Church Of MO – 2002 Ducati 998
Let’s be honest – it doesn’t really matter what the words in this week’s Church feature are all about. You came here to look at the pictures. Understandable, considering the Ducati 916 body style is one of the most iconic shapes in motorcycling history. Unfortunately, this review of the 2002 Ducati 998 was filed back when MO was under different ownership and stored under different servers. The original pics have been lost to the internet gods who feast upon early digital photos, hence the small pics we’ve got here. We’re sorry about that, but there’s nothing we can do about it.
Back to the bike. As our author, Glenn Le Santo points out, by 2002 the basic shape of the 998 had already been around for almost a decade – and yet it still looked (and still looks) modern. As for power, 123 hp for the standard 998 was the claim back then. Bump that up to 138 hp for the 998R. That was considered impressive for the V-Twin superbike back in the day. Compare that to the 959 Panigale, Ducati’s “Super-Mid” platform, which Ducati says makes 157 hp at the crank. Isn’t it funny how time marches on? In all the performance aspects that matter, the 959 Panigale will run circles around the 998. But then again, which one would you rather have?
2002 Ducati 998
Unbelievably, the 916 has been around since 1994. That’s way back in the time when Yamaha’s FZR1000 was still the big dog in the show rooms. When released, the 916 didn’t revolutionize the sport bike sector, Honda had already done that with their Fireblade. What it did, however, is put that new definition of performance into perhaps the prettiest package of the decade. The 916 is still with us and it looks much the same as it did back in ’94. Most people generally agree that, almost ten years later, it looks up-to-date. The Ducati has enjoyed gradual updates year by year, and is still arguably at the top of its class.
Now that the history lesson’s over, what’s it like to ride? In a word, brilliant!
Yes, that’s it – BRILLIANT!
At this point I could save this file and end my report – anything said from now on is simply a variation of brilliant. But, OK, you probably haven’t ridden the bike so I’ll be sensible and run through this test from start to finish, starting with the engine.
This year, the entire 916 – sorry, it’s now the 998 range – benefits from the new Testastretta, or narrow head engine. This is the motor Troy Bayliss used to win the World Superbike title this year. It comes in three states of tune: 123 bhp for the 998, 136 for the 998S and a claimed 139 bhp for the limited edition customer racer, the 998R. The engine actually displaces 998ccs – hence the name!
The Ducati 916 range has enjoyed gradual updates year by year, and is still arguably at the top of its class.
On the track, it’s immediately apparent that in its latest guise, the engine is much more responsive low down than in previous incarnations. The standard 998 is still a little short of puff on top, a GSX-R1000 would laugh at its straight-line performance, but the stronger 139bhp 998R might silence the Suzuki’s chuckles. Torrents of torque make the bike very easy to ride. Even if you ham up the gears and exit a corner too far up the six-speed box, the bike will rescue you, pulling strongly from as low as 2,000rpm. It’ll pull from below that, but the power pulses from the two 500cc pistons swinging up and down in the 90-degree V create too much snatch in the drive train for anyone with mechanical sensitivities to try it for long.
The new 998 is far quieter than the original 916; the engine, gear box, clutch and exhaust — they all produce less clatter and bellow this year. A refined Ducati? Hmmmmm.
The relative lack of top end punch, and the fact that I had recently ridden a four-cylinder race bike with a cut-out set at something above 15,000rpm, meant I was hitting the rather severe rev limiter all too much. It cuts the engine so efficiently that the faster riders on the track started to use it as an impromptu quick-shifter! The gear box is smooth and precise and the clutch light and accurate. The bite point stayed in exactly the same place for the entire session. The engine seems much refined over early models, it’s far quieter than the original 916; the engine, gear box, clutch and exhaust – they all produce less clatter and bellow this year. A refined Ducati? Hmmm.
Entering the turns at the end of both the fast front and back straights at Silverstone gave them a good test, which they passed with flying colors by providing consistent and dependable braking time and time again. There was no fade, no excess lever travel, no hint of sponginess – just plenty of progressive two-fingered braking power all day. Compare that to the disappointing feel of the early 916 brakes, and there’s even more evidence that the 916 is evolving well.
As with previous variations, set-up is critical and there was quite a difference in the way the various test bikes felt. The eight bikes available at the test had all been individually tweaked at a previous track session, so all the settings were different. On the softer set-ups there was quite a bit of wobble at the rear when changing direction hard, something that was completely absent on the bikes with a firmer set-up. This is very much an individual thing, but if you are serious about riding a bike like this hard, you’ll be well advised to get it properly set-up to match your riding style and location. I preferred the harder settings at the track. Out on the road, where outright performance isn’t that crucial, the softer settings are a better compromise between comfort and performance.
Speaking of which, while I am sure the 998 will make a stunning road bike, there’s no denying that a machine like this is most at home on a track where its capabilities can be exploited to the fullest in relative safety. There are not many roads where you can lean the bike over onto its foot pegs and then power out of the turn with the rear end smoking and sliding. On the contrary, Silverstone has many places where such behavior is encouraged and, thankfully, unlikely to be interrupted by myopic Volvo pilots or highway patrol cars.
The front end on the Ducati is extraordinary. The level of grip and control from the front end is faultless, the front Pirelli gripping at the tarmac with amazing force. Even a ham-fisted application of brakes mid-turn when I realized I had drifted way off line failed to push the front. The bike does stand a little when braked mid-turn, but a little extra pressure on the relevant stubby clip-on handlebar corrected this immediately. In the final turn before the front straight, a long constant radius corner that really loads the front as you wind the throttle back to get drive for the main straight, you could actually feel the grip – as if the tire was in fact your hands. Superb. The OEM Pirelli Dragon’s really compliment the Ducati’s set-up.
Despite a hard day’s riding at Silverstone, I failed to reveal any significant faults on the 998. OK, the absolute fastest riders could get the rear to break grip and get very sideways mid-turn, although none of them fell off as a result, confirming that this is a bike thats controllable even at, or beyond, the limits. What it also revealed was that the new 998 is a real rider’s bike, a motorcycle meant to be used hard and used purely for fun.
This isn’t a get-to-work ride, although some owners will no doubt commute on theirs, possibly because they just have to ride it again and again! But the 998 is also far from being a banzai, balls-out motorcycle – it’s actually very refined. This all-around user friendly feel is relatively new on a Ducati, leading one of the testers to comment on how it was getting to behave more and more like a Honda VFR800, a comment that didn’t actually go down too well with the Ducati factory guys present! It’s true though, this is the smoothest and most civilized version of the 916 ever released. But don’t worry, they haven’t washed the soul out of the machine – no way. This is still every bit a Ducati eight valve Desmo twin. It can still make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck in time-honored Ducati style.
There’s not a lot to run through as far as equipment is concerned, this is a road bike made from a race bike. If it ain’t needed, it ain’t fitted, so ‘accessories’ are restricted to stuff like a steering damper and a dual seat on the Biposto model. There’s the usual array of add-on parts, both from Ducati and from a host of companies that have grown up to serve the increasingly popular machines. They vary from performance to pretty parts, and a trip to any Italian motorcycle dealership or show will find you plenty of illustrations of just how far you can take ‘personalizing’ a Ducati.
There’s no denying that a machine like this is most at home on a track where its capabilities can be exploited to the fullest in relative safety. There are not many roads where you can lean the bike over onto its foot pegs and then power out of the turn with the rear end smoking and sliding.
Then there’s the cheaper Aprilia V-Twins or even a Triumph triple to further muddy the water of decision. But the answer is simple, the 998 is going to be purchased by riders who want to experience the credibility, the exceptional thrill and the soulful experience of Ducati ownership – probably by those who have already owned a 916. Those who can’t or won’t stretch the extra few thousand for the S model will get all of vital Ducati ingredients with the standard 998. And whoever buys the 998 in any of its guises, if my impressions are anything to go by, then one thing is for certain – they wont be disappointed.
Spec Sheet
Engine
Type V-Twin, 4 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, liquid cooled
Capacity 998cc
Bore x Stroke 100 x 63.5 mm
Compression Ratio 11.4:1
Power 123 bhp @ 9750rpm
Torque 96.9nm @ 8000rpm
Gears 6 speed
Clutch Hydraulic dry multi plate
Chassis
Frame: Tubular steel trellis
Wheelbase: 1410 mm
Rake: 23.5 x 24.5
Suspension: Front Showa fully adjustable upside-down forks
Rear Ohlins fully adjustable monoshock
Wheels: Front – Marchesini 3,50 x 17 Tire Pirelli Dragon 120/70 ZR 17
Rear – Marchesini 5,50 x 17 Tire Pirelli Dragon 190/50 ZR 17
Brakes: Front – 2 x Brembo 4 piston calipers, 2 x 320mm semi floating
Rear – 1 x Brembo 2 piston caliper, 1 x 220mm disc
UK OTR Price
998: 10,450
998S: 13,150
998R: Not announced
Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
More by Troy Siahaan
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Almost as good as VFR? Perhaps I should take another look at these Ducati things.
I'd wager a clean 998r would set you back more than a 959 would.