Driving report Aprilia RSV mille R “Haga”, Ducati 998 S “Bostrom ??

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Driving report Aprilia RSV mille R “Haga”, Ducati 998 S “Bostrom ??

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Rare, sinfully expensive and hovering between art and kitsch: Aprilia and Ducati pay homage to their extravagant Superbike World Championship heroes Noriyuki Haga and Ben Bostrom with two limited special editions.

Why did you let this happen, Noriyuki? We all sincerely hoped to finally be able to drift as well as you with your replica? and now this: it is not drifting. Can’t either. Put thick Dunlop stickers on the Haga-Mille R, which costs 17,999 euros, and then simply drag Pirelli Supercorsa onto the forged OZ rims ?? what was Aprilia thinking about the limited series of 300 pieces? Anyone who is only halfway enthusiastic about racing knows: without Dunlops no drifts, no breathtaking Haga show (www.haga-bros.com).
Another one drove himself straight into the hearts of the fans with his aggressive driving style: Ben Bostrom (www.benbostrom155.com). Honda wouldn’t dedicate a replica to its Superbike protagonist Colin Edwards in a hundred cold winters. Ducati is doing it for Ben after his second year on the works team. Which has less to do with the fact that it is so damn well received by the girls. Five in a row ?? five consecutive victories in the World Cup last year were reason enough for the Italians. Limited to 155 pieces, matching the start number, 23,000 euros expensive. Ducati is more stylish when it comes to choosing the first tires for the Bostrom-998S: Dunlop D 207 RR. Because Ben is robbed of his elixir of life without Dunlops. This is what happened in the 2000 season when he sadly sank into mediocrity despite the finest Michelin tires. With Dunlop, confidence came back.
Of this, the average consumer also needs ?? next to a well-filled wallet ?? a good portion. Both replicas are nothing for people who park discreetly in the last row at the motorcycle meeting, but rather something for light figures. For example, for people who play the Italian anthem during race training and kneel down in awe in front of their Ducati. That’s what happened recently in Oschersleben. Both replicas are equipped for driving on public roads thanks to their standard ABE silencers, but the Ducati only as a single-seater. And in the case of this Bostrom-998S, the German Ducati importer wanted to show what the accessory shelf has to offer and equipped the test vehicle with various parts. This also includes a modified ignition box and Termignoni titanium silencer. The latter are very careless about their job. To put it in a nutshell, this 998 S sounds like Godzilla. Which inevitably sends a pleasant shiver down your spine. Breathtaking, wonderful, this bass. A symphony. Every Duc should sound like this. Unfortunately it is illegal.
On the other hand, on the small course in Hockenheim, no law enforcement officer is bothered by the banging of the two twins. Thanks to the two beautiful Akrapovic racing mufflers, the Aprilia can also trumpet its impressive sound repertoire. Also included in the racing kit: another Eprom and the much-described 16-tooth sprocket, very welcome on the racetrack. This kit helps the Aprilia to achieve a small increase in performance (see diagram on page 25) in the medium speed range, with the help of which it can keep up with the powerful Ducati. As long as the straight is not too long. Then the Ducati with its Testastretta V2, known from last year’s 996 R, mercilessly shows its extra power. Ben’s racing machine is said to have more than 185 hp, but for a normal mortal the measured 141 are sufficient in every imaginable life situation. What a fabulous response, what smooth running. Even below the 3000 rpm mark, this twin accelerates neatly and in minute doses, pushes you out of the corners with tremendous power, and does not lose any of its sheer revving power even before the limiter is used gently. The trust in this motorcycle quickly grows almost unlimited. It is particularly impressive how much feeling you get with the elegant Ohlins fork for the front wheel. Does it justify the surcharge for the Showa-equipped base 998S? A rhetorical question. If you have a replica, then do it right.
Disillusionment when braking hard. Not because of the superb brembos. The Haga-Mille does too. The one with the four individual pads per brake calliper. No. But while Ben’s motorcycle regularly lurches spectacularly when braking, nothing moves at all with his replica. Despite the Dunlop tires. Incidentally, they are a great choice, even though Ducati relies on an extra-wide 190 at the rear despite the 5.50-inch rim. The Bostom replica therefore looks a bit wobbly in deep inclines.
Not a trace of it on the more manageable Mille R. Seeing bends, braking, bending, letting the knee paddle, that’s a very homogeneous process for her. It is easier to drive, more comfortable, and gives the ambitious amateur more time to concentrate on the route. Well, that stoic Duc, she misses something. Still you ?? like the competitor? seamlessly relies on Ohlins chassis components. Fork, steering damper, shock absorber, everything made in Sweden. Everything at its finest. Only that the replica doesn’t drift as nicely as Haga’s factory racer. Clear. Supercorsa are also on it. They don’t want to march sideways with their enormous grip.
E.simply forward. Or should the lurching and drifting be down to the drivers?

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