In the motorcycle world we thrive on excess, damn the consequences if it’s not in our best interests. We crave the fastest, nastiest and sexiest machines we can get our mitts on. The trouble is that this approach in life usually ends in some sort of pain, be it buyer’s remorse or even worse, getting in over your head. Ducati’s Streetfighter is a perfect example. It’s sexy as hell, goes like a scalded cat and is razor sharp. The only thing is you need to be just as sharp to use it to its full potential. Thankfully Ducati has recognized this and brought forth a Streetfighter for us mere mortals in the form of the 2012 Streetfighter 848.
During the marketing and technical presentation the Ducati team stressed the focus on the concept of a friendlier, easier to ride Streetfighter. The target consumer for the 848 is a rider that is not as extreme and is looking for more usability, someone who needs a more confidence inspiring ride. Ducati set out to make that happen with an all new, smaller displacement Streetfighter that would satisfy these criteria and still be a high-performing naked bike
The cornerstone of this new Streetfighter is of course the 849.4cc
L-Twin Testastretta 11 powerplant. Sharing the same basic configuration
with the 848 EVO Superbike, the 11 degrees of valve overlap is designed
to give a smoother engine character which is more suited to the street
duty the Streetfighter 848 will most often be used for. The most notable
difference between the Superbike and Streetfighter’s engine is the
camshaft profiles tuned to deliver a more street-friendly punch. The
bore, stroke and compression ratio are identical, with a service
interval of 15,000 miles.
A new superbike-derived frame is similar to the 1098 Steetfighter, but has less rake and trail for more stable and confidence inspiring steering traits. The wheelbase is the same as the 1098 at 58.07 inches, but longer than the 848 EVO’s 56.3-inch wheelbase. Attached to the rear of the trellis frame is a new one piece cast aluminum swingarm sprung by a fully adjustable Sachs shock set up for a comfortable ride. Up front 43mm Marzocchi forks with full adjustability handle the imperfect road surfaces that the Streetfighter 848 is expected to see. Both the front and rear are set up softer in spring rate and damping than its 1098 sibling.
As with every Ducati as of late, the Streetfighter 848 comes standard with the Ducati Traction Control system, offering eight levels of adjustment. A full Brembo brake system sans ABS slows the whole kit down with 320mm discs squeezed by radial mounted 4-piston calipers with soft-feel pads in the front. Braking duties in the rear are handled by a single 245mm disc and a 2-piston caliper. We find it a bit interesting that the bike that is aimed at being more usable on the roads doesn’t have ABS as standard equipment.
Ducati set us up just down the road from its headquarters and a stones throw from Ferrari’s factory and testing facilities at the newly constructed Autodromo di Modena. Consisting of 11 turns, the track is ultra-tight with more than its fair share of decreasing-radius second-gear corners that would challenge and even frustrate during the short track sessions. We also rode through the hills above Modena so we could gauge the Streetfighter 848’s performance in the real world. If you can call the picturesque landscape painted with an ever undulating and curving ribbon of asphalt the real world. To me it was more like a dream.
A new superbike-derived frame is similar to the 1098 Steetfighter, but has less rake and trail for more stable and confidence inspiring steering traits. The wheelbase is the same as the 1098 at 58.07 inches, but longer than the 848 EVO’s 56.3-inch wheelbase. Attached to the rear of the trellis frame is a new one piece cast aluminum swingarm sprung by a fully adjustable Sachs shock set up for a comfortable ride. Up front 43mm Marzocchi forks with full adjustability handle the imperfect road surfaces that the Streetfighter 848 is expected to see. Both the front and rear are set up softer in spring rate and damping than its 1098 sibling.
As with every Ducati as of late, the Streetfighter 848 comes standard with the Ducati Traction Control system, offering eight levels of adjustment. A full Brembo brake system sans ABS slows the whole kit down with 320mm discs squeezed by radial mounted 4-piston calipers with soft-feel pads in the front. Braking duties in the rear are handled by a single 245mm disc and a 2-piston caliper. We find it a bit interesting that the bike that is aimed at being more usable on the roads doesn’t have ABS as standard equipment.
Ducati set us up just down the road from its headquarters and a stones throw from Ferrari’s factory and testing facilities at the newly constructed Autodromo di Modena. Consisting of 11 turns, the track is ultra-tight with more than its fair share of decreasing-radius second-gear corners that would challenge and even frustrate during the short track sessions. We also rode through the hills above Modena so we could gauge the Streetfighter 848’s performance in the real world. If you can call the picturesque landscape painted with an ever undulating and curving ribbon of asphalt the real world. To me it was more like a dream.
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