Ducati Superbike 1098R Bayliss LE 2009 — Specifications

When a rider is given an apotheosis of a farewell, winning his last world race at home on a machine with unique colors, the least one can do is dedicate a limited series to him. That is precisely what Ducati did for Troy Bayliss in 2009, transforming his 1098 R into a road-legal homologue as exclusive as it is steeped in history. This Superbike 1098R Bayliss Limited Edition is more than just a special livery. It is the exact replica of the mount that saw the Australian champion close his career as a champion, with the Xerox décor from the final round, designed by Aldo Drudi. The Australian flag, the number 21, the absence of advertising. One buys here a piece of legend.

Technically speaking, it is nothing more nor less than the 1098 R in its most radical configuration, already a track beast in its own right. The heart beats with a 1198 cm3 Desmodromic twin, boosted to 180 horsepower and 13.7 mkg of torque. These figures, combined with a dry weight of only 165 kg, define performances of rare brutality, even for the time. The top speed flirting with 300 km/h is only a simple consequence. What impresses more is the way this power is put to the ground.

The chassis is a work of art signed Bologna, a trellis tubular frame dressed with a single-sided swingarm. It is supported by a fully adjustable Öhlins suspension, inverted fork and TTXR rear shock, the equipment of the official teams. The braking, entrusted to radial monoblock calipers Brembo, is of breathtaking efficiency. Ducati even integrated an eight-level electronic traction control and a steering damper, rarities on a sportbike of this generation. The carbon fairing, the magnesium Marchesini rims, everything breathes pure competition.

With a price of 38,500 euros at the time, this Bayliss LE was aimed at the affluent collector and the demanding track rider. It was produced in only 500 copies, each accompanied by a numbered plate, a stand, and above all, a Termignoni exhaust and an electronic chip delivering six additional horsepower for the track. Faced with more affordable and versatile Japanese competitors, Ducati played a radically different part, that of a pure emotional object, much more than a simple means of transport.

Today, this machine has become a collector's item. It sums up an epoch-making period of the Superbike, where road homologation still bordered on the factory machine. Its major flaw? A total lack of compromise for the road, with a high seat at 82 cm, a 15.5-liter tank limiting range, and a temperamental engine that demands a firm hand. But it is precisely these excesses that make its charm. It is not a motorcycle, it is a trophy on wheels, a vibrant tribute to a rider who marked Ducati with a red-hot brand.