2007 · Supersport · Buyer's Guide
Italian Colors, Uncompromised Edge
The Tricolore is the 1098 S wearing Italy's flag and a limited build sheet. Underneath sits the 1099 cc Testastretta Evoluzione L-twin, 160 hp at 9,750 rpm and 90 lb-ft at 8,000 rpm, carried in a trellis frame that puts 434 lb wet on a 56.3 in wheelbase. Öhlins at both ends, forged Marchesini wheels, carbon trim, 13.0 in (330 mm) front discs. Only a small number were built for 2007. That makes it a keepsake, but it was never styled into softness: this is Ducati's superbike period at full strength, and it still sits at the sharp end of its class.
It rewards commitment and gives almost nothing away for free. Lean clearance is effectively unlimited, the chassis feeds back constantly, and fully adjustable suspension at both ends plus a factory steering damper let you keep asking for more line. What it does not give you is a safety net. No ABS, no traction control, no ride modes, no slipper clutch. Every input lands exactly where you put it. That suits a skilled rider with a good road or a track day booked, and it wears out everyone else. Age brings homework too, mostly electrical, plus a plastic fuel tank that reacts badly to ethanol.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 160 hp (118 kW) @ 9,750 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 90 lb-ft (122 Nm) @ 8,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1099 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 330 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.3 in (1430 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Wet weight | 434 lb (197 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.1 gal (15.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Hit the starter and the L-twin settles into a hard, uneven idle that shakes the tank between your knees and the mirrors into a blur. It is one of the best sounding engines I have ridden, mechanical and unapologetically loud in a way nothing new is allowed to be. The riding position is genuine period superbike. A 32.3 in seat, a long reach down to narrow bars, and real weight through your wrists at anything below a committed pace. Around town that gets old fast, and heat comes up through the fairing on a warm day. Out on a road with rhythm the whole bike reorganizes itself. The bars go light, your body drops into the tank, and the messages coming back through the pegs and grips are constant and honest. You ride it looking a long way ahead, because it wants you there.
Two decades of paddock talk, club nights, and the messages owners send me directly have given me a steady read on this one. The pattern is consistent: riders love what the bike is, and they accept what it asks of them in return.
The engine carries most of the praise. Riders describe strong mid-range drive that keeps building into a hard top end, and a V-twin character that stays muscular without turning coarse. Handling draws the same level of agreement: minimal effort to change direction, and enough confidence to keep leaning on it. The exclusivity of the thing comes up almost as often.
Talk turns to running costs fast. Valve clearance checks every 7,500 miles, belt changes, and parts and labor priced well above Japanese equivalents come up in nearly every ownership conversation. Two more themes repeat. The riding position wears people down on long days, with low clip-ons, high pegs, and a thinly padded seat. And the fueling snatches at low revs, which owners commonly cure with a reflash or an aftermarket fueling module. In bad conditions, the missing safety net is what they say stays on their mind.
Voltage regulator failure / engine stalling
Excessive heat damages the voltage regulator, leading to battery discharge, loss of electrical power, and sudden engine stalling. A recall (NHTSA 08V-638) fitted a redesigned regulator, heat shield, and modified battery support.
Engine stalling at idle
Early 2007 models commonly stalled when coming to a stop, especially during the run-in period. A combination of software updates and the voltage regulator recall largely resolved the issue.
Fuel tank breather blockage
Age-related clogging of the fuel tank breather can create a vacuum inside the tank, starving the engine of fuel and causing power loss. Often misdiagnosed as a fueling issue.
Clutch slave cylinder leak
Seals in the clutch slave cylinder may leak, leading to fluid loss and clutch disengagement issues. Often resolved with an aftermarket replacement.
Fuel tank swelling (plastic tank)
The plastic fuel tank absorbs moisture from ethanol-blended fuels, causing it to expand over time. This can lead to mounting problems, interference with steering, or tank seam splitting. Aftermarket metal tanks or internal coating can mitigate the issue.
Weak fuel pump relay
The fuel pump relay is prone to failure, causing intermittent fuel delivery and stalling. Replacing it at every major service is recommended.
Cracked body panels
The thin OEM lower fairing panels are susceptible to stress cracks, especially around mounting points. Inspect for hairline fractures.
Where this Ducati 1098 S Tricolore pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the 1098 S Tricolore is actually built for.
Made for the road you drove out there to ride. It carves, it sounds incredible, and it demands your full attention. With no traction control, damp pavement or sand in a corner is on you alone.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
The suspension and lean clearance are ready for a track day right now. You just ride it without electronics helping, and a limited-run Tricolore is an expensive thing to crash.
Made for Barber Motorsports Park · WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Circuit of the Americas
Precision and feedback are exactly what tight technical roads reward, and this bike has both. The drive in from Atlanta or Charlotte is the part your wrists and the 4.1 gal tank will argue about.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2005–2006
Italian Steel, Brembo Soul
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
