Posts Tagged ‘Ducati 848’
2008 Ducati 848
Written by admin on Monday, December 13, 2010 | No Comments
Categories: Ducati Bikes Tags: 2008 Ducati, 2008 Ducati 848, 2008 Ducati Bikes, Ducati 848, Ducati 848 Bike
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brakes
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.
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.
| 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. |
2010 Ducati 848 Dark
Written by admin on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 | No Comments
Categories: Ducati Bikes Tags: 2010 Ducati, 2010 Ducati 848 Dark, 2010 Ducati Bikes, Ducati 848, Ducati 848 Dark
The 848 is a 1098 at a smaller performance scale, which can only make things sound more interesting. Ducati’s latest idea of a middleweight resumes to combining a 370 pounds dry weight with the 134 hp at 10000 rpm and 70.8 lb-ft of torque at 8250 rpm developed by the liquid-cooled 849.4 cc, L-Twin cylinder, four valves per cylinder Desmodromic engine, which was specially developed for the bike.
Using a Marelli electronic fuel injection system and just the right gearing, the motor meets Euro3 regulations without sacrificing performance. The gearbox is a six-speed unit and couples with the engine through a wet multiplate clutch with hydraulic control. You know what that means don’t you? Easy to pull, great feedback provider, all resulting in impressive time laps.
The tubular steel trellis frame meeting the fully adjustable 43mm Showa upside-down fork at a 24.5-degree angle and the fully adjustable Showa monoshock are all the result of the Ducati 848 being built with performance in mind. The bike rides on Marchesini 5-spoke light alloy 17-inch wheels with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa rubber.
Considering the engine and chassis capabilities, there’s nothing to stop a rider from having an extremely good time on it unless he decides to hit the brake levers and determine the Brembo calipers (4-piston, 2-pad) to squeeze the 320mm discs up front and 245mm single disc at the rear (this only gets a 2-piston caliper). Stopping power is claimed to be more than needed for this bike, but we’re going to put it to the test anyways so read on for more.
A single look at the 2009 Ducati 848 superbike is enough to make it clear for anyone that the 1098 R was a direct source of inspirations. The sharp headlights and air intakes are by now Ducati trademarks and so is the tiny nose.
On the sides, the fairing is smooth and the aggressive cooling scoop remind us once again of the bike’s bigger sibling. But so does the 4.1 gallons gas tank, the very thin rider seat, which is positioned at a fair 32.6-inch distance from the ground, as well as the rear tail section. On Japanese supersport bikes, this is as sharp as possible (especially on the R6), but Ducati’s designers seem to be more forgiving with passengers and offer decent padding. We don’t know for sure if that’s because of the exhaust silencers being positioned underneath the seat, but it is definitely an advantage, one that helps the bike stand out as being made in Italy.
Another feature that speaks about the European style is the single-sided swingarm, which allows that Y-spoked rear wheel to be instantly noticed. Both rims are black painted regardless of the chosen color. This can be Red or Pearl White.
When it comes to middleweight supersport models, the usual idea that riders get spins around 600ccs, a four-cylinder engines and, preferably, a Japanese logo on the tank. The Ducati 848 is supposedly here to change that and that’s where this test starts from.
First of all, the riding position is very sporty despite the 32.6-inch seat and the exhaust sounds like two drums when the engine is idling. The noise is quite enjoyable, but opening up the throttle kind of gives shivers up your spine. Are we underestimating this beauty or what? Not quite. Ducati’s L-twins sound mad, but won’t scare anyone who has been spinning around on bikes for a while. The clutch pulls in effortlessly, first gear hits easily and precise and off the Ducati goes with a small twist of the throttle.
The engine feels very potent and competitive, leaving no rider unsatisfied by its performance. It enjoys being revved and delivers linear power and torque. The riding position might not look that back-friendly, but it enables the rider to become one with the machine and start riding it more and more aggressively. We’ve come to find that wheelies are the easiest thing on 1098’s smaller brother. In first, second and even third gear the front end lifts using only a strong hand on the throttle, while high-speed wheelies require the use of the wet clutch. This unit also proves very effective when downshifting before corners or when going out of chicanes.
Compared to the straight fours, the L-Twin delivers power earlier so it is just a matter of keeping it in the zone. Around 7000 rpm is where you want to be when cruising along and needing to have instant power a twist of the throttle away. That also means that you have to ride in the right gear at all times and there are six to choose from. The engine is lively in all gears, but we rarely got to hit sixth simply because we enjoyed revving it rather that keeping a steady hand on the throttle.
Wind protection is nothing to complain of and you don’t even have to crumple yourself much because the bike takes care of that for you. That’s an advantage (but not for your bones) because handling will soon feel natural and quite similar to that of the Japanese bikes that the Ducati tries to beat. The fully adjustable Showa suspension do make sure that you feel all of the road’s imperfections throughout your entire body, especially at high speeds, but, together with the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires, they simply glued the bike to the asphalt and unintended skids are pretty much out of discussion.
The bike is capable of providing the rider with great feedback, making it ideal for track riding and intended skids. That’s where the Brembo brakes intervene. Given the bike’s lightweight, they provide tons of stopping power, enabling the rider to brake later before a corner knowing that it has the ability to slow down from very high speeds dramatically fast.
Overall, the Ducati 848 is certainly a different ride, but won’t make any Japanese middleweight contender look bad in any situation.
