By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Ducati 1198 (MY2009) vs Yamaha YZF-R1 (RN22)
Ducati 1198 vs Yamaha YZF-R1: which one to buy for the riding you do.
At the turn-in for a fast sweeper, the Ducati 1198's trellis frame doesn't flinch, and it keeps telling you what's happening underneath. Into a slow corner, the Yamaha YZF-R1 takes a quick run of hard downshifts without a fight. The rear doesn't hop or squirm.
So which one do you buy?
The 1198 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: 1198
Through a string of corners, the 1198 feels a little more eager. The gap is small, so ride both.
Racetrack use
Nose ahead: 1198
The 1198 pulls a nose ahead on track. Don't count on it doing the work for you.
The YZF-R1 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
A touch ahead: YZF-R1
Day to day, the YZF-R1 works out slightly cheaper to own. The saving is small.
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: YZF-R1
The YZF-R1 edges it for the daily grind. Credit simpler maintenance. It's a small gap, not a reason on its own.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear winner on value
The price gap doesn't produce a clear winner. Neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
1198
Torque runs the show on the Ducati: its big twin slingshots off each apex and pulls straight into a top-end rush. Stock fueling leaves the throttle snatchy off a closed grip, and there's no rider aid to smooth the hit. At walking pace the bars won't swing without serious muscle. The Brembos bite with real feel.
YZF-R1
A bump at track pace exposes the soft road tune, and the chassis wallows where it shouldn't. The bars and pegs don't cramp you into a tuck. A blown line gets mended mid-arc.
Nils rode the YZF-R1 in Australia in 2009, in 2010, in Spain in 2011, and in Portugal in 2012 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 1198 has the lower seat: 32.3 in (820 mm) vs 32.9 in (835 mm).
- The 1198 has the lower wet weight: 432 lb (196 kg) vs 454 lb (206 kg).
- The YZF-R1 makes more peak power: 182 hp (134 kW) vs 169 hp (124 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
1198
What owners say
Strengths
- Monstrous, characterful V-twin engine
- Sublime chassis and high-speed stability
- Timeless, exotic Italian design
- Powerful, race-spec Brembo brakes
Trade-offs
- High ownership and maintenance costs
- Punishing ergonomics and heavy steering
- Snatchy stock fueling and no electronic rider aids
YZF-R1
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Crossplane Voice, No Equal
- Forgiving, Planted Chassis
- Rear-Wheel Feel You Can Trust
- Crisp, Willing Gearbox
Trade-offs
- Top-End Trails The Class
- Suspension Too Soft For Track
- No ABS On Offer
- Heavy, Slow In Transitions
Known problems to check before you buy
1198
- Fuel line leak at injector connection Recall 09V170000 A recall (NHTSA campaign 09V170000) affects 2009 1198 and 1198 S models where the plastic fuel line fitting at the injector can warp or crack, causing a fuel leak and fire risk.
YZF-R1
- Regulator/rectifier failure The factory regulator/rectifier is known to overheat and fail, leading to either a flat battery or, in worse cases, fried wiring at the connector.
- Cam chain tensioner wear and rattle Original spring-loaded cam chain tensioners can lose tension, causing a top-end rattle at idle and on overrun. The aftermarket APE manual tensioner is a popular fix.
- Stator failure The charging stator can fail prematurely, sometimes related to or causing R/R failure; symptoms include erratic voltage and progressive electrical issues.
- Fuel pump failure Some owners report fuel pump degradation leading to power loss at higher rpm or stalling; usually requires pump replacement.
- Snatchy fuelling at low rpm in STD/A mode Abrupt throttle response just off closed makes smooth low-speed riding difficult; many owners default to the softer B-map for town use.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 15-year-old 1198 with a 15-year-old YZF-R1.
- 1198
- about $10,000
- YZF-R1
- about $7,700
At 15 years old, the Ducati 1198 sits around $10,000 while the Yamaha YZF-R1 lands near $7,700. That's a $2,300 gap in the Yamaha's favor. These are estimates from earlier market records, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 190/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 1198 | YZF-R1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Wet weight | 432 lb (196 kg) | 454 lb (206 kg) |
| 1198 | YZF-R1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1198 cc | 998 cc |
| Engine | 90° V-twin | Inline-four |
| Power | 169 hp (124 kW) | 182 hp (134 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,750 rpm | 12,500 rpm |
| Torque | 97 lb-ft (131 Nm) | 85 lb-ft (116 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,000 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Top speed | 185 mph (298 km/h) | 182 mph (293 km/h) |
| 1198 | YZF-R1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 27 mpg (US) / 8.56 L/100 km | 33 mpg (US) / 7.2 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.1 US gal (15.5 L) | 4.8 US gal (18 L) |
| 1198 | YZF-R1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 330 mm | 310 mm |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 1198 | YZF-R1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
