Ducati 998 2001 Manuel D'utilisation Et Entretien page 106

Moving off
1) Disengage the clutch squeezing the control lever.
2) Push down on gear change lever sharply with the tip
of your foot to engage the first gear. Once released, the
lever will spring back to its original position.
3) Speed up engine, by turning the throttle twistgrip and
slightly releasing the clutch lever at the same time. The
motorcycle will start moving off.
4) Let go of clutch lever and speed up.
E
5) To shift to second gear, close the throttle to slow
down engine, disengage the clutch right away, lift the
gear change lever and let go of clutch lever.
Repeat the same procedure to shift to 3
To shift down, release the twistgrip, pull the clutch
control lever, shortly speed up to help gears synchronize,
shift down and release the clutch.
The controls should be used correctly and timely: when
riding uphill do not hesitate to shift down as soon as the
motorcycle tends to slow down, so you will avoid lugging
the engine and stressing the motorcycle abnormally.
Important
Avoid harsh accelerations, as this may lead to
carburettor flooding and transmission snatching. The
clutch lever should not be pulled longer than necessary
after gear is engaged, or friction parts may overheat and
wear out.
34
Braking
Slow down in time, shift down to engine-brake first and
then brake applying both brakes. Pull the clutch lever
before stopping the motorcycle, to avoid sudden engine
stop.
braking. Using only one of the brakes will give you less
braking power.
Never use brake controls harshly or violently or you may
lock the wheels and lose control of the motorcycle.
When riding in the rain or on slippery surfaces, braking
rd , 4 th , 5 th and 6 th .
will become less effective. Always use the brakes very
gently and carefully when riding under these conditions.
Any sudden manoeuvres may lead to loss of control.
When tackling long, high-gradient downhill road tracts,
shift down gears to use engine braking. Apply one brake
at a time and use brakes sparingly. Keeping the brakes
applied all the time would cause the friction material to
overheat and reduce braking power dangerously.
Underinflated tyres reduce braking efficiency and may
affect safe riding and motorcycle good handling while
turning.
Warning
Use both brake lever and pedal for effective