[espen]

Hi Ducatists!

I´ve been riding almost every mark of sportsbikes since 1997 and finally managed to get hold of a red 2008 848. Searching the web, I found this site, and to me this seems like the ultimate source for information on Ducati bikes.

Ever since the 916 hit the streets in 1994, a Ducati has been a dream bike. I can´t explain why I didn´t get a Ducati untill now, and after a week of riding the 848 I can honestly say I should have done this sooner.

Upgrades: CF front fender, bigger CF back fender, CF exhaust heat shield, CF Termigoni cans with ECU, red back seat replacement cover, Michelin 2CT tires, DDA USB

So, my list of bikes:
1997 ZX-6R (new), 1998 ZX-9R (new), 2000 CBR 929RR (new), 2002 RSV1000 (new), 2005 TL1000S (used bike), 2008 ZX-10R (new), 2012 848 (used)

So, been riding the 848 a week (no track-time yet), and here are my findings:

Riding position:
Very nice in leathers! Not that nice in goretex - the seat is too slippery and one keeps sliding forward (tough on arms). Grip-pads for fuel-tank ordered.

Ride quality with 1/4 turn rebound and comp front forks and 2 turns comp/rebound rear:
I like the firm settings, makes the bike feel planted in turns and not too soft on bouncy roads. Turn in is very light and the feel is very neutral through turns. I instantly felt relaxed on this bike.

Stability:
I had a bit of a scary moment in a downhill with small bumps. Slowed down in 2. gear to "feel the power" and gave it a handfull. At around 10.5k rpms the front got light and I got a pretty serious front head shake. Never experienced this on any of my bikes (not even the much feared TL1000S).
The first next thing I´m getting for this bike is, needless to say, a steering damper.

Power:
Compared to my previous 200 bhp ZX-10R (full akra & PCV) the powerband is very narrow. To get a good drive out of corners you need to be at atleast 8k rpms. On the kwakker I had a very nice drive from 5k rpms all the way to 12k.

Ducati Performace kit:
The bike came with carbon Termigoni slip-ons and race ecu. No noise reduction inserts with the bike (I ordered new ones). Today I put the OEM end-cans on (with the race ECU fitted) and got a surprise.
1. I was expecting to loose quite a lot of power from going to OEM cans, but my experience was far from it! The front seems to lift at the same rpms in 1. gear, and I can easily lift the front in 2. with a blip on the throttle at 7k rpms. Top end seems just as strong
2. Low down torque: Riding below 4k rpms was a pain with the Termigonis (yes, I already ordered a Dynojet Optimizer to better this), with the OEM cans I can cruise around town at 2.5k rpms with no problems!
3. I like the stealth-approach: I usually ride pretty hard on the street, and the silent ride helps me not expecting a police officer around every corner! I actually think the bike sounds really nice with the OEM cans too.

Gearing:
My bike is fitted with a 14 tooth front.
1. Gear: too short. Impossible to keep the front down
2. Gear: Very nice! With a longer 1. gear it could be longer too.
5´th and 6´th gear: Useless below 120 km/h, but that´s with the termis on. Actually this is a lot better with the OEM cans.

I am now officially a Ducati fan! Actually always been, but only from afar.

I do believe my next bike will be a 1198 or 1199, but since I ride 99.9% on the street I do fear I will prefer the grunt of the 1198. Though, the 1199 is incredibly sexy

Some pics:









(gettin rid of that ugly windshield, OEM ordered. Red rim-stripes was removed the first evening)

[espen]

so, yesterday I got the DB-killers for the Termigoni cans. Back on with the Termigonis, and in with the DB-killers.

Today I took it for a testride. All the midrange (6k and up) was gone. The engine was wringing itself in pain and sounded like a diesel.

I was sceptic when putting these in, as the holes in the DB-killers are few (3 in each) and quite small.

So, back home again I removed the DB-killers, cut of the inner end (so they now look like my previous ZX-10R Akrapovic DB-killers) and put them back in.

Sounds really nice and damped, but I havn´t had a chance to testride yet. Will do that tomorrow.

A pic of the modification:

[jwm2k3]

Nice bike! My last vtwin (RC51) ran much better with the db killers.

[dt4629]

congrats on the purchase. Looks very nice. Ride safe.

[Duc_L_over_V]

It's Ducatisti, but we know what you meant. Enjoy your new 848. The little bike rips if properly handled, and it loves to be above 7000 rpm!

[Wingnut]

Mine's an EVO, but my initial thoughts were much like yours. Mine was that it's stable yet flickable in which I haven't had off the floor prior. The more I ride it though, the more I'm moving away from that opinion.

The EVO has a damper on it stock, but I'm not really sure it's needed and perhaps covering up a more serious issue. I think the front offset is really wacked out, but takes about $1,200 to correct...thus the damper? I just feel it wants to run wide on exits and I'm in-puting corrections that bring on headshake.

I'm also about 180lbs wet w/ gear on and feel the shock was overly stiff (spring fix) and needed the Showa backed way out. The front's fine internally, but needed lowered in the clamps and a bit of oil added (had 3rd party help here as I loose myself in suspension tuning on my own). But this is trivial as every bike I buy feels too generic and have to have it adjusted. Not every American is 250lbs+

5th and 6th are a bit funky when ridden "correctly". Off the top of my head, I do believe it's 4th gear/80mph in order to keep it at about 6,500RPM and happy. My riding buddy is a ZX10R rider as well, told him to ride it like he does his own bike...then check your gear selection at speed and cruising. He as well found two more gears up so I didn't feel really crazy after all. It's just my opinion, but don't ride that thing under 5,500K nor expect Sub-4K riding to be very happy. The L-Twin is forgiving and (IMO) I need forgiven for dipping into those lower ranges. Keep it buzzing and a bit strung. That's the start of it's happy band I've found. Dip below that and you're waiting on it to steam up too long I feel. It's no inline-4 and has a nature all of it's own that needs adjusting to.

Good on peeling the red wheel tape, but the screen is nice. If that's a Fabarri, you can sell it quickly on this forum! In fact, I have an OEM screen I'd trade you straight over for just to have a backup in the good chance I end up wheel's up eventually (no matter what brand yours is).

[espen]

Originally Posted by Wingnut

Good on peeling the red wheel tape, but the screen is nice. If that's a Fabarri, you can sell it quickly on this forum! In fact, I have an OEM screen I'd trade you straight over for just to have a backup in the good chance I end up wheel's up eventually (no matter what brand yours is).

Thanx for the offer! Seems like items put on this bike are quality items, not sure of the screen though. I'll check (there is some inscription on it).

I allready ordered a new OEM screen from Ducati, but I'll gladly sell this dark one cheap, if it's worth anything.

[espen]

So, after a couple of days with rain, today dried up again and out for a spin with the cut-off db-killers.

First impression, this is very silent! Almost as silent as OEM end cans.

Second impression: Trying to pop the usual 2. gear wheelie at 7k rpms takes some retries to get it up.

I know this is very unscientific research, but this is real life condition compared to a dyno-run in a room with "fake" cooling and ram-air.

So, my impressions so far with DP ECU:
Best power: OEM cans
Next best power: Termigoni cans w/o db-killers
Thirt best power: Termigoni cans with db-killers

I´m a bit puzzled.. I really want the Termigonis for looks, but the db-killers remove too much power from the already "underpowered" ride (I´m kind of used to a bit more). I´m thinking either f**k it and run the open cans (I hate being too loud for alarming cops and neightbours) or bin the Termigonis and run OEM cans.

Well, I love the ride, and knee-down is much easier than I imagined on this bike. My new Ducati knee sliders are very nice and feel soft against the tarmac. The 10R was a lot harder to knee down, possibly due to much higher pegs, wider bike and wider rear tire.

[espen]

As I´m new to the world of Ducati, things keep popping up as every day goes by.

I just realized there is something called DucatiDiag.. ( ducatidiag :: Diagnostic and maintenance software for Italian bikes ) where you can buy cheap cables off ebay ( I´m ordering mine, at US $17 ) and download DucatiDiag for free to monitor the bike, reset service codes and so on..

There´s also "writer" software awailable to upload maps to the OEM ECU!

These are exciting times

[jtdbsr]

Congrats on your purchase! I bought the ducatidiag and flashed the DP map instead of buying an ECU. $150 total cost vs $500. If you do your own wrenching, it is a must have. The only down side is the language barrier, still haven't figured out how to get the writer program haha