Island Sightings

[118811]

I have an upcoming dissertation on the soul of bikes and their riders.  

I await.....

.uoy rof ti dexiF

[freeflydive]

That's informative.

The devil icon was my response to the soulless comment about the S1000RR w/out getting into weeds...but since you asked for it  !    

Yes, at first glance, I could argue that my 1198 had more "character" than my S1000RR, or that the S1000RR makes it easier to ride-making it boring compared to a Ducati.

My counter argument is that we have all spent a lot of money on our Ducatis to make them "easier" to manage, ride and live with....starting w/ the exhaust and ECU out of necessity!  To me, the S1000RR is user friendly out of the crate.  While the bike's geometry, engine and fuel delivery makes it easier to ride, the rider must still know how to ride and is limited to his/her skill level and reaction time when entering a corner or launching from a start line.  Even with all the electronics (which both Ducs and BMW have) providing a safety net for some rider errors, the electronics do no defy physics (especially gravity) when the rider makes a big mistake or fixates on a target.  

Even though my notes focus on my experience with 1198 and S1000RR...it's not really about Ducati vs BMW, but rather the individuals taste on V/L twin configuration vs I-4 engine technology.   In the end, all motorcycles serve as either a toy, a mode of transportation or both...it's all about the buyers balance of their desires, needs and their subjective sense of value and utility.

Thanks for the mental break from my Xmas shopping....now back to reality for me  

[DRKWNG]

I'll reply when I haven't been drinking.   

[MadDuck]

LOL....

Just my opinion....but the images I have seen of the 998R...don't look nearly as good as your 848.

Other than the exclusivity of the 998R?.....plus yours has the Ohlin's front end!!!

There are those who would argue that there are no finer looking bikes than the Tamborini 916, etc. & I would not argue against that. The 998R does come with Ohlins front & rear and even if this particular bike was the genuine article I would still be tempted to swap the Ohlins off the 848 onto the 998 along with the braking system.    Then the 998 uses the early Testastretta engine which is a big plus. On top of that the R has a balanced crank and hot cams so that gives it a bit more power than the standard 999. Finally, you add analog gauges and headlights that might actually throw a usable beam.  What's not to like?

But a standard 999 testastretta is not enough for me to make the switch.  That's a good thing and leads me off that trail.

[MadDuck]

I'll reply when I haven't been drinking.   

That's a good thing.   As for me, I'm going to pop a bottle right now while I'm still sorting this all out and getting ready to put it down on paper, so to speak.

[DRKWNG]

Ass. 



And even though this is the wrong thread, Kujo Imperial Stout is pretty tasty.

[118811]

There are those who would argue that there are no finer looking bikes than the Tamborini 916, etc. & I would not argue against that. The 998R does come with Ohlins front & rear and even if this particular bike was the genuine article I would still be tempted to swap the Ohlins off the 848 onto the 998 along with the braking system.    Then the 998 uses the early Testastretta engine which is a big plus. On top of that the R has a balanced crank and hot cams so that gives it a bit more power than the standard 999. Finally, you add analog gauges and headlights that might actually throw a usable beam.  What's not to like?

But a standard 999 testastretta is not enough for me to make the switch.  That's a good thing and leads me off that trail.

MD you are just too "Ducati" smart / knowledgable !!
All I am saying is your bike is better looking......IMHO    

[Thermite]

But a standard 999 testastretta is not enough for me to make the switch.  That's a good thing and leads me off that trail.

You lost me.  It's a 998 or a 999?

[MadDuck]

You lost me.  It's a 998 or a 999?

It's a 998 but they had a very early version of the 999 Testastretta engine in them. Not like the Desmoquatro in the 996.

[Thermite]

It's a 998 but they had a very early version of the 999 Testastretta engine in them. Not like the Desmoquatro in the 996.

More losterer still.  I thought the R had a deep sump 998 Testa, while the Matrix and the FE were the standard 998 Testa like the '02 and '03.

[MadDuck]

More losterer still.  I thought the R had a deep sump 998 Testa, while the Matrix and the FE were the standard 998 Testa like the '02 and '03.

That's more accurate, I believe, which helps make a 998R all the more desirable. Thanks for the correction tweak!

[Thermite]

The Matrix came without an owners manual and no shop manual was ever written for it.  I had to do some research to make sure I got the best-suited manuals.

The information I found for the R tells me it would have to be a 2004 Tamburini design with a deep-sump 998 Testa engine.  The rear would be Ohlins but IDK about the front.  Both the Matrix and the FE were fronted with fully adjustable Showa suspensions.  Since the R's were all pre-paid special orders they could be anything.

There was also a non-US "S" I believe but IDK if it was produced in 2004.

I had special interest in the R engine wondering how closely related it is to the 2006/2007 S4RT(S) which on paper generates about 15 HP more than the Matrix.

If it's an R that bike is über-rare.  What's the price tag?

[118811]

The Matrix came without an owners manual and no shop manual was ever written for it.  I had to do some research to make sure I got the best-suited manuals.

The information I found for the R tells me it would have to be a 2004 Tamburini design with a deep-sump 998 Testa engine.  The rear would be Ohlins but IDK about the front.  Both the Matrix and the FE were fronted with fully adjustable Showa suspensions.  Since the R's were all pre-paid special orders they could be anything.

There was also a non-US "S" I believe but IDK if it was produced in 2004.

I had special interest in the R engine wondering how closely related it is to the 2006/2007 S4RT(S) which on paper generates about 15 HP more than the Matrix.

If it's an R that bike is über-rare.  What's the price tag?

$7495

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/mcd/3487948526.html

[MadDuck]

$7495

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/mcd/3487948526.html

It is most definitely not a "R".  It is only a plain 998 with some "R" bodywork. The bike was originally yellow. Doesn't even have a working ignition switch, only an on/off switch.

[118811]

MD...is the tank burgundy / red.....looks different?