COVER STORY

Ducati 848 Preview

Author: Bekah Snyder, aka "Wrecky Slider"

A totally unbiased report.... Yeah, right!

If white doesn't quite do it for ya, the 848 also comes in Ducati Red...

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Ducati dares you to sprint through a set of wicked twisties on the new 2008 848, dismount and walk away unconvinced of its potent command.  In fact, they double dare you.  So do I.

The 848 is one of many new Ducati production models integrated with both MotoGP and Superbike technology.  These one-of-a-kind machines stand to be remembered as pioneering leaders, in the leap to a more complex tier of publicly available technology.  Question is--will you be left out? 

Push pause on the replay of your favorite MotoGP race.  The 2008 Ducati 848 is about to take the stage.  If the final frame plays and you leave unimpressed by its refined specs and engine advancements, maybe you should consider going in for a thorough medical check-up.  The stats are up and the facts are in.  

The refined 848 Testastretta Evoluzione L-Twin engine is a stunning creation.  It's the result of laborious hours spent redesigning and employing weight saving solutions.  Ducati sums it up best with regard to their engineering strategies by saying, "If it didn't make our Superbike lighter or faster or if it failed to deliver quicker lap times, it wasn't considered."  Need to be convinced?  Aside from Casey Stoner’s 2007 MotoGP championship, consider the fact that Ducati has also dominated World Superbike for almost two decades.

From a comparative standpoint, the 848 has some creditable statistics.  Simply put, the grizzly 848 with its 70 lb-ft of torque and 134hp has been bred to attack. Since it is deceivingly classified as a "middle-weight" superbike, you might be tempted to underrate this machine.  For starters, and taking into account its hefty engine size, at an official weigh-in of 369lbs the 848 weighs only 6lbs more than the 2008 GSX-R750 (I’d sure love to watch these two bikes go at it on the track!).  At the other extreme, the 848 weighs a staggering 44lbs less than its historical predecessor, the Ducati 749!  Go ahead, I’ll let you read that line again….44lbs--that's colossal!  The revamped 848 effortlessly leaves the 749 coughing in the dust. 

According to the official Ducati literature, the 848 "produces more power than the previous extreme [Ducati] Testastretta 'R' engines".  Furthermore, the 848’s 134hp equates to a 30% power increase over its predecessor.  Not impressed?  Ducati also confirms that the 848's power-to-weight ratio tops that of the potent 999.  Here’s a fork—chew on that!  But wait, there’s more.  Additionally, the 848 makes 11more hp than a stock Ducati 998.  Technology is advancing at the speed of light.  The 848 represents a lean, middle-weight fighter that clearly doesn't mess around. That’s why I had to buy one.  Merry Christmas to me…. It was time to upgrade my ancient model and get with the times.

The 848's over-square engine layout has undergone considerable increases in bore (94mm) and stroke (61.2mm), resulting in a remarkable ratio nearing 1.54 . Big bore, short stroke….really drives the ladies mad.  Well OK, maybe only this lady, but anyway—what was I saying?  How about adding to that, newly shaped combustion chambers, complete with racing size "R" valves and extreme "R" derived camshafts?

If that wasn't already enough, after some serious re-design to the cylinder and heads, Ducati engineer's decided they'd toss in a little GP6 action.  Forget conventional throttle bodies.  The new compact cylinder package deserves better.  To compliment and nourish it, highly specialized elliptical throttle bodies were cleverly integrated into the 848 masterpiece, derived from the MotoGP6 race bike!  With a 30% increase in air flow and more power to the engine, I'll take GP6 technology any day of the week.

While we’re on the subject of unique technology, Ducati’s Desmodromic Valve System is an exclusive feature solely shared by the innovative Italian brand (including the 848, World Superbike and MotoGP Desmosedicis alike).  As many of you know, valve closure on most motorcycles is regulated by standard springs.  Following the simple laws of physics, when the motorcycle revs higher, the timing and accuracy of the spring's action becomes a key factor.  Hence, if the spring fails to keep time or follow the exact profile of the camshaft, engine performance suffers.  Ducati's solution to this pitfall is their Desmodromic Valve System, which takes the spring completely out of the picture.  Instead, valve closure occurs mechanically.  Thus at any rpm, the valve timing is tightly controlled, eliminating the possibility of valve float common when springs are used instead. This is another unique feature that the 848 shares with its MotoGP cousin and so many other Ducatis that have come before it.

As mentioned earlier, the 848 is an astronomical 44lbs lighter than its predecessor, the 749.  Ducati cleverly found a way to put the 848 on a power sparing diet, to achieve weight loss without sacrificing muscle.  Its reworked cylinder heads consist of fewer parts and incorporate magnesium covers.  The result is a 6.5lb weight-saving in the heads alone!  The 848's engineers still desired a slimmer waistline so they trimmed off another 6.5lbs. by using new crankcase manufacturing technology.  The engine cases were made via vacuum die-cast formation, increasing strength and ensuring consistent wall thickness.  An additional 5lb weight reduction was accomplished by paring down other engine parts, including the gear selector drum, transmission gears, primary gears and the oil pump.  That's a staggering total weight reduction just shy of 18lbs for the engine alone.

Other liposuctioned areas of this super lean machine include: the frame, clutch, swingarm, wheels and exhaust.  The trademark Trellis frame was lightened by 3.3lbs and both the clutch and swingarm lost 2.2lbs each.  Also, the traditional Ducati signature dry clutch has been swapped for a more conventional wet unit.  Ducati traditionalists need not fear, though.  Surely someone will capitalize on this fact and come up with an expensive aftermarket dry clutch kit.  It’s likely that Ducati engineers “dumped the clutch” (no pun intended) in an attempt to give this bike a more street savvy appeal, since wet clutch units are generally known to have longer service lives and a more rider friendly “feel.”  Aside from the loss of the infamous rattling clutch, I was a bit disappointed to discover that the 848 doesn’t come stock with a slipper clutch.  Talk about heart breaking!  Life comes to a screeching halt for me in the absence of a slipper clutch (literally because I’m usually face-first in the dirt from a good highside).  Looks like I have a shopping list to assemble….

 Speaking of shopping, accessories are often hard to resist.  Virtually all manufacturers offer optional accessories but none quite like this.  The Ducati Data Analyzer (DDA) system adds an air of sophistication to the new Testastretta production line. The DDA is compatible with the 848 as well, (sold separately) consisting of a 2MB flash memory card and installable computer software.  Simply insert the memory card into your bike and proceed to go smash track lap records.  As you ride, the card digitally communicates with your bike and captures up to 3 hours worth of rider analysis.  Pretty cool huh?  Within seconds your memory card can be removed and downloaded onto your personal laptop via USB port.  Then at your leisure, you can sit back and check out just how slow you really are!  Think of all the hours of entertainment you could have with this one.

The acquisition system records comparative information such as throttle angle opening, lap times (flash your high-beam switch to trigger timer), speed and rpm, mileage and operating temperature.  Step into the life of a professional racer and reap the benefits of trackside performance analysis.  Your pit neighbor will guess you're aimlessly surfing the web, when really you're strategizing a way to set him up for a cleverly offensive inside pass!

The 848's unique digital instrumentation panel was originally developed for Ducati's Desmosedici MotoGP7 race bike. The absence of switches or buttons on its flatscreen face is every minimalist's dream.  When you desire to scroll through additional screen features, you can do so via a handlebar mounted control.  Digital rpms, (represented as a progressive bar graph) speed and lap times are otherwise set as the default screen while you’re on board.  When you want to activate the DDA system, the 848's digital dash display switches modes to double as a control panel. 

Bottom line—this machine oozes individuality and has max performance written all over it.  Ducati raises the bar again.  Stake your claim and be a part of sportbike history.  The 848 is your ticket in but you'd better hurry.  One hundred and thirty four hp waits for no one and if you don’t buy one for yourself, you may never experience the power of this MotoGP technology first-hand.  I think I speak on behalf of every other new 848 owner in saying: Don't come knockin' at my door—I’m pretty sure I won’t be lending mine out anytime soon.  I’m watchin’ ya and will be sure to sleep with one eye open.

Hungry? Why wait. MSRP: $12,995

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