Ducati 848
 

The 848 is Ducati's most impressive middleweight Superbike ever. Its exceptional lightweight and legendary Ducati chassis set-up combined with the smooth and thrilling torque delivery of the L-Twin Desmo provide the ideal way to enter the world of Ducati Superbikes.

With a dry weight of just 168kg (369lb) the agile 848 is an amazing 20kg (44lb) lighter and 30% more powerful than its predecessor, enabling the middleweight to deliver impressive performances whether riding through mid-town traffic or racing through track-day competition. These incredible achievements are a fitting reward to Ducati's ingenuity and a clear result of the continual attention to detail and development of their twin-cylinder technology.

Iconic features from its bigger brothers, such as the twin under-seat silencers, single-sided swingarm, Trellis frame and beautiful race bodywork, are all part of the 848's DNA. Its family resemblance assures that it is equipped with all the performance advancements of the Superbike family, while adding its own particular refinements to the middleweight sport bike class.

From the first twist of the throttle, the powerful rush of the Testastretta EVOluzione engine confirms that the rules have changed. The 848 is a new class of Superbike.

The 848 Testastretta EVOluzione engine
The potent 848 is powered by a liquid cooled, L-Twin, Desmodromic engine that produces 134hp (98.5kW) @ 10,000rpm and a class-beating 70.8lb-ft (9.8kgm) @ 8,250rpm.

The 94mm x 61.2mm bore and stroke breathes through 4 valves per cylinder fed by racing-style elliptical throttle bodies. Electronically injected and ignited by Marelli, the super-efficient power unit then exhausts through a lightweight 2-1-2 system equipped with a catalytic converter and lambda probe to conform to Euro3 regulations.
The highly advanced 848 engine was the first Ducati Superbike to introduce vacuum die-cast formed crankcases. Achieving a significant weight saving of more than 3kg (6.5lb), this production method also ensured consistent wall thickness and increased strength. Further refinements include a sophisticated wet clutch that offers a power-enhancing 1kg (2.2lb) less weight, greater durability, improved clutch feel, and quiet operation.

More World Championship-winning race technology than ever before
The 2009 Superbike range presents five models: The lightweight and agile 848, the awesomely powerful new 1198, and for those who demand the ultimate in specification, the 1198 S and 1098 R, both now with race-level Ducati Traction Control systems for the road. To mark his 3rd Superbike World Championship and to celebrate the career of Troy Bayliss, who will now retire from motorcycle racing, Ducati will build a 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition.

Engineered by the stopwatch
The Ducati 848, 1198 and 1098 R Superbikes are the most advanced, most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycles ever built. They are the product of a team of designers and engineers who have combined their Ducati MotoGP and World Superbike technologies to create the finest sport bikes in the world. From race-level engine specifications to world championship-winning traction control, the results are pure excellence. The Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system further underlines Ducati's technology flow from racing to production and demonstrates how solutions developed for the track can be applied to enhance safety on the road.

Designed by the race track
The look and stance of the Ducati Superbikes are the result of intense race development and Ducati heritage. Their striking aerodynamic shapes create a natural riding position, confirmed by Ducati development and factory team riders as the optimum for speed and agility. Their passion for racing has shaped the Superbike family.

Pure Ducati
Ducati Superbikes are race bikes, pure and simple. They are immediately recognisable for their purposeful, no-nonsense attitude. Performance is first and foremost in every detail.

Trademark Ducati features like the high tail section and compact front end combine with twin under-seat silencers and single-sided swingarm to express the sheer engineering beauty of aerodynamics and agility. Add the Testastretta EVOluzione engines as the hearts of the machines and the result is all-out performance Ducati Superbikes that look fast even when parked.

Winning is Ducati's passion
Ducati Superbikes, designed, engineered and built in Bologna, Italy, have always represented the pinnacle of Ducati motorcycle technology and racing success. For Ducati, racing and winning are a way of life and a way of thinking for their designers, engineers and everyone at the factory. Their unique engineering solutions are proven on the race track, where the only way to win is to have technical superiority and dependable performance.

Ducati have dominated World Superbike racing, winning 13 World Championships and taking the Manufacturers' title 15 times. Furthermore, Ducati have won more individual World Superbike races than all other manufacturers combined. Add these unequalled performances to the historic achievement of winning the 2007 MotoGP World Championship, and their results speak for themselves.

Features and Benefits
Advanced chassis
The 848 , 1198 and 1098 R chassis and suspension received detailed study and a 'performance-first' priority approach to development. The goal was to achieve considerable weight saving and build-in strength and rigidity to manage the high-powered Testastretta EVOluzione engines. While the 'R' models are purely 'monoposto', Ducati built 'biposto' practicality into the 848 and 1198 with a passenger seat and footpegs. As with the race bikes from which they are derived, each and every component is designed to contribute to achieving superior road holding and stability.

Trellis frame
Developed in cooperation with Ducati Corse, the lightweight Trellis frame features 34mm main section tubes with a material thickness of 1.5mm. The result is an incredibly rigid construction that remains one of Ducati's lightest frame solutions ever. Adding style to performance, the two colour versions for the 848 use frames finished in 'red' and 'racing grey' while both colours for the 1198 use 'racing black' frames and both 1198 S a sophisticated 'bronze' finish. The 1098 R frame is finished in 'red' .

Front suspension
Both the 848 and 1198 feature fully adjustable 43mm Showa forks, with an additional special low friction titanium oxide treatment applied to the sliders of the 1198, while spectacular 43mm Öhlins with low friction titanium nitride-treated sliders are used on the 1198 S and 1098 R. Both front suspension solutions have radial brake caliper mountings providing superior road holding and incredible feedback to give every rider more confidence and control.

Rear suspension
The lightweight Trellis frame and single-sided swingarm have enabled a compact and weight-saving rear suspension linkage system that features separate lower pick-up points for the push-rod and suspension unit. This 'tandem' design effectively reduces stress around the linkage pick-up area of the Trellis frame. Working together with this highly efficient linkage is a fully adjustable Showa single shock for the 848 and 1198, and an incredible Öhlins unit for the 1198 S. The higher specification Öhlins for the rear of the 1098 R uses TTXR twin tube technology and offers totally separate damping adjustment in compression and rebound. It uses experience gained in MotoGP to minimise friction and reduce the risk of cavitation under extreme conditions. The 1198, 1198 S and 1098 R rear suspension system has an adjustable rear ride-height, independent of spring pre-load and other suspension settings - valuable when seeking the perfect set-up for personal riding style or track conditions.

Single-sided swingarm
The dual construction technique used for the single-sided swingarm sees the main operational components use individual aluminium castings so as to ensure strength around the pivot points, wheel hub and suspension links, with fabricated aluminium sections used to complete the construction into a single, beautifully engineered component. The 848 swingarm is colour finished in natural aluminium while both 1198, 1198 S and 1098 R swingarms are in black.

Superbike Control
Race-bred brakes
With motorcycles as capable as the new Ducati Superbikes, superior braking power is fundamental.

The lightweight 848 features progressive and consistent race-bred braking performance as standard equipment with a tried and tested formula that includes twin radially mounted Brembo calipers each with quadruple 32mm pistons gripping 320mm discs.

The 1198, 1198 S and 1098 R uses Brembo's powerful Monobloc caliper racing technology. Machined from a single piece of alloy, the calipers achieve a higher rigidity and resistance to distortion during extreme braking. The resulting increase in hydraulic efficiency not only delivers incredible braking power, but also provides an enhanced and precise 'feel' at the brake lever. The twin Monobloc calipers each have quadruple 34mm pistons that grip huge 330mm discs to help achieve spectacular brake performance. The weight of the discs has been kept to a minimum by employing racing-style narrow braking surfaces.

Super lightweight wheels
The lightweight front wheels of the 848, 1198 and 1198 S and 1098 R substantially reduces the moment of inertia, enabling a faster change of direction and enhanced acceleration and braking performances. The construction of the rear wheels are equally as impressive with considerable weight savings over traditional Ducati single-sided swingarm fitments.

The 848 is equipped with Y-shaped, 5-spoke wheels which are finished in black while the 1198 rides on new style 10-spoke wheels finished in a subtle graphite grey. As usual, the 1198 S goes to the next level by rolling out on the new 7-spoke GP replica wheels. These beautifully lightweight, forged-aluminium, machine-finished wheels are colour-matched to the Trellis frame in a sophisticated bronze. Lightweight Marchesini Y-shaped, 5-spoke wheels created from forged then machined alloy and finished in 'racing gold' are used for the 1098 R, and a matte black finish selected to contrast against the special livery of the 1098 R Bayliss.

While the 848 uses Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa PRO 120/70 ZR17 front and 180/55 ZR17 rear tyres, the 1198, 1198 S and 1098 R models are fitted with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC at 120/70 ZR17 for the front fitment and 190/55 ZR17 for the rear. These tyres provide shoulder areas designed to maximize contact patch area and length and carcass specially designed for stiffness under heavy braking and precision during high speed cornering.

Magnesium subframe
Producing a front subframe in magnesium underlines the attention to weight-saving detail. Its construction provides secure support for the headlamp, instruments and fairing and the weight-saving around this high, forward position contributes considerably to overall 'feel' and control of the machine.

Aerodynamic bodywork
Carefully designed for aerodynamic efficiency and to hug the sleek lines of the chassis, the 848, 1198 and 1098 R bodywork enables the rider to blend effortlessly into the race-oriented riding position.

Its race-developed fairing design ensures perfect integration with the cooling system by providing efficient flow through the advanced, large surface area coolant radiator, which is assisted by lightweight, high flow electric fan assemblies and oil coolers. Aerodynamically shaped air ducts positioned just below the headlamps are precisely calculated to provide ample air delivery to the pressurised airbox.

The lightweight bodywork contributes considerably to overall performance by reducing weight, protecting the Testastretta EVOluzione engine's power output, and assisting the rider to effortlessly 'tuck in' from the wind stream and reduce drag to achieve maximum straight-line track speeds.

Superbike Electronics and Innovation
Instrumentation
This pure racing digital instrumentation originating from Ducati's MotoGP project, has no switches or buttons to compromise its clean, minimalist lines. Instead, information additional to the default read-outs is managed from the left-hand handlebar-mounted switch gear, allowing the rider to scroll through and select from various menus. The display, which now has a bright white LED back lighting for the 1198 and 1198 S, presents rpm and speed, with the former displayed across the screen in a progressive bar graph. Optionally, the rpm and speed can be displayed in numeric values.

Additionally, it displays lap times, DTC level selected (if activated on 1198 S and 1098 R) time, air temperature, coolant temperature, battery voltage, two trips and a trip that automatically starts as the fuel system goes onto reserve. Warning lights illuminate to signify neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, low oil pressure, fuel reserve, DTC intervention (if activated on 1198 S and 1098 R) and scheduled maintenance. The instrument display is also used as the control panels for the DDA and DTC systems as well as listing lap times recorded by using the high-beam flash button as a stopwatch.

Traction control
For the first time ever on a Ducati production motorcycle, a true competition-level traction control system for the road comes integrated into the 1198 S and 1098 R electronics as standard equipment. The Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system further underlines Ducati's technology flow from racing to production and demonstrates how solutions developed for the track can be applied to enhance safety on the road.

DTC uses the same software logic developed and used by Ducati Corse for their world championship winning MotoGP and World Superbike motorcycles and offers a choice of eight settings developed by their professional test riders and racers.

Accessible from the left-hand switchgear and displayed on the digital instrumentation, the system offers a choice of eight profiles. Each one has been programmed with a wheel-spin tolerance matched to progressive riding levels of skill graded from one to eight. While level eight administers a confidence-building, high level of interaction from the system by activating upon the slightest amount of wheel-spin, level one offers a much higher tolerance and so much less intervention for highly competent riders. When the level is selected and DTC activated, the level is displayed on the instrumentation.

When the profile that best suits the combination of road or track conditions and riding style has been selected and the DTC system activated, front and rear wheel sensors compare speed differential to sense when rear traction is being broken (wheel-spin). High speed software then makes instant electronic adjustment to the fuel injection, taking immediate control over power output so as to restore traction at the rear wheel. A warning light is displayed during DTC interaction. As soon as the system recognises the return of equal wheel speeds, it re-establishes normal power delivery. In this way, DTC provides a considerable increase in safety during mid-corner acceleration.

The DTC system is supplied as standard equipment on the 1198 S and 1098 R models.

Data acquisition
The Ducati Data Analyser (DDA) - complete with PC software, a USB-ready data retrieval card and instructions - evaluates the performances of the bike and its rider, and make comparisons between various channels of information. The DDA is available for the 848 and 1198 from Ducati Accessories, and is supplied as standard equipment on the 1198 S and 1098 R models.

Normally only available on race bikes, DDA records numerous channels of data including throttle opening, vehicle speed, engine rpm, engine temperature, distance travelled, laps and lap times. The system also automatically calculates engine rpm and vehicle speed data so as to display gear selection as an extra channel of information. An additional channel of information is now dedicated to recording the DTC index which can then be viewed as a graphic trace and indicates the amount of DTC interaction during wheel-spin. At the end of a ride or track session, an upgraded 4mb of data can be downloaded to a PC ready to compare, analyse and get an inside view of the performance of the rider and motorcycle.

Data can be analysed in graphic form with options to zoom into detail of specific sections. Dragging a trace along a timeline to reveal individual values of the above listed channels enables the user to analyse performance in the same way that data technicians can in factory teams. The latest version software is now compatible with Windows Vista™ and allows data to be compared with that from a completely separate session and for pages of data to be printed off easily.

Lights and indicators
The horizontal twin headlamps, a signature Ducati style from the iconic 916, have been modernised with the latest lighting technology. Two polyellipsoidal units light the way with a powerful beam while maintaining an aggressive look to the front of the machine in pure Ducati Superbike tradition. The units used on the 1198 and 1098 R now save over 0.5kg (1.2lb) over previous versions, reducing weight from a crucial high frontal area which enhances the overall vehicle handling and all-important 'feel' of the front-end.

The rear light employs a specially designed strip of LEDs enhanced by a high diffusion lens shaped into the sleek lines of the tailpiece. The same LEDs are intensified for brake lights.

The directional indicators also use the latest in LED technology for illumination. The frontal indicators are beautifully integrated into the rear view mirrors and, for the 1198, 1198 S and 1098 R, now come with an optional spacer kit enabling an extension of 30mm over the standard mirror stem length.