Ducati 848

[SimJen]

And back to the maintenance question: http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/servi...3CFFQKFUIHSIV2

[Mooch]

I've never been able to understand why they went to a wet clutch...it sounds horrible!!!

Could you guys enlighten me as to the advantages, cos I'm nonplussed...

Ducati designed the dry clutch system so their owners didn't have to put up with listening to jappas/scooters at traffic lights. (Clutch is quieter when engaged)

Shame that some models have moved wet clutch, removes some of the character of owning a Duc.

(And you can't run cool looking open clutch covers anymore)

[SimJen]

No but you can always get one of them plexiglass type where you can see the internals etc through a little window!!!! Very Ricer..... red anodised bar ends will be next!!!

[idb]

The "baby" superbike is almost as big as my old 888 which was the flagship in its day...and over 30% more grunt!!!

[007XX]

Ducati designed the dry clutch system so their owners didn't have to put up with listening to jappas/scooters at traffic lights. (Clutch is quieter when engaged)

Shame that some models have moved wet clutch, removes some of the character of owning a Duc.

(And you can't run cool looking open clutch covers anymore)

Trust me, my Jappa sounds real good (aftermarket twin carbon pipes on a Vtwin works wonders!)

I guess it's a matter of personal taste more than anything then, unless you're racing, in which case it becomes more than just about pretty covers...

[jrandom]

The most interesting bit of information in that press release for me was the specific mention of Ducati's engine designers using FEA to minimise wall thicknesses.

I love the way marketing drones seize on any technological-sounding tidbits they can to pad out their bullshit.

I'd be surprised if any motorcycle engine designed in the last 15 years hasn't benefited from such analysis.

In fact, it's all total blah.

I hate press releases.

Why don't they just say "We made a new bike. It goes faster than the old one. Innit purdy?"

[007XX]

Why don't they just say "We made a new bike. It goes faster than the old one. Innit purdy?"

Because you know as well as I do that a lot of people out there base their purchase selection on the very same press releases that make you cringe.

Besides, not all of them are bad, and there has to be somewhere where the uneducated get to start their research.

[Mooch]

I guess it's a matter of personal taste more than anything then, unless you're racing, in which case it becomes more than just about pretty covers...

Joking & pose value asside the dry clutch does have good feel compared to wet clutch bikes I've ridden. The slipper clutch was also handy on the cliffhanger hill climb ealier this year. Was one thing less to worry about.

[Drew]

Joking & pose value asside the dry clutch does have good feel compared to wet clutch bikes I've ridden. The slipper clutch was also handy on the cliffhanger hill climb ealier this year. Was one thing less to worry about.

The dry clutch on our bikes feels bloody horrible, very hard to get a decent launch off the start grid.

The slipper action on the other hand is bloody excelent.

[koba]

The new "middleweight"? doesn't 849 cee cees make it a bit more than a middleweight?

I'm not a hundy percent on it but over 750cc twin would make it an f1 bike???

and of course its heaps faster than the 749, its a 100ceecees bigger!

Damn that makes me sound like I don't like it but it is a real sexxy bit of kiat and I'm just being a cynical prick

[limbimtimwim]

The more sports bikes Ducati release, the more damage it does to 748 and 749 prices. Which makes me a happy.

I quite like the idea of getting a damaged 749, fixing it up and painting it white with a little metalflake.... Hmm....

[Pwalo]

The new "middleweight"? doesn't 849 cee cees make it a bit more than a middleweight?

I'm not a hundy percent on it but over 750cc twin would make it an f1 bike???

and of course its heaps faster than the 749, its a 100ceecees bigger!

Damn that makes me sound like I don't like it but it is a real sexxy bit of kiat and I'm just being a cynical prick

Yep it's a bit rich calling an 850cc bike a middleweight (at least in sportsbike terms).

I do quite like the look of it though, especially as they seem to have tidied up the frame.

[jonbuoy]

It looks like every other jappa from the front, what happened to the sex on wheels Ducati styling?

[SVboy]

That is sooo sexy....where else would be a better place for $30000. A new Toyota Corolla and a holiday in Fiji?....dont think so!

[007XX]

Joking & pose value asside the dry clutch does have good feel compared to wet clutch bikes I've ridden. The slipper clutch was also handy on the cliffhanger hill climb ealier this year. Was one thing less to worry about.

I bet...personally, I wouldn't try a hill climb without anything else than the dirtbike between my legs...I do miss my DR250 for that, especially at the Cold Kiwi's hill climb...

But anyways, does the slipper clutch come standard on some bikes or is that a special request kind of thing?