AUTO WORLD BIKERS

The road holding capabilities of Pirelli’s Diablo Supercorsa SP rubber is absolutely amazing. This is what full-on DOT race tires felt like just a few years ago. Fresh for 2011, Italy’s legendary motorcycling brand, Ducati, has released a new middleweight sportbike dubbed the 848 EVO Superbike. This new motorcycle replaces the standard 848 and offers increased braking, acceleration and handling performance for less dough than before with its price now starting at $12,995, a full grand less than its predecessor.

The 848 EVO can be classified as Ducati’s entry-level Superbike. It utilizes the same frame, suspension and nearly identical braking components as the premium World Superbike pedigree 1198 Superbike. The primary difference is the powertrain with its use of a smaller 849cc liquid-cooled L-Twin engine and conventional wet (bathed in oil) clutch. This places it in a unique category in the sportbike world offering a machine with a bit more power than what the middleweight 600cc Supersport class can offer.

TECH TALK

Engineers began with the base 848 as we’ve tested extensively in the 2008 Ducati 848 Comparison and 2009 Ducati 848 Comparison. They then focused on the engine and upgraded it with new hard parts. They began by reworking each cylinder head and modifying the intake ports for better flow. New camshafts provide 13% higher lift on all four of the intake valves and 8% more lift on the four exhaust valves. New pistons were also fitted that boost compression ratio from 12:1 to 13.2:1. The throttle bodies grew 4mm in diameter to 60mm. Other hot rodding tricks include a 500 rpm increase in maximum engine revs with the limiter now coming in at 11,300 rpm. More power means more heat so the plastic timing belt covers now have ventilation slits in them. Together, Ducati claims these changes allow the 848 to pump out six additional peak horses than before.