Ducati 848

Developed in cooperation with Ducati Corse, the 848 trellis frame uses a simplified tube layout from the Ducati 749 featuring main section tubes that are enlarged in diameter from 28 mm to 34 mm, while being reduced in thickness from 2 mm to 1.5 mm. The result is a 14% increase in rigidity and a weight savings of 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), helping the 848 weigh 20 kg (44 lb) less than the 749.[7]

Race-Prepped Ducati 848 at Miller Motorsports Park

While most of the chassis components are identical to the 1098/1198, the motor was an all new design in 2008. Producing roughly 87 kW (116 hp) at the rear wheel,[8] it outperforms the Ducati 916 that had a hard time producing more than 75 kW (100 hp) and even the upgraded Ducati 998 that produced 82 kW (110 hp) at the rear wheel. The "Testastretta Evoluzione" uses a 94 x 61.2 mm bore and stroke for 849 cc of displacement despite the bike's moniker of 848.[8] The motor casings were constructed using a new vacuum die-casting method called Vacural that helps the engine weigh 7 pounds (3.2 kg) less than the Ducati 749.[8] The intake valves were increased 2.5 mm from the Ducati 749 numbers to 39.5 mm. The exhaust valves were enlarged 1.5 mm to 32 mm. The valve angles are identical to the Ducati 1098.[9] The bike uses a pair of elliptical 56 mm throttle bodies fashioned after MotoGP designs.[8]

The 2011 Ducati 848 Evo featured minor changes to the engine, including new Marelli throttle bodies, revised cylinder heads with straighter intake ports and reshaped combustion chambers. Ducati claimed these changes would result in a 4.5 kW (6 hp) increase, bringing output to 140 hp (100 kW) measured at the crank; however, Cycle World magazine's first dyno test of the engine showed a mere 1.6 hp (1.2 kW) increase over the previous motor.[5]

Ducati 848 EVO

Although the 1198 and 848 share many similar components, as per the 916/748 and 999/749 models, the 848 uses a wet clutch rather than the traditional dry clutch of previous superbikes from Ducati. The manufacturer claims it reduces weight, improves both service life and "feel" of the clutch and reduces noise.[10] Ducati has in the past held to only dry clutches in accordance with marketing their bikes as obeying the design imperatives of racing above all, unlike, as Ducati would have it, ordinary street bikes.[11] While a dry clutch "rattles like a bucket of rocks,"[12] Ducati and its adherents felt the clutch's "typical noise is music to bikers' ears."[11] The 848's wet clutch is a stark departure from this, because, "Ducati made it very clear that there is a new philosophy within the factory to develop each bike with specifications and capabilities that are aligned with the bike's target audience and intended environment."[13]

Ducati 848