Hi All, First post so please be gentle with me After many years on big Jap fours, it's time to get some v-twin goodness back into my life and I'm trying to decide between these two Ducati generations. I know they're completely different bikes at very different prices. I had originally decided on a 748 and have the cash ready and waiting. Now though I've started looking at the 848 and wonder if I should dig a bit deeper into the savings and splurge. This will probably be the last bike I buy, (early fifties now!) and will spend more time being admired in the shed than actually out on the road :-( Usage will be limited to the odd run around the countryside on our crappy Irish roads and maybe an occasional trip over to England. I'm a long way from any reputable service centre so maintenance requirements/schedules may be an influencing factor. Whaddya think....?
848, owned one previously and its a fantastic bike. Also newer tech than the 748. I would always go for the newest I could afford.
I love my 748 and can't see me ever parting with it but in your case if you can afford the 848 I think that's the one I would go for, it should be cheaper to maintain in the long run. Both great bikes though. Steve
I would say 848 that makes the most sense, but I have two 748's and the character of them is what attracts me to continue to run them. But they are in the higher spectrum of the models one is a rare UK SPS model and the other is a 748R engined 748S. A 748E is a very basic bike and lacks the refinement and "extras" of some of the other models in that range. The ultimate 748 for many is the 2002 748R with full Ohlins, still going for good money and a very nice bike but it would not be as easy to ride as an 848.
IMHO the 848 would be better. The servicing interval for you and limited mileage would be once a year. If your budget allows go for the 848 Evo corse as it comes with traction control so it's the later tech like is found on the 899. The 848 is a very nice bike I have had two the 848 and the 848 Evo but not the corse version. Welcome to the forum.
848 every time IMHO. The 748 is harder to ride and by the sound of it, you'll not be riding 'fully committed' when you go out.....and it looks better
Ha, the 748's engine is as sweet as a nut at all ranges, the 848 is a veritable tractor below 5k and imo horrible. That's not to say it's not a fine motorcycle, it is. The 848 ultimately, goes, stops and handles very nicely, but looks like a jap bike. The 748 as has already been said has a unique character, I won't part with mine either. Ride both, decide. :blows raspberry:
Change the front sprocket for one tooth less a nice Termi system and the tractor turns in to a mean machine, I had the mat black one. Errrrr which jap bike does this look like..... None of them
