I think it looks great. If I had that sort of money...
Diehard 999-ers may say it's a retrograde step, harking back to the 916, but it looks a sensible compromise to me. After all, manufactuers like BMW and Mercedes have been keeping the visual links to their iconic designs for 50 years plus now.
Truth is, people like the single-sided swinging arm. It looks better, makes the back wheel easier to clean, ands more positive to adjust the chain; no faffing about making sure the wheel's square.
I think Ducati have done well to keep the weight down, as reported. It'll be interesting to see some "real" weight comparisons with the 999 and 998.
Sadly MCN (as usual) take all the credit for other peoples work, as their article was pretty much word for word a straight translation of the Italian journalist's article written for "Motociclismo's" track test conducted at Monza and which MCN journo (Monsieur Trevor Franklin) claims as his own penned words. Bullshit they are. This is plagarism at it's most obvious. It simply perpetuates the notion....MCN great pics, **** substance. ONLY the Italian journalists were present at the initial track test and who were invited into the R & D department at the factory BEFORE the official launch (and long before the leaked photos broke cover) to see the bike in it's entirety, and whose subsequent article was released AFTER the launch. MCN will sell their grandmother to the highest bidder and might as well be a worthy sister publication to the "SUN", another infamous adult comic.
Mood: DD 2006: 4th Top Rookie. DD 2007: 2nd Class B. DD 2008: 2nd Class B.
I remember seeing foggy on a 916 for the first time and thinking I want one. Then my uncle having a 748 then his 996 and always looking in his garage thinking one day ill have one of them, I just loved the bike and would just sit and look at it for ages. Though iv only seen photos of the new 1098 I just want one it’s the best looking bike iv ever seen. cant wait for the bike show in London to sit on the bike. I haven’t been this excited about a bike since the 998. I just want one should have a proper job in 6 months and I know just what im going to buy I don’t care how much it cost I don’t care the insurance is going to be through the roof I want one ( in red ).