[saitvsk23]

This was posted earlier in our "Imports Gathering Dust" thread of the Vintage cars section of the forum.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/super...ml#post4816031 (Pics: Imports gathering dust in India)



This is a Ducati 1098 S Tricolore, seized by Kochi Customs. It has been left in that state since, reportedly, 7 years.

A gentleman by the name Ashkar had bid for it and won the bid, and had restored it completely.

One less superbike left to rot on our streets!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GOq0SOmbfU&t=2s

[no_fear]

Originally Posted by saitvsk23

This is a Ducati 1098 S Tricolore, seized by Kochi Customs. It has been left in that state since, reportedly, 7 years.

I am going to draw flak for this but I would rather set things straight than let the mis-information continue.

Kudos to the owner for saving the bike, but it is not a Tricolore.

It is a regular 1098S that was painted as a Tricolore. The bike was originally black and then repainted in Delhi in the tricolore decals before it landed up in Kochi customs. There is plenty of documented evidence about this.

Having said that, I am delighted that a bike, that too an exotic Ducati has been rescued and lives to its new glory.

[bf1983]

Originally Posted by no_fear

I am going to draw flak for this but I would rather set things straight than let the mis-information continue...

Why would anyone have a problem with you sharing the truth ?

I think everyone here knows your knowledge on Ducati bikes are second to none here so your insight on this news is welcome and I don't think anyone will take offense to the truth being shared.

[saitvsk23]

Originally Posted by no_fear

I am going to draw flak for this but I would rather set things straight than let the mis-information continue.

Kudos to the owner for saving the bike, but it is not a Tricolore.

It is a regular 1098S that was painted as a Tricolore. The bike was originally black and then repainted in Delhi in the tricolore decals before it landed up in Kochi customs. There is plenty of documented evidence about this.

Having said that, I am delighted that a bike, that too an exotic Ducati has been rescued and lives to its new glory.

All I'm gonna say is that its a paintjob well done!

[Xaos636]

Originally Posted by bf1983

Why would anyone have a problem with you sharing the truth ?

Probably because the vloggers who glorified this as 1/1 in India or 1/2 in India wouldn't like it. The same video in the first post had comments that this is not a genuine Tricolore and the comments were either taken down or flagged by their so called fans. Truths would hurt a few if you look that way because the title of the video itself is a false information. I for one had commented on the insta handle of a couple of vloggers when the images were out, but the comments were taken down in a day rather than finding the truth of the story. I think even the person who bought it from the customs believes this is an OE Tricolore. So I can guess some people have a problem with the truth, but either way, lets see how this gets restored. I am excited for that part

[krishnaprasadgg]

Happy that another exotic is getting saved, but such a shame that it turned out to be a fake tricolor from what can be inferred. Like @no_fear said, the potential evidence is plenty if you look at the right places.
A few things that were noticed were that the gold stripe and the Ducati decal on the tank are not at the same place that an original Tricolore has, and then the bike has ditto aftermarket accessories to a specific black 1098s with red frame that used to be in Kerala(was featured on some magazine too that time) down to every single item from the aftermarket visor to levers to rear sets(brand and color too) and exhausts.
Thirdly, I might be wrong but weren't these a numbered build? I didn't see any numbered badge on the upper triple tee.

I hope that I am wrong and all these are just a coincidence. But it does open up an interesting discussion for sure.

Cheers
Krishna

[atif_46]

It's great to see an exotic superbike being saved from being scrapped! and that tricolore livery looks awesome

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by krishnaprasadgg

Happy that another exotic is getting saved, but such a shame that it turned out to be a fake tricolor from what can be inferred. Like @no_fear said, the potential evidence is plenty if you look at the right places.
A few things that were noticed were that the gold stripe and the Ducati decal on the tank are not at the same place that an original Tricolore has

Yup, at least its an original 1098 S and living to see another day.

As you correctly pointed out the gold stripe and Ducati decal on the original Tricolore is placed much further ahead on the tank as seen in the pictures below.

Originally Posted by krishnaprasadgg

and then the bike has ditto aftermarket accessories to a specific black 1098s with red frame that used to be in Kerala(was featured on some magazine too that time) down to every single item from the aftermarket visor to levers to rear sets(brand and color too) and exhausts.

Correct on the accessories part as well and hard to be a coincidence when the golden clutch covers, levers and exhaust are exactly the same from the Black one with a red frame, which was featured on Manorama Fast track magazine.

[neil.jericho]

Original 1098 S Tricolore or not, I am happy that India's most (in?)famous Ducati is being restored and is back on our roads. I was always under the impression that the bike was unregistered. A lot of other enthusiasts also thought the same. If that was the case, considering the emission norms related constraints, there was no way for me, or anyone else, to get it registered, with the RTO. This was one reason why many of us enthusiasts in Kerala, never took an interest in participating in the auctions and picking it up, over the past few years.

[AshwinThekkan]

Same bike in 2017 just before it was seized.