We have so much more coming from the Barcelona launch of the 2008 Ducati Monster 696. We are starting the coverage with films from the presentation, press conference and the behind the scenes hotel blog. Walk around and some cool onboard action from Barcelona coming next! See them all here. TS
Ducati Monster 696+
Ducati have already now ahead of the international launch made an accessorized Monster model that they call Monster 696+. A small fly-screen and a pillion seat cover are included. On March 27th Ducati will show images of all the accessories that will be available for the Monster 696. Check out the dedicated Monster mini site here. Raptors & Rockets will test the new 696 in Barcelona in a very short time.
2008 Ducati Monster 696, worlds first test coming!
We know very well that a lot of people are particularly excited about the first all new Ducati Monster since 1993! Don't get me wrong, I know that the S4Rs got a different exhaust etc. But the Monster have still looked pretty much the same since it was launched. As a taste of what is coming Ducati redesigned the all new 696 completely at the same time as it did the 999-1098 design transition. The new Monster 696 comes with "custom" side panels that can easily be swapped depending on whether you feel red, black or white that particular morning. I believe you only get one set of panels when you buy one, but as an accessory you can buy the extra panels in the different colours. 80 horsepower from the smallest Ducati air-cooled engine and a dry weight of only 161 kilos should make for a nippy city bike indeed. We will test it on the roads around Barcelona and also in the city itself in early April at the world launch. Main differences from the current Monster 695 are: 7 kilos lighter, new frame and swingarm (with some technology from Stoner's GP7...), 7 more horsepower and 9 more Nm of torque, new Showa 43mm upside down fork where some proper Brembo radial bling is attached to the fork and 1 litre extra fuel capacity (15 litres). Watch this space for the monstrous test soon to come! Check out the below links in the meantime to see some of the vast competition... TS
Whilst Ducati are planning the world launch of the new Monster 696 we have received the pictures of all three colours that will be available. Red, Black and white. The smallest and newest Monster features an air-cooled L-twin with 80 horsepower. TS
Now that we have had the opportunity to test both the 2008 Buell 1125R (Laguna Seca) and 2008 Ducati 1098R (Jerez) there are two super twins left. We are talking about the 2008 KTM RC8 1190 (Ascari) and the 2008 Bimota DB7 1098 (Misano). The wait for the RC8 is very short now and we will ride it both on track and road at the end of this month. For the Bimota DB7 the wait is a little bit longer. In May we will get to test the first production version of the DB7. Currently the only running prototype have been disassembled for production purposes. As with all Bimota's, the DB7 will only get a limited launch. And we'll be there. TS
The Ultimate Ducati 1098R film! Jezza does a 1:49.5 on Jerez!
Our man, Ex-MotoGP god Jeremy McWilliams impressed everyone at Jerez when he lapped the brand new Ducati 1098R in the 1:50's on standard tyres. He even did a 1:49.50 in traffic before flying back to Belfast writing his copy. In the below video you can witness two consecutive 1:51's battling it out with Ducati Xerox factory rider Michel Fabrizio. Jezza was on treaded Pirelli's whilst Fabrizio was on slicks. Enjoy!
2008 Ducati 1098R launch 2
"I went out guns blazing and revving the tits of the poor thing." "I hadn’t gone there thinking about times, but when Michel Fabrizio rolled out on Pirelli slicks and I had treaded Corsa’s and on board camera bolted on, it was time to find out." "I didn’t get a chance to check times on that run but 1.49’s came easily enough when we got the DTC and the suspension nearer to my preferred settings." "To make the bike spin more and cut less I moved from 4 to 2." Jezza said... More here
"The 1098R is superb, everything about it is right. The torque pulses are phenomenal and it wheelies everywhere if you want it to. The power delivery is incredible. Open the throttle and it accelerates from anywhere. The Ducati 1098R is particularly strong already from middle throttle. It is very light and feels very predictable."
Jeremy also told me about one of the most impressive features on the new Ducati 1098R, the traction control.
"Some of the other journalists talks about how they can't feel the traction control yet. It's about controlling your fear of the throttle and the massive torque output. So they are not using the full throttle openings yet. The traction control controls the massive torque for a moment enabling big throttle openings. But even I need a few more laps to get fully to grips with it."
Jezza's three points after the first session on the Ducati 1098R on Jerez today Monday January 28th:
1. The Ducati 1098R have enough power-134Nm @ 7750rpm and 180 horsepower.
2. The slipper clutch on the 1098R is the best I have ever ridden. Not too much engine braking and not too little.
3. The traction control is the same as you find on MotoGP bikes and allows you to use massive throttle openings.
Ducati DTC:
The 1098 R is supplied with a racing kit for track use. This is made up of a pair of “102dB” carbon mufflers and a dedicated ECU, which boost the already exceptional performance of this new twin-cylinder Ducati.
With this kit the rider can also activate dialog between the ECU and the DTC (Ducati Traction Control) system, which is fitted to a production bike for the first time ever.
This extraordinary electronic system, developed and perfected in conjunction with Ducati Corse, controls rear wheel spinning and as a result allows the rider to manage the incredible torque of the new Testestretta Evoluzione engine, in particular when cornering and in exiting corners.
The way DTC operates is regulated by the rider, who can simply select one of eight different profiles on the instrumentation display depending on different tarmac conditions and rider ability. Photo gallery here
If you want blood...
...you've got it in the all new Ducati 1098R due to be launched to the press later in January. Don't be fooled by the name, the 1098R is a full-blooded 1200CC superbike. The displacement is a grown up 1198,4cc. The torque is a claimed 134Nm @ 7750rpm. 180 horsepower in a lightweight 165kg package makes the 1098R the hardest hitting L-twin ever. Nothing less and we have secured a place at the very exclusive Jerez world launch. I would die for a ride on such a motorcycle on a track like Jerez, but this time I'm more excited to see what Jeremy McWilliams can do for us. Jezza was one of the most experienced MotoGP riders as recent as last year on the ill-fated Ilmor. But his past ranges from riding the tits out of Aprilia 250GP bikes to vicious 500cc 2-strokes through to the modern 990's and last year 800GP bikes. McWilliams then went on to development work with Buell and in 2008 he rides for us! Our first mission together will be the very exclusive Ducati 1098R launch. Watch this spot! Tor Sagen
We're not quite done with the 848 yet, on the contrary! Below you'll find the ultimate Ducati 848 Testastretta Evo launch video including two full hot laps onboard with Ruben Xaus from the technical Almeria circuit in Spain and much more! Yes, it was fun! TS
At the Almeria circuit in Spain we have tested the new Ducati 848 rubbing shoulders with Ruben Xaus again. Ruben even did 15 minutes around Almeria with our onboard camera...
NEC 2007: The babes are out, Charley Boorman interviewed, 250 pictures!
It's all out there now, the news from KTM, BMW, Ducati, CCM, Royal Enfield, Megelli, Triumph, Hyosung, Benelli and Vectrix. The 990 Supermoto, The Woodsman, CMX, Gorgeous Triumph show specials, 08 BMW's, Charley Boorman and a lot of babes! See it all here!
2008 Ducati 848 Testastretta Evoluzione
Even though we knew well in advance that Ducati would unveil its new mini-superbike in Milan, it was a real pleasure to finally see it. And when the spec sheet of this downscaled 1098 is just as impressive as the 999cc superbikes of only a few years ago we think Ducati once again are bound for success. 134hp @ 10.000rpm and 96Nm @ 8.250rpm are not numbers to laugh at, on the contrary. Since we last tested the Ducati mid-sized sportsbike (749S) the 848 have lost a whopping 20 kilos. Compared to the newer 1098 the 848 is 5 kilos lighter. 168 kilos of pure Italian metal and L-twin. Ducati even claim that the power to weight ratio on the 849cc motorcycle is better than the old 999. The 848 comes standard with Showa suspension front and back and on the fork a pair of Brembo monoblock stoppers are attached for good measures. We can expect an S and R version within the next couple of years. All that remains for us to see is if the 848 continues in the great tradition of the 749 to be a true riders machine. In only a couple of weeks we will know as we will ride the bike on track at the world launch. Available in Red and White. TS
After a very successful year for Ducati with the 1098 and in MotoGP Ducati have held up to their promise of launching a new sportsbike to replace the 749. The 848 is based on the new 1098 true to tradition. The spec sheet according to my source are as follows: 137bhp and 95Nm. Less expensive components than the 1098, but still 3 kilos lighter. Colours: Red and White, abandoning the traditional yellow we have gotten used to in the 749. It will cost 13.500€ (Europe) and $12.900 in the US. Ducati are planning to have it in the shops (Europe) by mid-December 2007 after the unveiling in Milan at the EICMA show. By Tor Sagen
2008 Buell 1125R-T-minus 7 days
I did my first lap ever on Laguna Seca onboard the brand new 146bhp Buell 1125R. I have just compared the impressive new spec sheet to that of the Ducati 1098 and that doesn't make it less impressive! In the past you wouldn't even contemplate comparing a Buell air-cooled Firebolt to the old Ducati 999. From 2008 it looks like you actually can. The 1125R Helicon developed with BRP-Rotax is Buell's very own Revolution engine. Harley did one with Porsche, now Buell has done one with BRP-Rotax. Liquid-cooled is the name of the game and in the max-power figures the new 1125R makes its power almost exactly at the same rpms as the 1098. The mighty Ducati has got about 10bhp and around 10Nm more power and torque, but weighs in at 3 kilos more than the new 1125R that carries a claimed 170kg dry weight. In addition to all this the 1125R has got almost 6 litres (21.2litres) more fuel capacity. That counts for a few extra laps around the race-track or several miles on the road compared to the tiny 15.5 litre Ducati item. Almost 2 kilos have been saved by using a new super-belt: aramid-reinforced Goodyear Hibrex belt with Flexten Plus technology. Buell have added Showa suspension both front and back with a new 47MM USD fork featuring titanium fork caps to reduce weight. It will be exciting to see how the extremely short wheelbase (1384mm) copes with all that power and torque on Laguna Seca. When the front wheel is not in the air there is a 375mm rim-mounted single brake disc with the all new octal brake caliper developed on the XBRR race bike. Interestingly, the number 8 in tarot cards means strength (don't you love Wikipedia!). The 1125R also features a new EFI system. When I last spoke to Erik Buell he revealed that they have developed this EFI system in house and also sold it to Harley. way to go Buell! The bore x stroke configuration that makes out the 1125cc in the Helical engine is no coincidence. Buell says that the 103mm bore and short 67.5mm stroke makes for optimum breathing and valve space. the short stroke reduces friction to allow more rpms, but the stroke is still longer than in Ducati 1098 so we expect some serious drive at low rpms too. More about how this new and exciting Buell behaves on both road and track shortly. Words: Tor Sagen/Pix: Buell
We spent time with Ducati and Ruben Xaus in Sardinia testing the all new Ducati Hypermotard. We have tested the bike both on the road and on track. Pictures, videos, blog etc coming... TS
2007 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 and 1100 S test coming...
Raptors & Rockets will ride the all-new Ducati Hypermotard 1100 and 1100 S very soon in Italy. Vittoriano Guareschi (pictured) recently tested the final prototype on the Mores Supermoto circuit in Sardinia. We will ride the 1100 S on the very same track and tell you all about it as it happens.
Guareschi had this to say even though he is a roadracing MotoGP man:
“The bike is fantastic!” Commented Guareschi immediately after a track session. “It's so much fun to ride that you lose all track of time, you never want to get off it. These tests have allowed us to define the set-up and make a few final modifications before going into production . Everything is on schedule and things really couldn't be better. I reckon the Hypermotard is the bike that was missing and I'm sure it'll be a great success. I've had a great time today, knee on the ground at every corner. The bike’s just perfect, well balanced, smooth and, above all, a true Ducati.”
