About the 999, Polen says that ?The neatest thing about it is powerband. It?s very rideable, very smooth, very linear. There?s no big hit anywhere, so no matter where you are on the racetrack ? slow corners, fast corners ? when you roll the throttle on, it goes. It?s not the fastest handling, but it?s hooked up and stable, so it?s a nice ride.?
?Nice ride,? eh? So what does Mr Polen have to say about the 1098? While he had no issues with the power delivery, Doug found out that making the 1098 handle could be hard work. ?The 1098 is so light that it doesn?t work the suspension. You have to ride it very hard to work the suspension, so I?m out there running harder and all that?s doing is beating up the tyres. As soon as I rode the 999 with fresh tyres, the 1098 was in trouble. It was over before it started.?
So what?s the bottomline? According to Doug Polen, ?You?re trying to top a motorcycle [the 999] that?s very, very good to begin with. It?s hard to drastically improve something that?s already one of the best.? So there you are, then. While the 1098 certainly looks good and goes hard, it may not have the 999 beat just yet.
?Nice ride,? eh? So what does Mr Polen have to say about the 1098? While he had no issues with the power delivery, Doug found out that making the 1098 handle could be hard work. ?The 1098 is so light that it doesn?t work the suspension. You have to ride it very hard to work the suspension, so I?m out there running harder and all that?s doing is beating up the tyres. As soon as I rode the 999 with fresh tyres, the 1098 was in trouble. It was over before it started.?
So what?s the bottomline? According to Doug Polen, ?You?re trying to top a motorcycle [the 999] that?s very, very good to begin with. It?s hard to drastically improve something that?s already one of the best.? So there you are, then. While the 1098 certainly looks good and goes hard, it may not have the 999 beat just yet.
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