Ducati 1198 Superbike (base, S, SP, R) Maintenance Schedule

This is the maintenance schedule and service intervals for the Ducati 1198 Superbike series — sourced from the owner’s manual and cross-referenced with parts diagrams.

The Ducati 1198 Superbike was an update to the Ducati 1098. It’s a superbike in the same vein and with similar exterior features — a single-sided swingarm, under-seat exhausts, and twin front lights. Many exterior parts are shared between the 1198 and 1098 — things like fairings, suspension components, wheels, and other parts fit both.

But the Ducati 1198 range is based on a larger motor — an 1198 cc incarnation of the Testastretta Evoluzione engine. It’s larger in both bore and stroke than its predecessor. But otherwise it’s still a liquid-cooled dual overhead-cam 4-valve-per-cylinder desmodromic L-twin, much like all recent Superbikes.

In most models of the 1198, the engine makes a claimed peak of 119 kW (160 bhp) at 9750 rpm, with peak torque of 90 ft-lb (122 Nm) at 8000 rpm.

This maintenance schedule is the same for all the models of the 1198 — including the 1198S, 1198R, and 1198SP. Yes, even the R Corse, in those amazing colours and with a higher output engine, has the same maintenance schedule as the humble 1198.

The Ducati 1198 was the last of the Superbike series before it was changed to the Panigale series, starting with the Ducati 1199 Panigale.

This post was originally published May 19, 2020, but has since been significantly revised.

This site has links for things like oil and spark plugs from which we earn a commission (which unfortunately nobody can save, not even us). If you appreciate this work, then please use those links. Thanks!

Ducati 1198 Superbike Service Intervals

Maintaining the Ducati 1198 is similar to previous superbikes. The basic service interval is 7500 miles / 12000 km or year, at which point you have to change the oil and filter.

The valve service interval for the Ducati 1198 superbikes is 7500 miles (12000 km). This is the same as the air-cooled Ducatis of the time. There are 16 valve gaps to check — two per valve (desmodromic), four per piston, and four two pistons.

The 1198 Superbike has belt-driven valves, which means that the belt tension needs to be checked every service, and they have to be replaced every 24000 km (15000 miles).

Ducati also recommends changing fork fluid periodically (every 3 years or 36000 km / 22500 miles).

What you need to maintain the Ducati 1198

The following is a list of consumables (things like oil, spark plugs etc.) you need to maintain the Ducati 1198 superbikes. You might want to check out a list of basic tools you might need as well.

All Ducati 1198 Superbikes take the same

Part	Ducati 1198 Series spec
Oil	Ducati recommends Shell Advance Ultra 4 motorcycle oil with viscosity 15W-50. You can also use another high-end synthetic like Motul 7100 15W-50.
Oil filter	Genuine Ducati part is 44440038A. You can also use a HifloFiltro HF153RC oil filter which can be changed with a normal wrench.
Brake fluid, Clutch fluid	Ducati recommends Shell Advance DOT 4, but that’s quite hard to find, so Castrol DOT 4 Synthetic is a good and very high-quality alternative.
Coolant	Ducati recommends Shell Advance Coolant or a 35-40% mix of Glycoshell, a Nitrite, Amine, and Phosphate-free coolant. But any ethylene glycol-based coolant will do the job.
Timing belt	Is it time to change the timing belt? Don’t put it off… a broken timing belt will cost you a lot! You need part number 73740252A.
Air filter	Part number for the air filter is 42610201A. You can also use a K&N DU-1007 air filter as an easier-to-obtain alternative .
Front brake pads	Standard Ducati part number is 61340791A for Brembo brakes. You can also use EBC FA447HH for more bite/feel.
Rear brake pads	Standard Ducati part number is 61340381A for Brembo pads. You can also use EBC FA266HH for more bite/feel.
Spark plugs	NGK code MAR10A-J. Note they’re sold individually.

Consumables for the Ducati 1198 Superbikes

You may also need the following general-purpose consumables.

Description
Paddock Stand — Makes maintaining your chain or doing other maintenance much easier.
Motul chain paste — one of the most highly-regarded chain lubes. Easy to apply, doesn’t fling off. If you need more stuff, get the Motul chain care kit as an affordable package.
Always good to have on hand lithium soap-based grease for lubing external pivot points (like the swingarm) and bearings.
Use Protect all cable life to lubricate your cables and controls.

General motorcycle maintenance consumables and tools

Regular maintenance for the Ducati 1198 Superbike

This is maintenance that you can do yourself (though the manual says you need a dealer to do it).

Every 1 000 km / 600 miles OR 6 months (whichever comes earlier), perform the following maintenance:

Ducati 1198 — Regular maintenance
Check the engine oil level
Check the brake and clutch fluid level
Check tyre pressure and wear
Check the drive chain tension and lubrication
Check the brake pads. If necessary, contact your dealer to renew pads

Regular maintenance for Ducati 1198

Ducati 1198 Maintenance Schedule Table

The following is the list of maintenance operations to be done on the Ducati 1198 Superbikes with a distance or time interval — whichever comes earlier.

This maintenance schedule has the same content as the manual, though the format is altered to fit this screen.

Notes

After the end of the service intervals, keep following it in the pattern shown.
The break-in service is omitted.
For items marked (1), observe just the distance interval (i.e. no need to check valve clearances or belt tension etc. annually)

km x 1000	12	24	36	48	60
mi x 1000	7.5	15	22.5	30	37.5
Months	12	24	36	48	60
Change engine oil (Shell Advance Ultra or Motul 7100 15W-50)	•	•	•	•	•
Change engine oil filter (Hiflofiltro HF153RC)	•	•	•	•	•
Clean engine oil filter at intake (oil pick-up filter)			•
Check engine oil pressure		•		•
Check/adjust the valve clearances (1)	•	•	•	•	•
Check the tension of the timing belts (1)	•		•		•
Change timing belts (part 73740252A)		•		•
Check and clean spark plugs. Change, if necessary (NGK MAR10A-J)		•		•
Check and clean air filter (1)	•		•		•
Change air filter (DU-1007)		•		•
Check throttle body synchronisation and idling (1)	•	•	•	•	•
Check brake and clutch fluid level	•	•	•	•	•
Change brake and clutch fluid (Castrol DOT-4)			•
Check and adjust brake and clutch control cables	•	•	•	•	•
Check / lubricate throttle / cold start controls	•	•	•	•	•
Check tyre pressure and wear	•	•	•	•	•
Check brake pads. Change, if necessary (EBC 2x FA447HH, 1x FA266HH)	•	•	•	•	•
Check steering head bearings		•		•
Check chain tension, alignment and lubrication	•	•	•	•	•
Check clutch plates pack. Change, if necessary (1)	•	•	•	•	•
Check the coolant level	•	•	•	•	•
Change the coolant (ethylene glycol-based coolant)			•
Check electric fan operation and cooling circuit sealing	•	•	•	•	•
Check rear wheel flexible coupling (cush drive)		•		•
Check wheel hub bearings		•		•
Check the indicators and lighting	•	•	•	•	•
Check tightening of nuts securing engine-to-frame screws	•	•	•	•	•
Check the side stand	•	•	•	•	•
Check front wheel nut tightening	•	•	•	•	•
Check rear wheel nut tightening	•	•	•	•	•
Check external fuel lines	•	•	•	•	•
Change front fork fluid			•
Check front fork and rear shock absorber for leakage	•	•	•	•	•
Check front sprocket fasteners (retaining bolts)	•	•	•	•	•
Lubricate and grease (Lithium Soap-based Grease )	•	•	•	•	•
Check battery and recharge	•	•	•	•	•
Road test of the motorcycle	•	•	•	•	•
Cleaning the motorcycle	•	•	•	•	•

Maintenance schedule for the Ducati 1198 Superbike

About the Ducati 1198 Superbike

The Ducati 1198 is an update to the Ducati 1098 Superbike series of motorcycles that had redefined the direction in which the Ducati Superbike range was going.

Visually, the 1198 looks like what many people think a Ducati Superbike should look like. Single-sided swing-arm, under-tail exhaust, and twin headlights.

But of course, that’s only what’s on the surface. The Ducati 1198 was built to perform. With a massive 134 Nm (97 lb-ft) of torque from its Testastretta Evoluzione engine across a fairly broad spread of revs, and a light weight of just 171 kg dry (377 lb), the Ducati 1198 has a lot of pull.

There were a number of incarnations of Ducati 1198. They all shared the same base frame, engine capacity, and design, but a number of components changed.

Spec	1198	1198 S	1198 SP	1198 R Corse
Year released	2009	2009	2011	2010
Engine	1198cc Testastretta Evoluzione	1198cc Testastetta Evoluzione	1198cc Testastetta Evoluzione	1198cc Testastetta Evoluzione
Peak power	125 kW / 170 CV @ 9750 rpm	125 kW / 170 CV @ 9750 rpm	125 kW / 170 CV @ 9750 rpm	132 kW / 180 hp @ 9750 rpm
Peak torque	131 Nm @ 8000 rpm	131 Nm @ 8000 rpm	131 Nm @ 8000 rpm	134 Nm / 99 ft-lb @ 7750 rpm
Clutch	Dry	Dry	Dry with slipper clutch	Dry with slipper clutch
Compression ratio	12.7:1	12.7:1	12.7:1	12.8:1
Front suspension	Showa 43mm TiO USD fork	Öhlins 43mm TiN USD fork	Öhlins 43mm TiN USD fork	Öhlins 43mm TiN USD fork
Rear suspension	Showa monoshock	Öhlins T36PR monoshock	Öhlins TTX monoshock	Öhlins TTXR monoshock
Front braking	330mm disc, Brembo M4-34	330mm disc, Brembo M4-34	330mm disc, Brembo M4-34	330mm disc, Brembo M4-34
Steering damper	Showa	Öhlins	Öhlins	Öhlins
Wheels	5-spoke light alloy	7-spoke light alloy	7-spoke light alloy	7-spoke light alloy

Ducati 1198 specs between base model, S, R, and SP models

Unlike the earlier generation Ducati 1098, the Ducati 1098 R version has the same capacity motor as the base model, but is tuned for higher peak power, with the help of higher-grade components (especially with the track-only race exhaust fitted).

All models of the Ducati 1198 share the same 330mm discs with Brembo monoblock 4-piston radial-mounted callipers.

The motor in the Ducati 1198 Superbike went on to be the basis for a number of other motorcycles, including the Ducati Diavel, Ducati Multistrada 1200, and the Ducati Monster 1200 — of course, in de-tuned form in all those bikes.