2011 Ducati 1198SP spied on Intermot show floor

[Travman]

"So what’s an SP? Well, take an outgoing 1198S, add a slipper clutch, aluminum tank, a $1,400 Ohlins TTX shock, a quickshifter and a few other options, but — this is the kicker — we hear all that’s only going to cost $100 over the price of last year’s 1198S."
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/10/2011-ducati-1198sp-spied-on-intermot-show-floor/#more-10490

[DRKWNG]

That's nice and all, but I would almost rather have seen them upgrade the forks to R&T spec instead of upping the rear shock.

[muskrat]

sounds like they are getting worried about Beemer.  I personally would love that entire setup but I'm a puss and would never use it to it's full potential.

[junior varsity]

That's nice and all, but I would almost rather have seen them upgrade the forks to R&T spec instead of upping the rear shock.

what? R&T Forks are not all that great IMO. The 25mm kit is very affordable, and better still is the 27mm kit, which gets you a fork better than the R&T in feel. Too much "R" in R&T (road, that would be, not enough track).

The TTX shock feels good, a good front end choice is the 27 kit or the ultraslick 30mm cartridges.

The bigger/lighter tank is an awesome plus, especially since there's no risk of ethanol expansion.

sounds like they are getting worried about Beemer.  I personally would love that entire setup but I'm a puss and would never use it to it's full potential.

If its spec comparisons to the BMW, you would look at the Sachs front end and lower-end 2-piece brembos (same ones that came on ducati superbikes 5 years ago). For my style, the torque of the twin is much more fun than the high claimed horsepower numbers. (83 ft-lbs to 97 ft-lbs)

traction control on both, and no abs on the duc is a plus in the superbike category to me. (i do, however, expect it to be standard on all street-going motorcycles/manufacturers by 2020).

The equipped power shifter is neat, but even better is the standard slipper clutch. That is really a fantastic bonus - especially that it is a true slipper, not some semi-slipper

[DRKWNG]

Not sure how well set up the R&Ts that you've ridden were, but the ones I sampled were tits!  Stoopid controllable, and close to too firm for the road. 

[kopfjäger]

The equipped power shifter is neat, but even better is the standard slipper clutch. That is really a fantastic bonus - especially that it is a true slipper, not some semi-slipper

Like the APTC Slipper that Ducati has fooled everyone (a lot on this forum) that it is the real deal?  

[junior varsity]

exactly.

if the aptc was the real deal, 848 owners wouldn't be doing dry slipper conversions, or putting in evr wet slippers


the r&t forks fool most people because its another ohlins product, at an attractive "medium-high" price point. A person can take a non-S model and do more with less money by putting ohlins internals in the showa forks making them "Shohlins". For example: the 27mm kit is the way to go for most everybody: Installed it is under $1,000, (under 800 at our shop) and the valving is superior to the R&T. What you don't get is the ohlins gold outer fork tube (i'll admit, bling matters), and if you have an 848, then you also don't have TiNi fork sliders, just chrome. On the 1098/1198, the fork sliders have been coated, so there's no substantial difference. Better forks for less money.

The big plus with the 27mm kit is that you also get three spring sets, making the adjustments for the forks even wider. Sure, I doubt most people will go through the trouble of changing them once its done, but some will. The R&T forks come with only one set of forks.

R&T forks are a big hit, and very worthwhile for the bike owner whose forks have uncontrolled fluid blow-by (Think 3-way adjustable Showa 41U's on the monster line-up). To get real dampening adjustments, you have to throw those forks away, and get something substantial, like SBK forks. For SBK forks on a Monster, you have to modify your triples. You may need a new front wheel. Speedometer pickup? Axle? This gets costly, and you still have to revalve/re-oil/re-spring to some good internals when its all done. All of a sudden the R&T Forks look *VERY* attractive.

But back to the 1198 / 1198S / 1198SP:
For less than the price of R&T Forks (which are over $2,000), one could have their dealer do an Ohlins 25mm or 27mm valve kit, and install the TTX shock --> Upgrade both and save!

[junior varsity]

the better front end, still, would be a gas front end. but that runs near 10k! (or with a traxxion internals kit for less than half that)

[muskrat]

you can keep your traction control, I will never subscribe to this idea.  I likes sliding. 

[Veloce-Fino]

you can keep your traction control, I will never subscribe to this idea.  I likes sliding. 

IDK all the pros use traction control.

[derby]

IDK all the pros use traction control.

josh hayes just won the ama superbike championship w/o it.

[kopfjäger]

josh hayes just won the ama superbike championship w/o it.

He never (afaik) runs it. It was even raining during that final race. 

[zarn02]

Whether the pros use it or not isn't even the point. Muskrat said he liked sliding, so he would have less fun with traction control nannying up his good time.

[muskrat]

I can't slide like the pros but I like the idea of feeling my rear tire and giving me feedback.  Maybe when I'm 80 I'll learn to like it but for now I'll pass no matter what anyone tells me.

[El Matador]

I can't slide like the pros but I like the idea of feeling my rear tire and giving me feedback.  Maybe when I'm 80 I'll learn to like it but for now I'll pass no matter what anyone tells me.

I have built in traction control in my right wrist 

Hell, I don't even like slipper clutches