Ducati 1198

The Ducati 1198 evolved from the Ducati 1098 model introduced in 2007. The Ducati 1098 was a brand new model from Ducati, replacing the aging and little-loved Ducati 999 model. Designed by Pierre Terblanche, the Ducati 999 was a controversial motorcycle that superseded the legendary 916, 996, 998 series of Ducati superbikes designed by Massimo Tamburini. The Ducati 1098 and Ducati 1198 were designed by Giandrea Fabbro and share a visual commonality more with the 916 series than with the 999 model.

Although 2006 was the last year the Ducati 999 model was produced, and the 1098, 1098S and 1098 Tri-Colore were launched for 2007, Ducati raced the 999 in World Superbike competition because rules dictated that V-Twin engines be equal in displacement (1000cc) to inline four-cylinder bikes. World Superbike rules were changed for the 2008 racing season allowing V-Twins a displacement increase of 200cc for a total of 1200cc.

In 2008, to take advantage of the Superbike rule changes, the Ducati 1098R, displacing 1198cc, joined the standard Ducati 1098 and 1098S which only displaced 1099cc. Ducati won the 2008 World Superbike championship with Troy Bayliss, and in 2009 Ducati offered the last version of the 1099cc model, the Ducati 1098RTB Bayliss Limited Edition alongside new models, the Ducati 1198 and Ducati 1198S. Visually similar and sharing much of the same components, the Ducati 1198S featured lighter wheels, Öhlins suspension, a slipper clutch, a weight advantage (373 lbs. vs. 377 lbs.) and a steeper MSRP, $19,995 vs. $15,995.

\In 2010 there were four Ducati 1198 models: Ducati 1198, Ducati 1198S, Ducati 1198S Corse Special Edition and Ducati 1198R Corse Special Edition. Both the Ducati 1198S and Ducati 1198R Corse Special Edition models featured aluminum fuel tanks, traction control and a Ducati Corse paint scheme. The “R” model was a single-seat, street-legal bike with racing credentials. At a claimed 364-pound dry weight, the Ducati 1198R weighs 13 lbs. less than the standard model and 9 lbs. lighter than the “S” model. More importantly, the Ducati 1198R is equipped with a higher performance engine producing a claimed 180 horsepower compared to the “S” model’s 170 hp.

For 2011 Ducati reduced 1198 line to two models: the standard Ducati 1198 and Ducati 1198SP. The SP (Sport Production) insignia stands for production bikes that are race-kitted and ready for competition. The SP label first appeared on the 1989 Ducati 851 model. The SP features lightened chassis components, Öhlins suspension, a slipper clutch, a quick-shift transmission and a claimed dry weight of 370 lbs. There’s a significant price difference between the two models, $21,995 vs. $16,495 for the standard Ducati 1198.

Ducati was unable to regain the World Superbike crown with the Ducati 1198 in 2009 due to an amazing performance by Ben Spies on the Yamaha R1. The 2010 season was another disappointing year for the Ducati 1198, as longtime title contender Noriyuki Haga failed to deliver consistent results. For 2011 Ducati reduced its World Superbike involvement choosing to provide more support to satellite teams.

Ducati Motorcycles

Ducati motorcycles include the 1198SP superbike, the new Diavel sports cruiser, the Multistrada 1200 sport touring motorcycle, the Streetfighter naked motorcycle, motard models such as the Hypermotard 1100EVO and the Monster family of naked streetbikes such as the Monster 696. 

Ducati has been in the motorcycle game since 1950 and the Italian marquee has a reputation for building stylish, high-performance machines. One of those early efforts was the 125cc Grand Prix racer with the “Desmo” valve operating system launched in 1956 that was reliable up to a ten-shocking 15,000 rpm! Ducati’s list of sought after designs is long, but 916 (released in 1994) and MH900e SportClassic (released in 2000) are two fine examples of Italian motorcycle sex appeal. Even current models like the attainable Monster family, the versatile Multistrada and the truly ridiculous Desmosedici are some of the most sought after in the industry. 

KTM Motorcycles

KTM motorcycles include the 350SX-F motocross bike, 530 EXC off-road motorcycle and 690 Enduro R. KTM’s street motorcycles include the RC8R sportbike, 990 Adventure R dual sport, 990 Supermoto R and 990 Super Duke naked standard. 

KTM takes motorcycle racing very seriously and its consumer models are all built to win. The Austrian manufacturer is best known for producing race-winning and class-dominating off-road motorcycles. So serious is KTM about off-road racing that is offers motorcycles designed specifically for several different off-road disciplines, including motocross, cross-country, enduro, super enduro, supermoto and dual-sport. Also, while the other manufacturers have all but ignored two-stroke technology in recent years, KTM embraces these less expensive and easier to maintain motorcycles and continues to churn out new models. Simply put, nobody does off-road like KTM. However, in more recent years KTM has turned some of its attention to streetbikes – notably the impressive RC8R. 

Harley-Davidson Road King

The Harley-Davidson FL series of motorcycles, introduced in 1941 with a 74 cubic inch Knucklehead engine, designates the larger, touring bikes in Harley’s line-up, as well as the Softail models. For the 1994 model year Harley-Davidson replaced the FLHS Electra Glide Sport with the FLHR Harley-Davidson Road King. The original Panhead-powered FLH Harley-Davidson Electra Glide was introduced in 1965 and takes it namesake from the model’s electric starter.

The original FLHR Harley-Davidson Road King was powered by Harley-Davidson’s 1,340 cc Evolution V-Twin engine. The new Harley-Davidson Road King featured a host of upgrades over the Electra Glide it was replacing, including an improved wiring harness with waterproof connectors, detachable saddlebags and windshield, and taller gear ratios. Other features of the Harley-Davidson Road King included air-adjustable forks, dual front disc brakes, and a passenger seat that could easily be removed. So the Harley-Davidson Road King was positioned as a combination cruiser and touring machine.

In 1996 Harley-Davidson offered both the FLHR and FLHRI, the “I” indicating a Harley-Davidson Road King with fuel injection. The Weber Marelli fuel-injection system, standard on the 30th Anniversary Ultra Classic Electra Glide, allowed Harley-Davidson to pass California’s stringent emission system without adding catalytic converters to its bikes – better fuel mileage was an added benefit.

In 1999 the Harley-Davidson Road King, as well as other Harley-Davidson models, came from the factory powered by the new Twin Cam 88 engine. The engine’s name came from the addition of second cam to actuate the push rods for the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves, thus the new engine had two cams, one cam with two lobes for each cylinder’s two valves, compared to the Evolution engine’s use of a single cam with four lobes. The gears driving the cams in the Evolution engine were replaced with a chain in the Twin Cam engine. The 88 represents the displacement of the engine in cubic inches (1447cc). The engine also incorporated other improvements such as oil jets positioned to spray the bottom of the pistons to help cool the engine, and increased cooling fin area. In 2000 Harley-Davidson offered a 95 cu. in. big-bore kit that increased Twin Cam 88 engine displacement to 1550cc.

In 2004 the FLHRSI Harley-Davidson Road King Custom was introduced. The Custom featured leather hard bags, wide handlebars, a wind-swept headlight and lowered rear suspension. By 2007 it was time for another engine upgrade, this time being the Twin Cam 96. Same basic engine as the Twin Cam 88 but displacing 96 cubic inches (1584cc).

The Harley-Davidson Road King enters its 17th year of production in 2011 and, as with most Harley-Davidson models, the Road King remains largely the same as it was when introduced. The Road King is also widely used in police and fire departments in the United States as well as foreign countries.

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are divided into seven lines: Sportsters, such as the XR1200X; Dynas such as the FXDC Dyna Super Glide Custom; Softails such as the FLSTF Fat Boy; Touring like the FLTRU Road Glide Ultra; V-Rods such as the VRSCDX Night Rod Special; Trikes such as the FLHTCUTG Tri Glide Ultra Classic, and the limited edition Custom Vehicle Operations line which includes the FLHTCUSE6 CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide. 

More than any other brand Harley-Davidson sells a lifestyle and its lineup of heavyweight cruisers, tourers and standards are some of motorcycling’s ultimate status symbols. While those with deep pockets and experience have their sights set on some of Harley’s most sought after bikes like the CVO Street Glide, the Wisconsin-based manufacturer has not forgotten the little guy (or gal). Harley-Davidson has made a concerted effort to lure new riders into the H-D fraternity by building motorcycles with low seat heights and affordable prices like the Sportster 883 Low. 

Victory Motorcycles

Victory motorcycles include the Cross Roads, Cross Country and Vision touring motorcycles, the Vegas, High Ball and Kingpin cruisers, and the Hammer muscle cruiser. Victory also offers special Ness Signature custom models such as the Arlen Ness Victory Vision, Cory Ness Victory Cross Country and Zach Ness Vegas. 

Victory Motorcycles was created by off-road giant Polaris Industries, one of world’s top producers of ATVs and snowmobiles. Victory’s first motorcycle, the V92C, debuted in 1997 and full scale production began a year later. The 1999 V92C featured a 92-cubic inch, 1500cc engine, the largest production engine available at the time and a testament to Victory’s strategy of producing big, powerful cruisers and tourers to compete with American motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson. Victory is unafraid to take styling risks as it proved by releasing bold new bikes like the Vegas, Kingpin and Vision. 

Triumph Tiger

The Triumph Tiger insignia can be traced in Triumph lineage back to 1936 when newly hired design chief, Edward Turner, revamped Triumph’s existing line of motorcycles. By applying better finishes, adding performance and creating new teardrop, chrome-plated fuel tanks and christening the new bikes “Tigers,” Turner created stunners and changed Triumph’s fortunes for the better.

The original three Triumph Tiger models, the Tiger 70, Tiger 80 and Tiger 90 (the numbers indicating each bike’s top speed), came in engine displacement sizes of 250cc, 350cc and 500cc, respectively. Differences between the models were minor and all were powered by air-cooled, pushrod, overhead cam single-cylinder engines and available from the factory in either high- or low-pipe versions.

In 1939 Triumph launched the Tiger 100 featuring the 498cc air-cooled parallel-twin-cylinder engine launched the previous year in the Speed Twin model. Destruction of Triumph’s Coventry facility stalled production of Triumph models for civilians until after the war. The Triumph Tiger 100 was re-launched in 1946 featuring a new telescopic fork, and in ’51 it gained the first swingarm rear suspension. From 1953 to 1961 the 650cc Triumph Tiger 110 was offered alongside the Tiger 100. In 1960 the Triumph Tiger 100 gained a “unit” engine (engine cases and transmission cases cast as one piece). Demise of the Triumph brand and the Tiger 100 began in the early ‘70s and was finalized in 1983 when the company went into receivership.

In 1993, a revived Triumph brand owned by real estate tycoon, John Bloor, and located in Hinckley, Great Britain, launched the first Triumph Tiger model in 20 years. The Triumph Tiger 900 was powered by a liquid-cooled, 885cc, inline three-cylinder engine. The new Triumph brand was utilizing three-cylinder engines because the original company had begun producing three-cylinder engines in the late 1960s and it was relatively simple to lop off one cylinder from the 1200cc Daytona sportbike. The odd number of cylinders also made the Triumph Tiger and other Triumph models unique.

The Triumph Tiger 900 was branded a dual-purpose motorcycle with long-travel suspension, high-mounted exhaust and a tall seat height but was biased more for street riding than serious off-road fun. In 2001 the Triumph Tiger 955i was launched utilizing the company’s improved 955cc, inline three-cylinder, fuel-injected engine. In the fashion of previous model, the new Triumph Tiger offered limited off-road capabilities. The new Triumph Tiger’s styling set it apart from the first generation Tiger model.

After six years in production the Triumph Tiger 955i was replaced in 2007 by the Triumph Tiger 1050. It was biased toward pavement use, now using a 17-inch tire up front instead of the previous version’s dirt-worthier 19-incher. Utilizing Triumph’s newest inline, three-cylinder engine producing 113 horsepower, the Triumph Tiger was available with optional ABS and color-matched hard luggage. Triumph also made available an SE version of the Tiger 1050 featuring a two-tone matte-grey-and-black paint scheme and standard ABS, handguards and color-matched luggage.

In 2010 a smaller version Triumph Tiger, the Tiger 800 joined the Triumph Tiger 1050 in Triumph’s model line-up.