Handling was every bit as good as you’d expect of a hyper-sport Ducati. By middleweight standards I wouldn’t say the EVO steered particularly quickly, and for such a light bike it took a firm pressure on the bars to get it cranked to the right as it thundered down the hill and under the bridge towards Rivazza. The payback was a brilliantly neutral, precise feel, and a stability thatmademe wonder how necessary the fairly basic steeringdamper reallywas, though Iwas happy to have it there.
The EVO worked well on showroom settings in the damp, and when the track dried it responded well to being firmed up slightly with extra compression and rebound at both ends. The shock’s rebound damping is hard to access, via an imperfectly placed hole in the swingarm. But the effort is worthwhile because the extra rear-end solidity let the Ducati punch really hard out of turns, maximising the sticky Diablo Supercorsa SP’s phenomenal level of grip.
Climbing across the bike after that right-hander and then getting it stopped on the steep downhill section into Rivazza was always a challenge, made easier by the power of the monobloc calipers. In a way that front brake sums up the way the 848 has evolved. The monobloc calipers give huge power; 20% more deceleration for the same lever pressure, according to Ducati. On the dry track that was welcome, but some riders find the monoblocs a bit too much, especially for road use.
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Perhaps to some degree that’s true of this Ducati in general. The EVO is undoubtedly quicker around a racetrack, and will make a superb supersports machine for committed riders (service intervals are every 7500 miles). The only slight doubt is that, in making the 848 even more fast and focused, Ducati has risked creating a bike that is a bit less rider-friendly on the road.
But I can’t see many riders complaining, especially as the extra performance comes at no extra cost. In fact, not only do the white and red EVOs sell for an unchanged £10,695, the matt black Dark Stealth model is £700 cheaper at £9995, and identical in every other respect. Just occasionally, it seems, you really do get more for less.
Words: Roland Brown Pics: Marco Campelli (Milagro)
Tech spec
Price: £10,695 (plus OTR, approx £120); Dark Stealth £9995
Engine: 849cc, fuel-injected, 6-speed, liquidcooled 90º V-twin with four valves per cylinder
Power (claimed): 140bhp@10,500rpm
Torque (claimed): 72lb-ft@9750rpm
Bore x stroke: 94 x 61.2mm
Rake and Trail: 24.5º x n/amm
Tyres: Front – 120/70 x 17in Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP on 3.50 cast aluminium rim. Rear – 180/55 x 17in Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP on 5.50 cast aluminium rim
Suspension: Front – 43mm Showa upside-down telescopic,127mm travel, adjustments for preload, compression and rebound damping. Rear – Showa shock,120mm wheel travel, adjustments for preload, compression and rebound damping
Brakes: Front – 2x four-piston radial Brembo monobloc calipers,320mm discs. Rear – twinpiston Brembo caliper,245mm disc
Wheelbase: 1430mm
Seat height: 820mm
Fuel capacity: 15.5 litres
Dry weight (claimed): 168kg
Colours: White, red, stealth black
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