Ducati 848 Review

Sophia!

In December of 1995, amidst a bevy of holiday activity, a simple yet humorous movie was quietly released to the public – Grumpier Old Men. While the movie itself consists mostly of an aging Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau straining to recapture the “Oscar” and “Felix” chemistry of old, the true star of the film is the ageless, scene-stealing Sophia Loren. The shock from Loren’s intoxicatingly beautiful Italian silhouette hit me with enough force to break down the thick adolescent wall restricting boys from becoming men.

Mamma mia!

Thirteen years later during an all too short summer weekend, another red-colored Italian knocked me on my heels…the Ducati 848, an 849.4 cc L-twin engine (intrinsically different yet equally impressive to Sophia’s “twins”) with enough power to outrun middleweight sportbikes of today and literbikes of yesterday. Much like the recent 2006 Triumph Daytona 675, the Ducati 848 is a class re-definer.

The lines on the all-new 2008 Ducati 848 (list price $12,995) now mirror those of a new Maserati – angular, purposeful and distinctly Italian. Any fears of Ducati dropping the proverbial design ball can officially be put to rest. Questionable design components have been eliminated (I’m looking directly at the 749 headlights!) while MotoGP-derived design elements have been further incorporated, helping to lower the motorcycle’s already impressive drag coefficient.

Perfecto!

The new middleweight Ducati replaces the 749, a strong all-around bike which managed only a few more cheers than jeers among loyal Ducati followers. Highlighted by a thoroughly revamped new engine utilizing Ducati’s legendary Desmodromic valve system, the extra power of the 848 can be felt throughout the rev range, easily controllable from Ducati’s precise throttle and smooth clutch. The 848’s engine effortlessly produces usable power from 3000rpm to the 11,000rpm redline, marked by a trio of red warning LEDs. With a sweet spot between 7,000rpm to 9,000rpm, the engine produces 15% more horsepower (134) and 10% more torque (70.8) than its predecessor.

Given the user-friendly nature of the engine, this is the ideal bike for spirited weekend riding on everything from quiet winding country roads to sharp, tactical canyon workouts. An upgraded tubular steel trellis frame, new brakes and reworked suspension all contribute to an enjoyable and predictable ride, allowing riders to quickly find their most efficient riding style. Balanced turn-in, perfectly hit apexes and exit speeds you never thought possible on a middleweight bike are all achievable on the 848.

Meraviglioso!

Ergonomically, the 848 ranks among the most comfortable sportbikes I have ridden. The 848 easily received my 6’6, 210lb frame, allowing for a good amount of fore and aft movement - enough room to explore multiple riding positions even if you’re a larger cyclist like myself. After a four-plus hour long roundtrip to and from San Diego, my legs successfully evaded the jello-like atrophy experienced when riding most sportbikes for more than an hour.

Sophia Loren, herself with an unforgettably deep and sensuously raspy voice, would undoubtedly appreciate the Italian symphony composed by the twist of your right wrist and played through the 848’s exhaust pipe, here doubling as your orchestra. Beginning with an auspiciously playful gurgle, the engine crescendos to an unrestrained, melodious howl when approaching redline. The best part – no need to purchase additional tickets, this musical performance can be enjoyed repeatedly each time you decide to upshift or downshift.

Fine.

After a long day of riding, I greatly appreciated the ability of the Ducati to act as both canyon carver and comfortable cruiser. Its versatile engine allows for a lazy but pleasurable stroll home after a day of bombing down challenging switchbacks and conquering decreasing radii highway off-ramps. While Ducati also offers the 848 in a pearl white finish, there’s really only one color to select - rosso. Sophia wouldn’t have it any other way.