r1mark said:
Anyone out there has a 998 or has owned one previously. I want to find out how it compares to the One. Its the only other sexy roadtool out there...
Any comment would be welcome. Cheers.
I had a 998 biposto before my R1. There are positive attributes to both.
If you are looking for pure sex appeal, it's no contest - the 998 trumps the R1. You'll get non-stop questions and a lot of slack-jawed ogling with the Duc. In my estimation there are no worthy competitors to the 916 series in the looks department, and the 998 is the best of that bunch.
Motor-wise? Well, it depends. In stock trim the R1 will walk away with the horsepower win. In order to get the Duc up to 145hp, you'll need a full exhaust, ECU, cams, and maybe pistons - a 3 to 5 thousand dollar (US) affair. In order to get to 145hp on the R1, you'll need a full exhaust and a PCIII. I choose 145 as a base point of conversation only because that's what my R1 has now.
Note, though, that in the twisties, I think the power delivery on the Duc is superior. I think I can go faster with less rear-end drama on the Ducati due to the highly tractable type of power the twin delivers. The sewing machine-like delivery of the inline four is much more apt to deliver wheel spin on aggressive turn exits, thus you have to pay much more attention to throttle position with the R1 as opposed to the Duc.
If straight-line performance is your bag, though, the R1 will trounce the Duc.
Handling-wise, I think both are damn good, but I think the overall thinness of the Ducati allows you to be more at one with the bike, and the suspension components on the 998 are of higher quality. The steel trellis frame of the Ducati seems to flex in all the right places at all the right times, and you have a much better understanding of what you can and cannot do than with the R1. In other words, the Duc delivers better feedback regarding the road surface, IMHO.
But the R1 is a much more stable overall platform due to its stiffer frame and swingarm. And stability is a good thing. The first time I rode my R1 back-to-back with my 998, I was struck by how refined and smooth the Yamaha was compared to the Duc. In many ways the R1 lays bare the fact that the 998 is essentially a decade old design. A good design, but one whose day is nearly done.
I think that with better suspension components the R1 would be neck and neck in the handling department, but given the same components the Duc's frame and geometry are just hard to beat.
Comfort-wise, the R1 beats the living shit out of the 998. While I regularly did 800 mile weekends on the 998, I could only do it after replacing the stock seat with a Corbin. I think the R1 is much more comfortable. I don't feel like I need a painkiller and a spine doctor after a few hundred clicks on the R1.
Maintenance-wise, the Ducati will cost you more in service charges since the valves must be adjusted more frequently on the Desmo engine. But adjusting Desmo valves is not rocket science and you could probably do this yourself if you have the correct tools and are mechanically inclined. In the end, however, the R1 may cost you more in total cost of ownership since the R1 goes through rear tires much faster than the Ducati due to the type of power each deliver. I went through 1.5 sets of tires in 12,000 miles on my 998. I'm on my 3rd set of tires on my R1 at <5000 miles. Larger tire costs alone on the R1 would make up for the increased service requirements of the Duc, IMHO.
In summation, if money were no object, I would probably buy a 998, mod the hell out of it, and buy a K1200RT for long hauls. Getting 150hp+ out of a V-twin that handles like the Duc would be an awe inspiring experience. But the R1 is no slouch, either, and because I like various types of riding, and can only afford one bike right now, I'm very happy I have it.
greg
