Ducati News Today

Although the Ducati 848 is Ducati’s entry level Superbike, primarily designed to entice switchers from Japanese brands to sample the delights of Bologna, one ride of the middleweight V-twin is all that is needed to realize how near perfect is the balance of light weight, nimble handling and useable power in comparison to the heavyweight 1098 / 1198. Although Ducati said they’d never build even an 848S, one wonders just how perfect a sportbike an 848R could be…

Well wonder no more because Ducati North America has decided to build a limited number of 848 machines with modifications that in effect turn the bike into an 848R. Ducati’s PR man, John Paolo Canton describes the Ducati 848 Superleggera (light weight in Italian) as the bike for the rider who realizes the 1098 is just bragging rights. Although the engine is unchanged save for the addition of a termi exhaust system, the 848 Superleggera features the same top of the line Ohlins suspension and lightweight forged magnesium wheels as the limited edition 1098R.

“A new rear subframe saves significant weight,” Canton reveals. “The wheels are actual magnesium rather than forged aluminum, and we swapped out the hubs to make them fit.” Carbon front fender, heel guards, and tail section; billet gas cap, rearsets and brake/clutch levers; a Termignoni exhaust; and Öhlins suspension are just a few of the refinements.

link: Motorcycling Mag

The Ducati 848 Superleggerra may well be a bike for the cognoscenti but at $39,890, it would be hard to not pay just a few thousand more for the 180bhp 1098R. Afterall such bikes are so desirable simply because of the expertise needed to get the most out of them, not despite it. Ducati makes a fine point that the 848 Superleggera would probably be a better bike for almost any rider than the 1098R but who wants to openly admit they aren’t up to the 1098R’s delights (even if the answer is almost all of us!!)

Want to learn more?

ducatinewstoday Ducati 848 Ride Report

Try These Related Posts:

1. Ducati Importer Builds their Own 848S Ducati’s 848 is the entry level Superbike in the Ducati family and for that reason there isn’t likely to ever be higher spec versions because they would overlap with the 1198 pricing. That fact doesn’t stop fans of the smallest testastretta evoluzione making their own higher spec versions while they...
2. Ducati 1198S and 1098R Bayliss LE Now in US dealers Ducati North America has announced that delivers have commenced of their two highest spec 2009 Superbikes. Dealers should be receiving their orders of Ducati 1198S and the limited edition Ducati 1098R Bayliss LE machines. Troy Bayliss plays a major part in the marketing of the company’s superbike ranges despite the...
3. Ducati 1198S – An R for the Rest of Us? Only a very few will ever ride the best V-twin Superbike ever produced, the Ducati 1098R. At almost US$44,000 and more than double the price of the lower spec 1098 models, the Ducati is reserved for the wealthiest and/or most deeply committed Ducatisti. However for 2009, Ducati massively upgraded the...
4. Ducati 1098R Review Ducati has always provided the faithful with the closest approximation to race bikes on the road starting with the original 750SS. When the World Superbike series began, Ducati was right there with the 1988 851 Kit which led to a series of ever faster, desirable homologation specials. The current model...
5. Ducati Cucciolo Reborn..Kind Of Ducati took its first steps as a motorcycle manufacturer by producing clip-on auxiliary engines for use with bicycles. Ducati began producing the engine in 1946 and it was named Cucciolo (Italian for puppy) because of the yapping sound the 48cc four-stroke single made. The engine was very efficient and could...