The 1098 shares more design elements with the older 998 than with its predecessor the 999, such as horizontally placed headlights and a non-integrated exhaust system. Another carryover from its 916/998 heritage is the single-slided swingarm. This return to a more traditional Ducati design has been welcomed by many Ducati fans who criticized the design of the 999.
The Ducati 1098/1098 S/1098 R were available in black, red, yellow and a special edition 1098s in the Italian national flag colours of red, white and green called Tricolore. The 1098 was designed by Ducati designer,Giandrea Fabbro. The 1098/1098 S makes a manufacturer claimed 160 hp (119 kW), 90.4 lb•ft (122.6 N•m) torque, and weighs 173 kg (380 lb). The 0-60 mph time is less than 3.0 seconds and top speed is estimated at 180 mph (290 km/h). The 1098 R makes a manufacturer claimed 180 hp (134 kW), 98.8 lb•ft (134.0 N•m) torque. All these figures give the 1098 the highest torque-to-weight ratio of any production sport bike ever made