Ducati 848

[Skier1]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with a Ducati 848 ,thinking of getting one just to use as a weekend ride .just curious re parts costs,reliability etc.

[egisx5]

get 2008 r1 and carbon fiber it out

[Skier1]

But nothing sounds as good as a Ducati

[egisx5]

sounds like a diesel truck :\

[motordavid]

A bro-n-law had an older 916, which I rode regularly. It got stolen...
He bought a 2008 848, which I think was the first year for them, here in the US.

I have ridden that a few times: not the low end grunt of his old 916, but fast, and better 'done', revised, newer than that classic 916..

The 848 seems to be a 'slightly smaller engine' version of the 1098. I believe they share the same frame, and many body parts, et al.

Depending on one's size/pant leg inseam/arm reach, Ducs are very fun, but not the most comfortable, even for a sport bike, imo. At 6'1" it is tight for me. YMMV...

Also, I assume you have been riding a lot/long time, as it is not a beginner's or learner scoot, imo. I don't know what MY you are looking at; used Ducs can vary from garage queens to beat to a pulp.

Here in the US, a good Duc dlr with decent techs, or a good Indie is a must for used Ducatis. Not fragile, but not necessarily easy to work on.

Having ridden, (and owned), a lot of different scoots, I like Ducatis for short, haul azz, winding road rides with lots of curves. Not my fave for several hundred miles on weekend rides, or for boring down the highway in straight lines, for hours.

Yes, they sound good, but there are dozens of sleds out there in m'cycle land that 'sound good'. How it 'sounds' would not be at the top of my criteria...

My 50Cts...
GL, mD

[Ricky Bobby]

is it first bike? If so its a terrible choice.


If its not, I actually slightly disagree with mD on the comfortability. The seat is firmer, but actually the design of the 848 you sit more "in" the bike, which at 5'7" it actually is a comfortable riding position for me, as opposed to a Kawi Ninja which puts my ass up so high in the air I should be doing rap videos, and tilts my head over the triple tree so I'm always feeling like a stoppie is impending.

I think I read somewhere that the 848/1098 was designed for an average build Italian racer (think V. Rossi) so that might explain why it is comfortable for me to ride, and not mD at 6'1", those 6 inches do make a difference when it comes to riding position.

However, I do agree with mD that it is a Sunday funday cruiser for twisties, if you are just trying to look cool going down the shore in flip flops, stick to the CBGSXNinjaR1 etc, you'll save money doing it and get similar looks.

As well, not sure about down in Aussie land, but in NJ and the greater Tristate, you better have a Lojack on your Ducati, Aprilia, MV Agusta etc because there is a damn good chance that it might get stolen or attempted to get stolen depending on where you go and where you park. Thieves know that they are high end bikes.

[campy82]

I've owned a 748s and a 998s- the 848 is lighter than the 998 and makes comparable hp. Longer service intervals too, but no dry clutch... The design returned to the tamburini style of the 916/996/998 and away from the disastrous 749/999 styling which almost sunk Ducati... As far as affordability, it's an Italian super bike; plan to spend 2x as much maint as you would for a CBR/RR. High insurance, too and not designed with distance, comfort cruising in mind. Corse edition with termignoni pipes... Winning!

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by campy82

I've owned a 748s and a 998s- the 848 is lighter than the 998 and makes comparable hp. Longer service intervals too, but no dry clutch... The design returned to the tamburini style of the 916/996/998 and away from the disastrous 749/999 styling which almost sunk Ducati... As far as affordability, it's an Italian super bike; plan to spend 2x as much maint as you would for a CBR/RR. High insurance, too and not designed with distance, comfort cruising in mind. Corse edition with termignoni pipes... Winning!

So would you consider yourself a "Ducatisti" purist rider and only desiring a dry clutch on your Duc's? I watched a special and a lot of hardcore Ducati guys do NOT get down with a wet clutch.

I appreciate the pure machismo sound of a dry clutch, and the raw feel of one, but if I owned a Duc, for riding comfort I'd definitely not mind owning one with a wet clutch.


Now forget about the superbikes, just saw photos of the "Il Mostro" 1200S, now THAT is one hell of a bike

[campy82]

the tamburini era bikes are it for me- two wheeled art imho: I'd love to get my hands on a 998r- but for the prices they command when they do infrequently pop up... Unlikely.

[Ricky Bobby]

That's why I love MV Agusta's modern designs, although still sore at Tamburini for leaving Bologna in the late 90's, my god is he a man who can create art in a machine.

998/916 and the F4 are the two most beautiful bikes I've ever seen in person. God bless his designs over the years.