I find that "myth" very interesting. Remember, this is an '05 factory. Crank HP was 138...at the wheel mine was 122, which I was able to boost to around 130 with pipes and chip. Remember, the 999 in '05 boosted it's crank HP to 143 up from 2004 999's that were rated at 124. So if you'd like to compare these bikes to a 1098 you'd find that they come up well short. So, of course the Factory R from 05 will come up short when comparing it to a 1098. However, the bike makes plenty of power for what it is...a 1 liter twin. It's a very quick bike, handling is amazing. It's next to effortless to flick this bike, holding the line is automatic, and comfort is amazing. My only beef with the bike is that after I added the full Akropovic system, the right leg gets roasted on a long ride.
Straight line speed....again, if I compare it to it's contemporaries it's right on target with it's competitors of that day. Comparing it to the 1098....not fair and not close. However, if I compare a 999 to the 1098 (ridden both) that's not a fair comparision either and the 999 is ill equipted to handle the 1098 in off the line and high speed quickness.
I'm an enthusiast who loves motorcycles...pretty much all motorcycles. I've said it before on this forum, this '05 was my favorite motorcycle. Looks, power, balance, wheelies, and rare. Take that bike to any bike night and you will not find it's brother. What you will find is people crowding around the bike trying to figure out what it is. Like anything else, there is always something faster, more powerful, and yes even better looking (remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder)...with that said, the 1098 bests this Aprilia in nearly every category. Which it really should since it's a couple years newer, with 10% more displacement. However, there's still room in my heart for the romance that remains for my '05 R Factory.
What will be another interesting "unfair" comparison is comparing my new 1098R to my 1098S. I can't wait!
