The new Ducati 848.

[skidMark]

I had a drool all over one at Haldanes the other day.

Now the decision is ZX10-R or 848. Not that i have the money yet anyway.

It's a very sexy bike, but is it more of a poor mans 1098?

In the pearl white, **bathroom required**

http://www.shopgpbikes.com/images/products/848white.jpg

EDIT: Price tag: $26,495 ....owie

[Trudes]

They are so yummy!!!! I need to win lotto!:yes:

[nodrog]

Now the decision is ZX10-R or 848. Not that i have the money yet anyway.


you may as well set your goal on a 1098, by the time you get your licence back, and a job, they will only be $4995 secondhand :bleh:

[Finn]

Now the decision is ZX10-R or 848. Not that i have the money yet anyway.

Keep delivering those newspapers Mark. You'll get there!

[skidMark]

Keep delivering those newspapers Mark. You'll get there!

I was hoping you were going to buy me one sweetie. :eek:

[Finn]

I was hoping you were going to buy me one sweetie. :eek:

I might as well just buy you a coffin. It'll be cheaper and a lot more practical.

[skidMark]

I might as well just buy you a coffin. It'll be cheaper and a lot more practical.

Buy me the bike, and you can take out a life insurance policy on me.

Quick return on your investment.

[nodrog]

I might as well just buy you a coffin. It'll be cheaper and a lot more practical.

make sure it has upside down forks, otherwise skidmark wouldnt be caught dead in it!

[Badjelly]

Well someone has to ask!

Does it have USD forks?

[skidMark]

make sure it has upside down forks, otherwise skidmark wouldnt be caught dead in it!

Bwahahaha too much.:clap::2guns:

[skidMark]

Well someone has to ask!

Does it have USD forks?

Look at the link.

Are you blind?, or can you not tell the difference?

[Pex Adams]

$27K - You have to be joking, is that a piss take:shit:

[ducatilover]

get the ducati. they are retardedly delicious and fuck i would mount one:Punk:

[skidMark]

$27K - You have to be joking, is that a piss take:shit:

It's worth it.

Look at a ducati close up the build quality is phenominal.

Haldanes also have a 1098 Tri colour....red white and green from memory...

very sexy...

and $37,995

and worth every penny.

[Badjelly]

Look at the link. Are you blind?, or can you not tell the difference?

Don't care.

[skidMark]

get the ducati. they are retardedly delicious and fuck i would mount one:Punk:


Get your homoness out of here, get back on ya Honda.

[Badjelly]

is it more of a poor mans 1098?


I've read a few reviews. This one's available on the WWW:

http://www.crash.net/motoring/roadbikes/road_tests/article/20266-0/2008_ducati_848_-_mossy_rides.html

Sounds like it's a smart man's 1098.

[skidMark]

Don't care.

Then why post.

[Badjelly]

Then why post.

You can be very literal at times, skidMark.

[onearmedbandit]

So, is the 848 going to compete in WSS?

[pritch]

It's sorta like SM says to BJ,
"What is it with you, ignorance or apathy?"
BJ replies,
"I don't know and i don't care."

[skidMark]

I've read a few reviews. This one's available on the WWW:

http://www.crash.net/motoring/roadbikes/road_tests/article/20266-0/2008_ducati_848_-_mossy_rides.html

Sounds like it's a smart man's 1098.


Cheers for that link, maybe your a good cunt afterall.

[Pex Adams]

It's worth it.

Look at a ducati close up the build quality is phenominal.

Haldanes also have a 1098 Tri colour....red white and green from memory...

very sexy...

and $37,995

and worth every penny.

Its a bike - and believe it or not, its still not going to make you look any sexer by owning it:sick:.

[Badjelly]

So, is the 848 going to compete in WSS?
Too big, surely.

[skidMark]

Its a bike - and believe it or not, its still not going to make you look any sexer by owning it:sick:.

I'm sexy enough, i just need a bike that matches up.

[Badjelly]

Cheers for that link, maybe your a good cunt afterall.
Er, yeah, thanks :(

[skidMark]

Er, yeah, thanks :(

You got a compliment from me. It's rare.

Just say thank you before i change my mind.

[onearmedbandit]

Too big, surely.

That's what I thought. So are Ducati out of WSS then? Or are they racing a sleeved down version?

[skidMark]

That's what I thought. So are Ducati out of WSS then? Or are they racing a sleeved down version?

Ducati could sit in the pits with the bike and two italian brolly dollies and win purely on looks.

[ducatilover]

Get your homoness out of here, get back on ya Honda.

eat my wees. you were the one saying lovely things about nc30s. is this your way of flirting? :shifty:

[johan]

I had a drool all over one at Haldanes the other day.



They sure are nice bikes! Did you take it for a spin?

[Badjelly]

So are Ducati out of WSS then? Or are they racing a sleeved down version?

Don't know. But it does provide them with a good excuse to leave and stop getting beaten.

It's always surprised me that a 750 Ducati (with a 25% capacity advantage) can't compete with the 600 Japanese.

[skidMark]

"But even though the Ducati is adept at slowing for and howling round corners in a hurry, it’s also pretty handy at gaining speed too, thanks to its 849cc motor. By the way, the Italian firm has called the bike ‘848’ (despite its actual capacity being 1cc more) because it didn’t want anyone to link the new bike with the old 749. The new bike isn’t eligible for supersport racing either."

[onearmedbandit]

They sure are nice bikes! Did you take it for a spin?

He's still alive and posting. So, in a word, no.

[Badjelly]

It's sorta like SM says to BJ,
"What is it with you, ignorance or apathy?"
BJ replies,
"I don't know and i don't care."

Exactly!

** The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters. **

[onearmedbandit]

" The new bike isn’t eligible for supersport racing either."



So, have they gone out on a limb and created their own class (which is cool, no one needs to stick to making just 600's and 1000's) or is it aimed at a particular model like say the GSXR750 (which just happens to be one of the best selling bikes despite having no modern race-class status).

[skidMark]

They sure are nice bikes! Did you take it for a spin?

No license currently, and i wouldn't testride unless i had the money, not into wasting thier time.

anybody considering buying one?

I don't know how keen haldanes would be to just hand the keys over to a brand new 27k bike.

[Pwalo]

So, have they gone out on a limb and created their own class (which is cool, no one needs to stick to making just 600's and 1000's) or is it aimed at a particular model like say the GSXR750 (which just happens to be one of the best selling bikes despite having no modern race-class status).

I would guess it's to get it out of the whole 'competing with the Japanese' syndrome entirely. I don't think it's meant to rival the GSXR750, because pricing would kill it.

It's a lovely looking bike, but it's still a pricey Italian.

[Badjelly]

I don't know how keen haldanes would be to just hand the keys over to a brand new 27k bike.
Just tell them you're famous on KB, should be no problem.

[onearmedbandit]

I would guess it's to get it out of the whole 'competing with the Japanese' syndrome entirely.

Yeah that's what I was guessing too.

[bikerboy011]

Am in love! i want the 1098 and the 848...

[johan]

Here's a good write-up by a new owner of a 848:

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=38153

[skidMark]

Am in love! i want the 1098 and the 848...

okay buy both....

then let me ride one lol.

see you saturday at mine bro....7pm! BYO drinks remember ;)

[Mikkel]

Saw an 848 at Ruapuna tuesday :niceone:

Beautiful bike - I enjoyed overtaking it on my 250 ccm :yes:

That said, it was brand new and he was still running it in...

Beautiful bike - spent some time drooling over it! Good bloke as well.

[EJK]

No license currently, and i wouldn't testride unless i had the money, not into wasting thier time.

anybody considering buying one?

I don't know how keen haldanes would be to just hand the keys over to a brand new 27k bike.

omfg this thread is about 848 not about skidMark's life! lol

P.S. Translation: No.

[Matt]

Saw them in the UK when I was over at Christmas (weather was too crappy for a test-ride tho!) and was really tempted - in the end I just couldn't justify the $8k more over the GSXR plus I'd have to wait until March to get one...

[MotoGirl]

I would possibly considering owning one if I couldn't own the RSVR for some reason. Having said that, I think the RSVR is a far nicer looking bike and would be equal, if not better value for money.

But hey, it's always there as an option if I get desperate. The Ape vs. the 848? I dunno aye.

[jrandom]

Having said that, I think the RSVR is a far nicer looking bike...

WTF you smokin', beyotch, and can I have some?


... always there as an option if I get desperate.

Get?

:eek:

[Blue Velvet]

see you saturday at mine bro....7pm! BYO drinks remember


omfg this thread is not about skidMark's life!

848<tencharacters>

[jrandom]

848<tencharacters>

You should ride one.

Fuck that, I should ride one.

Let's both ride one!

[Swoop]

Beautiful front end.
The back, looks like the seat is trying to accomodate an arse that has eaten too many pies...

[007XX]

Beautiful front end.
The back, looks like the seat is trying to accomodate an arse that has eaten too many pies...

You have just given Jrandom more validation than he required to justify owning one...:shifty:

[pritch]

the Italian firm has called the bike ‘848’ (despite its actual capacity being 1cc more) because it didn’t want anyone to link the new bike with the old 749.

If you thought that was interesting you'll be thrilled to know the 1098 is actually a 1099. Ducati didn't want anybody to associate the new bike with its predecessor...

[Pwalo]

If you thought that was interesting you'll be thrilled to know the 1098 is actually a 1099. Ducati didn't want anybody to associate the new bike with its predecessor...

That's interesting. So if the bike they're racing in WSB is a 1098R, but is in fact a 1200, surely they could put the 848 into WSS and call it a 748R. Oh, hang on they've already tried that.

[AllanB]

800+ is getting rave reviews - bloody should at $27k. Worth it? - not with my money - but as its yours - go for it.

White bikes..

Hmmm

Always look a bit 'gay' to me. Apart from the Speed/Road triples - these are the only white bikes I have ever admired.

Go for the red one.

[skidMark]

Saw an 848 at Ruapuna tuesday :niceone:

Beautiful bike - I enjoyed overtaking it on my 250 ccm :yes:

That said, it was brand new and he was still running it in...

Beautiful bike - spent some time drooling over it! Good bloke as well.


Yeah, don't get cocky about passing big bikes on your 250cc, i thought i was the fucking man passing an 07 ZX6-R.... sponsered by some hotel....full race bike.

Thinking fuck yeah i must be good.

until i found out it was jay lawrence...just breaking it in...

shouldve still been able to beat my poxy lil 250 i wouldve thought though. :pinch:

[Finn]

If you're going to part with that sort of money, why not just go for a 1098?

[skidMark]

If you're going to part with that sort of money, why not just go for a 1098?

Coming from the guy that needs to lean his bike on a wall or use a trampoline to get on it...then can't get his feet on the pegs let alone the ground.

Not all of us have $37,995 for a 1098 man.

[Mikkel]

Yeah, don't get cocky about passing big bikes on your 250cc, i thought i was the fucking man passing an 07 ZX6-R.... sponsered by some hotel....full race bike.

Thinking fuck yeah i must be good.

until i found out it was jay lawrence...just breaking it in...

shouldve still been able to beat my poxy lil 250 i wouldve thought though. :pinch:

This guy's name is Paul. He's not sponsored as far as I know. It wasn't a racebike - but his pride and joy. He wasn't hanging off his bike. He wasn't revving it out. He was still going faster than me down the straight.

Did I feel like the man? Nope - just happy that there was something out there that I could actually catch up with. Gained approximately 7 seconds on him per lap - so it was exactly like it was a competition.
Being on a 250 ccm 4 stroke roadbike it's sometimes nice to have someone you can catch up with and practice overtakings with.

[skidMark]

This guy's name is Paul. He's not sponsored as far as I know. It wasn't a racebike - but his pride and joy. He wasn't hanging off his bike. He wasn't revving it out. He was still going faster than me down the straight.

Did I feel like the man? Nope - just happy that there was something out there that I could actually catch up with. Gained approximately 7 seconds on him per lap - so it was exactly like it was a competition.
Being on a 250 ccm 4 stroke roadbike it's sometimes nice to have someone you can catch up with and practice overtakings with.


Hmmm, you took me way to literally bro.

250's are mere toys anyways.

Since riding big bikes (silly mates trusting me with thier toys), the 250 to be honest just bores me now. :no: it's a sad day.

SM

[MotoGirl]

Go for the red one.

You mean the same bike everyone else's got? :whistle: It's great owning a white bike because stuff all people have got them.

[skidMark]

You mean the same bike everyone else's got? :whistle: It's great owning a white bike because stuff all people have got them.

Agreed, white bikes are awesome.

[AllanB]

You mean the same bike everyone else's got? :whistle: It's great owning a white bike because stuff all people have got them.


Thats because they look.....kind...of....gay:shit::shit:

Apart from the Speed/Street triples.

Mind you the Grisso looks OK in white

But $27k for a white motorcycle......

[AllanB]

More white ones :argue::argue::argue:

PS I suggest setting your search preferences to 'safe' when searching images of 'gay motorcycles' :girlfight::girlfight::girlfight:

[skidMark]

More white ones :argue::argue::argue:

PS I suggest setting your search preferences to 'safe' when searching images of 'gay motorcycles' :girlfight::girlfight::girlfight:

one of those bikes was black...

hang on....

that the pillion.

theres a bike under there somwhere?

i swear shes just doing a crazy frog.

[Mikkel]

250's are mere toys anyways.

Since riding big bikes (silly mates trusting me with thier toys), the 250 to be honest just bores me now. :no: it's a sad day.

Mate, that's a rather weird post.

First you call 250s mere toys. All good and agreed upon - toys are fun! :yes:

Then you call big bikes toys as well... :crazy: good thing they aren't tools...

Yes, it's sad if you're bored on the 250 - perhaps you should shift your riding focus and you'll find something you can still enjoy. I suggest starting out with "The Pace"...

[Zuki Bandit]

mmmmm DUCATI:drool:

[discotex]

I would guess it's to get it out of the whole 'competing with the Japanese' syndrome entirely. I don't think it's meant to rival the GSXR750, because pricing would kill it.

It's a lovely looking bike, but it's still a pricey Italian.

From what I've read that's the case. They've set out to make the best road/trackday bike they can without giving a stuff about WSS rules.

Sounds like they've come up with a winner (supersport handling but with added torque) in much the same way as the gixxer 750 even though it's not made to compete with it.

Would be on my test list if I had a 30k budget.

[Renegade]

id have the 848 over the 1098

white bikes do look cool, judt look at the white/blue Buell XB12R, nice.

[skidMark]

Mate, that's a rather weird post.

First you call 250s mere toys. All good and agreed upon - toys are fun! :yes:

Then you call big bikes toys as well... :crazy: good thing they aren't tools...

Yes, it's sad if you're bored on the 250 - perhaps you should shift your riding focus and you'll find something you can still enjoy. I suggest starting out with "The Pace"...


yeah well once you ride a WSBK ZX10-R that does powerwheelies in 4th at 240.....

it's kind of like ...250 = Yawn

even a stock ZX-10R feels like a 600 :bye:

WSBK ZX10-R = :love:

SM

[onearmedbandit]

You rode an actual World Superbike ZX10-R? Wow, that must've been, um, amazing. What team was the bike from?

[skidMark]

You rode an actual World Superbike ZX10-R? Wow, that must've been, um, amazing. What team was the bike from?


Not an actual one obviously...hass every part those ones do though.

approx 18 k of mods...cams.... thinner head gasket full muzzy system...block off plates.....power commander.....ohlins rear shock... velocity stacks....secondary throttle butterflys removed.....ported....blah blah only thing missing is ohlins front internals.....


putting out roughly 190 at the wheel.

it scares the fuck out of me. :pinch:

[gav]

Jeez, you talk some shit ....... :(

[gav]

So anyway, wheres your test SM, on the 848? You managed a comprehensive test on the ZX2R or whatever its called before it was released? Whats stopping ya with this one?

[skidMark]

Jeez, you talk some shit ....... :(

Um it has every mod i said.

i think i forgot some.
same mods anyways.


So anyway, wheres your test SM, on the 848? You managed a comprehensive test on the ZX2R or whatever its called before it was released? Whats stopping ya with this one?

Because i got so dug into for all the effort put into that post that i will not bother again.

[gav]

Um it has every mod i said.

i think i forgot some.
same mods anyways.



Because i got so dug into for all the effort put into that post that i will not bother again.
I'm sure it has those mods, referring more to the fact you (supposedly) rode it ...... :innocent:

Maybe it was because as per normal, most of what you post is bollocks anyway .....

[skidMark]

I'm sure it has those mods, referring more to the fact you (supposedly) rode it ...... :innocent:

Maybe it was because as per normal, most of what you post is bollocks anyway .....

I have friends who trust me with thier things and know i will take care of them.

I gave him a hand giving it a service plugs oil filter,...dropping forks through.... etc etc....putting on woodcraft engine covers etc....and he threw me the key and said take her for a spin.

Would you say no? :stupid:

Ive ridden all 3 of his...first was an 06 streetfighter.....then an 06 with factory fairings.... and his current "modified" one.

it's fecking quick.

A bit wheelie happy though. Not that i'm complaining.

[Mooch]

Don't know. But it does provide them with a good excuse to leave and stop getting beaten.

It's always surprised me that a 750 Ducati (with a 25% capacity advantage) can't compete with the 600 Japanese.

It's always surprised me that a 750 Jap twin can't compete with a 750 ducati :blink:

[doc]

Because i got so dug into for all the effort put into that post that i will not bother again.

I'd be interested to hear what track from "Jesus Christ superstar" was ringing in your ears at the time.

[surfchick]

If you're going to part with that sort of money, why not just go for a 1098?

hmmm...
i reckon that 848 could just be the perfect weapon - though the weight is similar to the 10 - i read some review somewhere that reckoned it was a total weapon... I like the idea of slightly smaller than the 996 but bigger than the 749 ... if i had the money:love: ... but then again I haven'r RIDEN the 1048... :shifty:

[Sanx]

Hmmm - I feel a test-ride might be in order. Won't be buying till I get back from Aussie in June but no harm in starting to look for a replacement for the recently-deceased 'Blade.

[FilthyLuka]

Hmmm - I feel a test-ride might be in order. Won't be buying till I get back from Aussie in June but no harm in starting to look for a replacement for the recently-deceased 'Blade.

Do it, give us a write up too will ya? Would be good to get a comparison to the zx2r :clap:

Recently deceased you say? Can i have whats left?

[FkNAmerican]

If you get the 848 then you're gonna cry every time you get passed on the track by 750's and 600's.......you're gonna grit your teeth every time a ZX10, GSXR, CBR1000, R-1 etc..blows by you and you think, "I coulda had one of those for far less"........and you're gonna hide your face in shame every time you get passed by a 1098 and think "I coulda shelled out a few more and just got the real deal"........

The 848 is mind blowingly sexy for sure......but it aint worth the dolla bills you'd have to drop to ride it. Its kinda like the Porsche Cayman......great all by itself but it losses something in translation ounce you stop and think that it was purposely dumbed down so as not to upset its bigger sibling.

[James Deuce]

If you get the 848 then you're gonna cry every time you get passed on the track by 750's and 600's.......you're gonna grit your teeth every time a ZX10, GSXR, CBR1000, R-1 etc..blows by you and you think, "I coulda had one of those for far less"........and you're gonna hide your face in shame every time you get passed by a 1098 and think "I coulda shelled out a few more and just got the real deal"........

The 848 is mind blowingly sexy for sure......but it aint worth the dolla bills you'd have to drop to ride it. Its kinda like the Porsche Cayman......great all by itself but it losses something in translation ounce you stop and think that it was purposely dumbed down so as not to upset its bigger sibling.
Of all the absolute rubbish I've read (including some of the stuff I've written) this is the biggest load of crap I've seen yet.

It's nothing like a Porsche Cayman. That's the least likely simile/metaphor anyone could think of. Every time an 848 blasts past a 999 on the track, the 999 rider is going to think, "Hmm, time to upgrade". Check the specs. It has more go and less weugh than a stock 999.

Unlike you lot with your bloated economy and massive superiority complex (behind which hides a bully the like of which the world has ever seen, including Hitler) the rest of the world doesn't have to replace everything every time a marketing department sneezes.

[Bonez]

It's always surprised me that a 750 Jap twin can't compete with a 750 ducati :blink:What 750 jap twins?

[FkNAmerican]

Wow, Jim2.....pull your panties out of your arse for a minute. No need to go on a anti-American tyrade just because I said something that got your nipples lactating all over your shirt.

Oh and just to set you straight. I, personally, dont have a superiority complex. I dont own one single American motorvehicle of any type.....and I never will. Because they all suck (with the possible acception of the C-6 Corvette Z06 and Shelby Cobra). If I DID have a massive superiority complex I'd own a Harley, a Ford F-250 super duty with an American flying from the back, and my daily would be a Chevy Impala. What I ACTUALLY drive is a 2007 Honda Civic as my daily, a Toyota Tacoma with bumper stickers that read "Defend America: Defeat Bush", "51% is NOT a mandate", and "January 20, 2009: the end of an Error" as my truck, and my motorcycle is a Yamaha R-6.....all japanese my man.

Oh and I have NO illusions as to the damage U.S. foreign policy has done to the rest of the world. What gets me mad is when certain people (like you) seem to think they can just rant about other countries issues when thier own laundry aint so fresh either. NZ has a warm and fuzzy relationship with the US military and other US branches (meaning it cooperates on a very deep level with US foreign policy agendas). Might wanna consider that before you start hurling insults and accusations about bullying and such.......b/c whether you like it or not NZ is knee deep in it with the US mate. Maybe not in Iraq.....but in ALOT of other matters......all nice and quite like.

Anyway, I stand by my statement. I've seen the lap times the 848 is posting. Some 600's do better. The 750 is faster. Any 1000 will do better. They ALL cost alot less then the 848 and almost all of them come with more features. Did I mention all of them will also be more reliable, less expensive to run, have more aftermarket support, etc etc etc........I never said the 848 wasnt an improvement over the 748 and other Ducati's did I??? My point was that the 848 lacks the performance/features of even the Japanese 600's so its an utterly pointless exercise really.........unless all you care about are Ducati's.....

The 848 has dumbed down brakes (yes yes I know the breaks are amazing still), dumbed down suspension, a flat motor, plastic bits that should be carbon fiber for the price, no slipper clutch, no steering damper as standard, and they arnt even going to bother to make an "R" version and I've heard them say no "S" version planned either. Oh and dont forget the fact that Ducati's promise of 50% less maintainance cost on all new Ducati's has proven to be nothing more then a complete marketing scam........and when all is said and done.....if you're gonna spend that knda cash you might as well spend just a bit more and get the real deal (1098). The 848 is just pointless as it stands.

Face it....you buy the 848 with your heart. Use your brain and you simply have to go Japanese (vs. a Ducati anyway). Sorry mate.

I'll consider a Ducati when they make a V-4 that costs less then a porsche and can run with the Japanese 1000's.......until then I will just admire them for thier spirit and thier amazing MotoGP success but stay away from actually purchasing one of thier roadbikes.

You wanna buy one? Hey, more power to you. Hope you love it. I really do. I'll enjoy the beauty and sound of your Ducati as you ride by.........and then thank god I dont own one.

[FkNAmerican]

oh....by the way.....my desktop background is a pearl white 848. Its the most beautiful bike I've ever seen.......................:whistle:

[sAsLEX]

Because they all suck (with the possible acception of the Shelby Cobra). .

Which was built on an English design just with some Detroit Iron under the hood.

[FkNAmerican]

True that........

Similar story with the Ford GT. I kinda think of cars like the Cobra and GT as examples of cross pond cooperation at its best. :sunny:

[McJim]

If you get the 848 then you're gonna cry every time you get passed on the track by 750's and 600's.......you're gonna grit your teeth every time a ZX10, GSXR, CBR1000, R-1 etc..blows by you and you think, "I coulda had one of those for far less"........and you're gonna hide your face in shame every time you get passed by a 1098 and think "I coulda shelled out a few more and just got the real deal"........

The 848 is mind blowingly sexy for sure......but it aint worth the dolla bills you'd have to drop to ride it. Its kinda like the Porsche Cayman......great all by itself but it losses something in translation ounce you stop and think that it was purposely dumbed down so as not to upset its bigger sibling.

My first real exposure to Ducati was when I was 14 watching bike racing in Scotland. The jappas were in the lead and would go shooting past with a high pitched squeal of revs....bringing up the rear was the thunder of the Ducatis. As they went past I said "I want one of those" and someone said "But they're losing" to which I replied "I'll happily come last if it means I get to sound like that."

Different values, that's all. I chose my bike because it's fast enough (and that's not very fast) and it's cheap enough (not very expensive) and reliable enough (It's fucken bombproof - despite the bullshit rumours from the eighties)

[FkNAmerican]

I hear ya McJim......and trust me.....if money were no object I'd have a desmosedici in my garage right now. If I were given a Ducati 1098R I'd shit my pants......but when it comes to writing that check and parting with my hard earned cash I've always put it towards a Jap bike. Reality just sets in I guess.

Like I said: You buy Ducati with your heart. You buy Honda with your brain.


I think Ducati is heading in my direction at least. The 1098 represents a real effort to drive down the costs of entry into Ducati ownership and I hope they continue with that theme. Who knows...maybe in 5 years they actually will have a V-4 for less then $20,000 (yeah right). If they do....I'll have my checkbook ready. Until then......I'll prolly be on an R-1.......or that sexy new Aprilia V-4 assuming they dont price it at $30,000 + !!! :blink:

[McJim]

Who knows...maybe in 5 years they actually will have a V-4 for less then $20,000 (yeah right). If they do....I'll have my checkbook ready. Until then......I'll prolly be on an R-1.......or that sexy new Aprilia V-4 assuming they dont price it at $30,000 + !!! :blink:

Ach, it's only pieces of paper with dead presidents on 'em. Bikes are better than hard cash. Invest in an 848 today.:rofl:

[Kendog]

Ride what you enjoy.
Ride what moves you.
Ride what makes you want to ride more.

If the answer to the above is your jap bike, that's great (it is for me with my bike)
If you ride an 848 and it meets the above three statements, then I see no reason not to buy one, cause damn it is a nice looking bike. And Ducatis sound sooooo sweet.

[sAsLEX]

And Ducatis sound sooooo sweet.

And its terrible working at a site that has a km long tunnel in the middle....... the 900ss that goes through there some mornings it glorious!

[Trudes]

There's a guy who lives around the corner from where I work who has a sweet sounding Ducati:drool:, I listen to him leave home every morning and then come home every morning and I feel happy (eh McJim!! ;))

[MD]

MD (not me unfortunely) have their first road test out on the 848.

http://motorcycledaily.com/27february08_2008ducati848.htm

Sounds like a lot of fun this bike. I bought the latest TWO mag with some awesome pics of a white 848. Mind you the same mag had equally stunning pics of the KTM RC8 in action.

A group test of the odd ball mid-sized sportsbikes bikes would be interesting i.e. 675 vs 848 vs Gix 750.

[Kendog]

A group test of the odd ball mid-sized sportsbikes bikes would be interesting i.e. 675 vs 848 vs Gix 750.

That I would like to see.

[merv]

MD (not me unfortunely) have their first road test out on the 848.


MD you run out of gas on the Triumph yet or is is not quite time to trade yet?

848 does look nice but I wouldn't manage the foetal tuck on one of those would I unless I lost a few kgs around the middle? Could fit helibars to that too I suppose.

Mrs merv, the sweetie she is, has already said if you want one just get one, mind you she said the same when she saw a Desmosedici advertised in an airline mag a few days ago and I go yeah right I can put 120k to better use I am sure, being one who rides as occasionally as I do and then half the time on the dirt bikes. Besides I don't buy that foreign stuff and how would it look with a Ventura pack rack?