Used to post a fair bit in various Ducati related forums back in the day, I assume this is now the 'go-to' place for Ducatis in the UK. Picked up a deal on an 848 Evo though so came back to Ducati. If you've ever read a write up I've done on the 1098 I test rode you'd know I truly adored it... I mean properly wanted one... The 848 is of course it's baby brother... but this has been breathed on a little and putting out 140bhp with a blueprinted engine. to say I'm happy with this one is beyond an understatement... it's truly for me a dream bike.... I'm SOOOOO excited about Portimao now 2011 848 Evo bike has been race prepared and fitted with some amazing performance parts including Ohlins TTX Rear Shock, Ohlins Fork Cartridges, Ohlins Steering Damper, Sigma Performance Slipper Clutch, Akrapovic Exhaust Cans, Lightech Rear Sets, Evo Tech Brake and Clutch Levers, Brembo Clubman Race Disks, Active Quick Action Throttle, Brembo Carbon Ceramic Race Pads, GB Racing Engine Case Covers, Red Samco Silicon Race Hoses, R&G Under Fairing Crash Bungs
No sir. Over the years I've had 3 x 916's, 1 I raced a bit, 2 road ones, then also a 748S in Titanium grey and red, then a 749BP and last Ducati was a Sport Classic. Nothing in yellow though.
Nice shutter doors, not keen on the skip though, a Ducati and a skip should never appear in the same frame!
So today was a drive up to meet Couchie and Legion748 in the RAIN ! (Sorry Couchie), yes the Gsxr got wet and dirty. After a nice brekkie and some banter the bikes were swapped and I was away. In all honesty, I didn't really look at the bike as it was raining, didn't start it, didn't even glance at it, just loaded it up and away I went. After some errands I got it home, unloaded and had a good once over. The bike is absolutely LOVELY.... Everything I expected and everything I wanted. OK, so there's a few paint issues on the track fairing fitted, but TBH that's to be expected. Apart from that and the 1,000,000 dead flies on the bike, the yokes, the fork legs LOL, it's GREAT What a noise.... Jeeeeez it fires up lovely, even the clocks and dash are a work of art LOL. But when you blip the throttle the cans make a stonking noise.. Just glorious. I finally got closely aquainted with the bike and gave it a good old polishing, removing all the crud and track dirt. I won't bother stripping it down yet as I want a sidestand for that and also I'm at Donington next weekend so pointless as it's likely to be damp ! lol So here's how it was pre-clean, looking bloody lovely IMO ! I can't say how much I appreciate the deal from Couchie.... a true gent.
Apologies for the pic quality, I'm not a photographer and only using a phone in a darkened garage. I think in some ways the pics don't do the bike justice to an extent, however the 'bad' bits you see in the pics like the scuffs etc are what makes the bikes character too for me, they give it the sense of history it has from being an ex-BSB ridden bike. It was campaigned for 2 seasons by a fella called Chris Richardson, who seemed to average 13th-16th in the Trioptions 848 cup. He spent a ridiculous figure on the bike, from the £4000 on suspension to the £4800 he spent on the engine work. Little things like that, really make the 'marks' on the bike have a sense of occasion BSB Brands Hatch 2013 - an album on Flickr Couple of pics there, bike #55
