916vs848 what do you want out of the bike at the end of the day. For me the moment I fell in love with ducati's is when I rode a friends 888 SP3 the noise, the power delivery the whizz of the brembos and the way it fell into turns was mind blowing. Would it start when you pressed the button maybe, would it cut out at the lights if you didn't keep reving it, probably. Also the turning circle was terrible and although exciting the power delivery was more like a 2 stroke but that bike had character and I loved it. Would I want to own one, yes would I want it to be my regular Sunday ride, no. Do I have the room money to keep one beside my regular bike, no. Thats why I have an 848...is it too "clinical" maybe although I hadn't even thought about it until reading this thread. I don't think anybody can answer the question at the end of the day some people want a project in every sense and others change there bike every year and leave it standard. I agree that although years apart a 916 and an 848 could be very similar on the road but the overall experience could be different. I suspect if you're asking the question you already know the answer.
I shall make it my business this season to ride an 848 and or 1098/1198. More out of idle curiosity than anything. It's strange that I never have. I've owned 851, 916, 749, 999, but never tried the penultimate range (nor the Pani, of course). And yet I have tried the Multi 620, the new Mutley, the Diavel, the Streetfighter (big), the Hypermotard... Odd that I've never tried the new sport bikes.
I have to admit that another reason I went for the 916 again is it was half the price of a 1098S or 848 which were my other considerations. Its true my heart is in the 916 anyway as I owned the same bike before etc, but it will also go up in value like 851's and 888's have done over the last few years. A 848 or 1098 on the road in my opinion offer nothing over a 916 (aside from a bit more comfort if you are tall) but on the track, a different story (although I have never tracked my 916 so what do I know?)
Clinical compared to an older bike is really just a consequence of advancement, i suspect any modern bike might feel that way by comparison, they just got smoother and cleaner etc. Manufacturers strive to make their bikes do everything better than the last technically and that can make them feel sanitised and i'm sure the 848 fits into that mold compared to a 916 in some areas. i have never ridden a 916 bike came from Aprilia twins and i think the 848 is awesome and has more character than they did and it also has never had a fault in nearly 5 year (touches wood). I wouldn't say it is sorted out of the crate, just very good. The rest takes a tweak. I also never rode mine prior to the Termi's and Ecu so not sure how that alters the ride experience.
Strange to hear someone say the 848 feels sanitised, after my jap bikes it feels anything but this, maybe the the 916 feels even more like a tractor I would love to have both of these bikes in my garage one day
Indeed, the 916 has a whole different level of agriculturalism. But even that feels refined after riding the Monster... :wink:
Ha! Go and ride a Honda VTR Firestorm (yeah, right...) , then get on a 916. The VTR really does feel like a bag of nails in comparison, whereas the 916 feels slick and smooth. I never found my 916 agricultural in the slightest, but that's what 20 years of progress does - I expect the goalposts for smoothness may have moved.
Actually I had a VTR before the 916, didn't have it long but found it OK, just not great - reminded me of an old 'Superdream' but with more go...
