One welcome chassis change is the narrower 180mm rear tire that greatly enhances agility through tighter bends. Minimal steering input and great stability, combined with nearlimitless cornering clearance and the tenacity of the sticky Pirelli Supercorsa Pro radials, let the 848 unravel the twistyAlmeria track at a blistering pace. Even on standard settings, the suspension gave impressive control with minimal pitching under braking or acceleration, despite the compact wheelbase. On the track my only chassis-related concern was lack of room for my long legs (I'm 6-foot-4), but roadgoing comfort will likely be lacking, despite Ducati's claims of all-around ability. The 848 is still a superbike, just a slightly less powerful, more rider-friendly one. It might look innocent in white, but in performance and personality, it is blood-red Ducati all the way. Tech SpecEvolutionThe chassis from the flagship 1098 Superbike fitted with a smaller, sweeter 849cc V-twin. RivalsOther category-busting middleweights such as the Suzuki gSX-R750 and Triumph Daytona 675. TECH Price: $12,995 Engine type: l-c 90-deg. V-twin Valve train: DOHC, 8v Displacement: 849cc Bore x stroke: 94.0 x 61.2mm Compression: 12.0:1 Fuel system: EFI Clutch: Wet, multi-plate Transmission: 6-speed Claimed horsepower: 134.0 bhp @ 10,000 rpm Claimed torque: 70.8 lb.-ft. @ 8250 rpm Frame: Steel trellis with single-sided aluminum swingarm Front suspension: 43mm Showa inverted fork adjustable for spring preload, compression and rebound damping Rear suspension: Single Showa shock adjustable for spring preload, compression and rebound damping Front brake: Dual Brembo four-piston radial calipers, 320mm discs Rear brake: Single Brembo two-piston caliper, 245mm disc Front tire: 120/70-ZR17 Pirelli Supercorsa Pro Rear tire: 180/55-ZR17 Pirelli Supercorsa Pro Rake/trail: 24.5/3.8 in. Seat height: 32.3 in. Wheelbase: 56.3 in. Fuel capacity: 4.1 gal. Claimed dry weight: 370 lbs. Colors: Red, white Available: Now Warranty: 24 months, unlimited mi. VerdictDucati nails its performance targets square on the nose, but needs to address the aggro ergos if it wants a true all-around sportbike. Single-sided swingarm is pirated from the 1098, sans ride-height adjuster. Stainless steel exhaust plumbing uses a 2-1-2 layout. LED taillight uses nifty high-diffusion lens.Stainless steel exhaust plumbing uses a 2-1-2 layout. LED taillight uses nifty high-diffus HOTBOX Ducati north America 10443 Bandley Dr Cupertino CA 95014 « | 1 | 2 | View Full Article By Roland Brown Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
