| Author |
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Trojan
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 12:30 pm: | 
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If the contest were on looks alone the Kawasaki would be the winner already 
Is it just me, or does the new Kenny Roberts bike (No 10) bear moe than a passing resemblance to a mid 1980's Honda VFR400? No wonder they got it built so fast!
Such a shame that they will ruin that yamaha with sponsor paint (whoever that may be) |
Ceejay
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 01:32 pm: |
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Trojan- I concur, the Kawi looks killer...thanks for the pic-as it went up next to the zed in my garage. |
Buell2001b
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 09:59 pm: |
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talk about ugly ass bikes, the Duc 1098 looks way betetr then any of this rice crakers. where are the MVs or the Benellis |
Trojan
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 04:25 am: |
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Buell2001b - I disagree. These MotogP bikes are where the styling cues will come from for the new generation of sportsbikes (take a look at the new CBR600/ZX6R/R6).
Ducati played very safe with the styling of the 1098, especially given the lukewarm reception of the 999 styling (whihc I think was far braver) and I think it looks disapointing and a cross between a 916 and an MV F4. Hardly likely to change motorcycle design in the way that the 916 did.
Motorcycle design seems to be getting more conservative these days. Whatever happened to radical thinking? (Hub centre steering, fuel in the frame  ) |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 06:23 am: |
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Matt, isn't it funny how only now people are starting to appreciate the looks of the 999. I think you hit the nail on the head as to why. Treblanche was brave indeed in the 999 design, but did he have big boots to fill following Tamburini's 916. Indeed. That I believe you are also correct about. The 1098 is pretty safe taking the past into account. I think it shows a lot of computer aided design too and not the freehand of the past masters.
That said, I see it for the first time on Friday when I visit the Excel, so will have a much more clear perspective of the 1098.
Rocket |
Eboos
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 07:18 am: |
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"Is it just me, or does the new Kenny Roberts bike (No 10) bear moe than a passing resemblance to a mid 1980's Honda VFR400?"
As soon as I saw it, I was thinking that it looked like an early to mid 90's 500gp bike. |
Trojan
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 07:42 am: |
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Here is some brave design. http://www.chiqane.com
The motor was given by Aprilia, who were very interested in this technology until they went under and had to be rescued again. Apparently this suffers none of the usual HCS problems such as the Bimota tesi suffered.
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Slaughter
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 07:50 am: |
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I'd be really interested in seeing Rossi come out as winning - 'twould be the cap on an amazing run - winning the 500cc 2-smoke, the 990cc MotoGP and now the 800cc.
(pulling pin on grenade and tossing into the room)
Surtees is my choice as the most impressive all-round motorsports champion. 1960, 350cc, 500cc podiums AND Lotus F-1 - all in same year. Doubt that the way contracts are written in today's age we'll ever see somebody competing again at that level in both CARS and MOTORCYCLES - and winning in both. |
Vonsliek
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 05:55 pm: |
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that honda looks crazy radical in the styling - re: tail unit & general openess of fairings .. front heavy or what, dani?! ;P
curious how half of them have fairly blunt frontal areas, when viewed side on .. yet showroom bikes all seem desperately pointy up front .. r1/r6, hondas .. ducati 1098 ..
i like the 999 too .. but the way this 1098 is supposed move (reported even, in road tests in latest MCN), fack the styling .. the price, reduced service intervals .. makes it maybe my next bike ..
i cannot understand why ducati dealers - while not having models on the floor - are still retaining old pricing on 999/749 models .. they are gonna need at least a 20% drop to compete w/ the 1098, no?!
to think all up i was stung ca$18000+ for my 05 xb12r .. & the ducati 1098 is gonna be ca$19995 ..
man. |
12r
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 03:50 am: |
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The first shipment of 1098s to the UK has already sold out. Dealers placing orders for the next shipment in June/July have to provide the name and address of the buyer so that Ducati can verify the order and prevent dealers from stockpiling them.
Can you imagine Buell doing that ? |
Trojan
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 07:11 am: |
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The first shipment of 1098s to the UK has already sold out. Dealers placing orders for the next shipment in June/July have to provide the name and address of the buyer so that Ducati can verify the order and prevent dealers from stockpiling them.
The power of good marketing, and it just goes to show what having a powerful name does for you.
Nobody other than the press has actually ridden this bike yet, but it is sold out before it lands. I have a friend who already has an MVF4 1000, Brutale 910 and a 2006 Honda SP1, but put his deposit down on the 1098 tricolore the day it was announced. He still hasn't actually seen one in the flesh yet!
He fully admits that he may not like it and may not even ride it much, but has bought it because it is a new Ducati and promises to be good. |
12r
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 08:09 am: |
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I think I saw one on the road about two weeks ago. I was trying to concentrate where I was going, but you know how it is when something catches your eye going the other way. It was very red and very small, with a churning bass exhaust note. Marvellous  |
Rick_a
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 01:27 pm: |
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I liked the 999 from the start...especially in race trim. Gorgeous...more so than the 916 IMHO. Hell, I thought even the 888 was better looking. This is my favorite Duc racer...but nobody else seems to agree:
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Rocketman
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 08:45 pm: |
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Looks like a mid 80's 750 TT F1 Battle of the Twins racer.
Rocket |
Vonsliek
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - 11:09 pm: |
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nah .. the 800cc kawasaki zx-rr STILL takes it! nice try! ;P
pauly |
Ceejay
| | Posted on Thursday, February 01, 2007 - 01:39 pm: |
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12r-there is something about the song of a Ducati isn't there? Regardless of model, you can tell what it is before even seeing it. I guess the same can be said about a harley, but most of them don't sound nearly as nice...Kawis of the 70's had a pretty distinct note too, especially with the baffles removed...
Trojan-I wish I had your friends problem, being able to buy a bike even though he may never ride it much... |
Macbuell
| | Posted on Thursday, February 01, 2007 - 01:46 pm: |
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That Kawi is sweet looking but I love the short tail and the extended hugger on the Honda. |
12r
| | Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 03:56 am: |
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Sure is Ceejay . A few nights ago one came the other way while I was stuck in traffic, and just for that moment everything was OK. |
Ceejay
| | Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 08:40 am: |
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mac-the shiney number 1 with all the little 69's in it is pretty nice too |
Blasterd
| | Posted on Friday, February 02, 2007 - 11:28 pm: |
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I wish we could get a rear fender for a CityX like the Repsol bike. Looks good and functional.
Just my 2 cents.
Ken |