I got thinking today that I have posted many times about my 1098R and how it has evolved during my ownership, but this has been a little fragmented over the last 5 years.
I thought I'd tell the full story from 2015 when I bought it, until now as people seem to enjoy these threads.
So, we are in 2015 and I find myself in a position to buy another bike. I have already decided it will obviously be a Ducati, but I want an 'R' of some description. I look at a couple of 999R's and almost buy one only to just miss out. At the time, the 1098R was just a little out of reach, but I find I can push the boat out a little but more.
I narrow it down to 3 bikes.
Jersey Bike
I'm unable to secure a deal on the 1st bike and the guy seems to swing between wanting to sell it and keep it.
There were issues with the Danish bike having such low miles I'd have to pay import duty and the lack of history was a noise in my head. It was also a German bike that the dealer had bought in and it just got a bit complicated.
The one I was least inclined towards at this point was the track bike from Jersey, but I enquire about it. It was bought from Pro Twins and exported to Jersey. Apart from a few miles, it's always been the guys track day bike, but not raced. The money it's had spent on it was eye watering, with the last service bill which included a NOVA gearbox and engine rebuild at JHP, not being that much cheaper than what he was asking for the bike. All of the standard parts are there having been removed when the bike was new. As I'm not particularly in love with it at this point I make an offer less than the 2 standard bikes and much less that the asking price. I hear nothing for a couple of days and then I have an e-mail to say he's accepted after talking to his wife.
I did actually think at this point. S**t, what have I done. But a deal's a deal.
Anyway, I speak to him a few more times and he senses my nervousness offering to call it all off if I'm not sure. All the questions I ask are answered with the responses I want and I decide to do it.
The spec -
A week or so later, it's in my garage. The track bodywork is rough, but all of the standard bits are brand new. The bike underneath the fairings is as clean as anything else out there and it has just benefitted from a full rebuild at JHP
My 1st job was to strip it down and remove all of the parts I wasn't going to keep on the bike.
As you'd expect with a recent rebuild, the bike is very clean, with no leaks or obvious issues.
So I start the rebuild and luckily, even though the guy has used it on the track, all of the bits are there as promised and things like electrical connectors have just been cable tied up if not used.
Lights and switch gear are easy enough ro get working. I'd have liked to keep the RCS master cylinders, but couldn't get them to work with the standard switch gear. Anything that wasn't mint, never went back on the bike and I bought a load of fasteners at this point.
Bought some Gilles rear sets & Levers.
Polished the exhausts in the garage one afternoon.
So over the space of a few days in the garage it came together.
And that was pretty much it and I have to say, I was delighted with how it turned out. It looked pretty standard apard from the wheels, but under the skin, it was basically a race bike.
After having some issues around starting it, I put in the local dealer and it was away for a couple of months. By the time I got it back, it was too late in the year to use it.
I used it for the next summer and the thing is the fastest bike I've ever been on.
One of the outcomes of the bike having starting issues was to fit a set of @Exige 's leads and a LiPo battery. I've posted previously about installing a Mosfet regulator to ensure the charging system can accept the Lithium item.
The 1098R has a higher rated battery over the standard 1098S, but I upgraded again to give the bike enough cranking amps to fire the coils and injectors as this turned out to be the issue.
By this time, the bike was sporting a set of snazzy blue Samco hoses.
I'd always liked the alloy tank option and after having some swelling issues with my Streetfighter tank, I decided to look out for one. I found a new one and had it painted to match the tail unit of the 1098R.
I thought I'd tell the full story from 2015 when I bought it, until now as people seem to enjoy these threads.
So, we are in 2015 and I find myself in a position to buy another bike. I have already decided it will obviously be a Ducati, but I want an 'R' of some description. I look at a couple of 999R's and almost buy one only to just miss out. At the time, the 1098R was just a little out of reach, but I find I can push the boat out a little but more.
I narrow it down to 3 bikes.
- A standard one with the execption of a pair of slip on Termignoni carbon end cans.
- A cheaper one in Denmark from a reputable dealer, with low miles and mint but only one key and no service history.
- The most expensive bike, a modified track bike in Jersey, but with all of the standard parts, some expensive additions and an iimpeccable maintenance history.
Jersey Bike
I'm unable to secure a deal on the 1st bike and the guy seems to swing between wanting to sell it and keep it.
There were issues with the Danish bike having such low miles I'd have to pay import duty and the lack of history was a noise in my head. It was also a German bike that the dealer had bought in and it just got a bit complicated.
The one I was least inclined towards at this point was the track bike from Jersey, but I enquire about it. It was bought from Pro Twins and exported to Jersey. Apart from a few miles, it's always been the guys track day bike, but not raced. The money it's had spent on it was eye watering, with the last service bill which included a NOVA gearbox and engine rebuild at JHP, not being that much cheaper than what he was asking for the bike. All of the standard parts are there having been removed when the bike was new. As I'm not particularly in love with it at this point I make an offer less than the 2 standard bikes and much less that the asking price. I hear nothing for a couple of days and then I have an e-mail to say he's accepted after talking to his wife.
I did actually think at this point. S**t, what have I done. But a deal's a deal.
Anyway, I speak to him a few more times and he senses my nervousness offering to call it all off if I'm not sure. All the questions I ask are answered with the responses I want and I decide to do it.
The spec -
- Rebuilt engine at JPH with Pistal pistons
- NOVA Gearbox
- Nemesis Traction Control
- Nemesis Quick Shifter
- BST Carbon Wheels
- Brembo RCS Brake & Clutch master cylinders.
- Termognoni full slash cut system
- Ohlins NIX-30 front fork cartridge kit.
- Spare Fuel tanks, ECUs, Clocks........
- Probably more.......
A week or so later, it's in my garage. The track bodywork is rough, but all of the standard bits are brand new. The bike underneath the fairings is as clean as anything else out there and it has just benefitted from a full rebuild at JHP
My 1st job was to strip it down and remove all of the parts I wasn't going to keep on the bike.
As you'd expect with a recent rebuild, the bike is very clean, with no leaks or obvious issues.
So I start the rebuild and luckily, even though the guy has used it on the track, all of the bits are there as promised and things like electrical connectors have just been cable tied up if not used.
Lights and switch gear are easy enough ro get working. I'd have liked to keep the RCS master cylinders, but couldn't get them to work with the standard switch gear. Anything that wasn't mint, never went back on the bike and I bought a load of fasteners at this point.
Bought some Gilles rear sets & Levers.
Polished the exhausts in the garage one afternoon.
So over the space of a few days in the garage it came together.
And that was pretty much it and I have to say, I was delighted with how it turned out. It looked pretty standard apard from the wheels, but under the skin, it was basically a race bike.
After having some issues around starting it, I put in the local dealer and it was away for a couple of months. By the time I got it back, it was too late in the year to use it.
I used it for the next summer and the thing is the fastest bike I've ever been on.
One of the outcomes of the bike having starting issues was to fit a set of @Exige 's leads and a LiPo battery. I've posted previously about installing a Mosfet regulator to ensure the charging system can accept the Lithium item.
The 1098R has a higher rated battery over the standard 1098S, but I upgraded again to give the bike enough cranking amps to fire the coils and injectors as this turned out to be the issue.
By this time, the bike was sporting a set of snazzy blue Samco hoses.
I'd always liked the alloy tank option and after having some swelling issues with my Streetfighter tank, I decided to look out for one. I found a new one and had it painted to match the tail unit of the 1098R.
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I'm going to use this thing, this year. 
, blue matches a lot of the fairing but you don't see them anyhoo 
