, and managers who took on the daunting task of shepherding the company's most important streetbike from concept to rolling artwork. Every stage in the 1098's planning and development is covered in detail, from the earliest ideas through the testing and refinement that ultimately produced a world-beating Ducati Superbike.
