Ducati 848

With an identical chassis to the immense 1098 you could be forgiven for thinking the Ducati 848 is just the big boy's baby brother. But this motorbike is so much more than that; it's a star in its own right.

For a start, it has its very own brand new Testastretta Evoluzione engine, designed specifically for the 848. Delivering a massive 122bhp and 66lb/ft of torque, with a top speed of 166mph, it might not catch the 1098 on the track but it will give it a run for its (considerably less) money in most real life situations. Compared to its predecessor, the 749, the 848 delivers and extra 20bhp and 10lb/ft more torque while, remarkably, weighing as much as 30kg less.

Of course, sharing the style of the 1098 is no bad thing when that style is so jaw-droppingly Ducati. You'll turn just as many heads and draw just as big a crowd for almost two grand less. And with the same 57mm OD exhaust the sound stirs the soul at the same primal level.

The only differences - the slightly lower spec Showa forks and Brembo radial brakes - make little difference to the performance. If anything, the brakes are more suited to road use than the vicious stopping power provided on the 1098. Meanwhile, the slightly narrower rear wheel, with its 180 section tyre, makes it more agile and fluid through the bends than the bigger bike, with a class leading 56.3 inch wheel base still giving it that famous Ducati stability.

In short, unless you're planning a drag race down the high street the 848 will give you everything you could ever dream of from a Ducati, including power, handling, and that fabulous film-star feeling whenever you pull up, and still leave you enough change to buy the leathers to complete the look.

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Specifications