Photoshoot of the Week: November 11th-17th 2019 – Ducati 848 & Nemi

The Ducati 848 is a sport bike with a 849 cc (51.8 cu in) 90° V-twin engine manufactured by Ducati. It was announced on November 6, 2007 for the 2008 model year, replacing the 749, although the 848 model name was already listed on the compatible parts table for the 1098 fuel tank, giving away the secret a few months early. The 848 makes a tested 86 kW (115.6 hp) at 10,000 rpm and 84.1 N⋅m (62 lb⋅ft) at 8,250 rpm. With a manufacturer claimed dry weight of 168 kg (370 lb), the 848 undercuts its larger displacement sibling, the 1198, by 5 kg (11 lb).
Don’t fool yourself, the Ducati 848 isn’t just a small 1098, it’s far more than that. The 848 is a proper fast (top speed is 166mph), fine-handling, gorgeous Ducati superbike in its own right. It’s no longer the poor relation to its big brother, like the 748 and 749 used to be. Although the more powerful 1098 is faster in a straight line and around a track, in the real world the Ducati 848 is every bit as fast.
Chassis-wise the Ducati 848 is almost identical to the 1098, save for slightly lower-spec, but still fully-adjustable, Showa forks and Brembo radial brakes. These cheaper units don’t harm the 848’s performance through the bends one bit though. Most significantly the Ducati 848 has a half-inch narrower rear wheel and a 180-section rear tyre, which gives the 848 greater agility and lighter steering than its bigger brother. In true Ducati superbike style the 848 is rock-solid stable in the corners, at the expense of slightly slow steering through flip-flop chicanes and very tight hairpins.
The liquid-cooled Desmodromic, 849cc V-twin Testastretta (Italian for ‘narrow head’) engine was designed and developed specifically for the Ducati 848; it’s not just a cheaper, sleeved-down version of the 1098’s motor. Making a true 122bhp and 66ftlb of torque at the rear wheel the Ducati 848’s motor is not only is very strong, but the power delivery is super-smooth and very linear, too. Compared to the 749, the Ducati 848 makes 20bhp and 10ftlb more, while weighing almost 30kg less.
Summing it up: a superb bike with its own identity. Plenty of performance, great styling and desirability. No reliability issues to date and affordable servicing. As to the 848 ‘looking Japanese’ – Laser eye surgery is available for those suffering from cataracts … Highly recommended (even if it’s out of production by now), in red or white and the best alternative to the GSXR 750.