Ducati Superbike 1098 S Tricolore 2007 — Specifications

Can a motorcycle be a flag? When Ducati launches the 1098 S Tricolore in 2007, it answers yes. This machine is not just an S version with eye-catching bodywork; it’s a political statement, a return to roots tinged with radical modernity. Between the standard, the S and the R, Bologna slips in this year a gem that shines like a national anthem. Its green, white and red are not simply a copy of the Italian flag, but a direct tribute to the 1988 851, the desmoquattro pioneer. However, the designers avoided the trap of kitsch revival: the colors are distributed with a sharpness and boldness that make this Tricolore a unique object.

Technically, it is based on the already solid foundations of the 1098 S. The aluminum trellis frame, the monobrach swingarm, the 1099 cc Testastretta Evoluzione twin that spits out 160 horsepower at 9750 rpm and a torque of 122.6 Nm at 8000 rpm, the monoblock radial calipers: the base is already explosive. The S adds its high-end arsenal: 43 mm Öhlins inverted fork, Öhlins rear shock, forged Marchesini rims that save nearly 2 kg, and an onboard telemetry system with a USB key under the seat. But the Tricolore goes further. It receives gold plating on the frame and rims, and above all, a pair of Termignoni Racing carbon fiber exhaust pipes, complete with an electronic control unit. The gain? About ten extra horsepower and a sound that exceeds 102 dB, reserved for circuits, of course. With a dry weight of 171 kg, the power-to-weight ratio becomes downright intimidating.

In the hypersport market of the time, the Tricolore doesn’t play in the same category as the Japanese bikes. It doesn’t aim for the universality of a Honda CBR1000RR or the cold efficiency of a Yamaha R1. It is the expression of a character, a mechanical and aesthetic tradition. At €23,995, it is also an investment reserved for enthusiasts who seek both visual emotion and raw performance. The 15.5-liter fuel tank and the 820 mm seat remind you that this machine is not a daily rider, but a companion for sunny days and straight lines that end in a turn.

It’s a motorcycle for the collector, the amateur track rider who loves symbols, or the aesthete who wants a Ducati without compromise. It will only be produced during the year 2007, which immediately makes it a limited-edition object of desire. Between its patriotic colors, its enhanced engine and its Öhlins equipment, it may be the most direct heir to the 916, but with an even more pronounced temperament. It doesn’t just perform; it proclaims. And on the road, or better yet, on a circuit, this proclamation becomes a mechanical victory song.