Surely the 998 was designed circa 1992/1993 under Cagiva stewardship (Tamburini) and the subsequent 999 circa 2000/2001 under Texas Pacific (Terblanche)?
Suppose it depends what you mean by designed? How close is the 998 to the 916/996? Are there many under the skin changes?
No *edit (I was in the supermarket From the 916 through to the 1198 the Ducati Superbikes were a steady progression - the major change being the engine between the 996 and the 998/999. The 998 was designed in conjunction with the 999 - exactly the same time. In fact Ian Falloon saw one in PT's office in 2000.
Hi Joe, nakeds are where it's at on mountain roads. I took the fairing off my Bimota DB2 and fitted flat bars and it's a hoot on the roads down here in the Pyrenees. If you want to come down next spring I'll show you around. Used to have M7rr s on the Bim, didn't inspire confidence at all, now on Conti Attacks and much happier.
Hey thanks, I don't really ride on the roads these days and as a consequence have each of my bikes prepped for the track and a specially converted transporter to er, transport them in. I am tempted to buy a hypermotard in the spring though so may get about a bit more if the opposition will allow it! You are right about the nakeds, hardly a summer day passes without a horde of them streaming past, with not a superbike amongst them!
You're welcome. That applies to any other forum members by the way. Thanks for the interesting comparison. The french are definitely more into real-world usable street bikes and not so obsessed with race replicas (ie hypersports). Curious, given that there are so many almost empty high speed roads here. But it's a very healthy biking culture here all the same.
I must be the exception that proves the rule; I'm French (although born in London)! The race reps for me are where it's at, I spent my early teens surrounded by 500cc GP bikes so it's kind of in the blood now and the closest I get to reliving the dreams of past glories! You are right we have some lovely roads, but I like a bit of a run-off when I overcook it, which I frequently do so unless I get that hyper, it's track only for me when the snow melts!
surely not... The major change between the 916 series ( given the 998 looked like the 916 yet had the 999 engine) had to be styling. Given the chassis are all the same or near as dam... You saying the 999 as a whole was designed along side the,916 range? Or the engine was designed /taken from the 998 in 2000
I want to understand this more, so Exige needs to do a bit of a Jackanory... Isn't the 999 longer and lower?
Bodywork isn't handling / riding, which was the point. The 998 engine was designed for the 999. You mentioned the 998 Vs the 999
The chassis and engine combined are 99% the same and my point was they were not 10 years apart but of the same time
Yeah! I want to understand it more too... c'mon @Exige FFS man - some meat on the bone or to the sin bin!