Adam Miller
Age: 37
Model Year: 1998
Miles Ridden: 22,500
Mods: Carbon fiber front fender, rear hugger, airbox, intake runners, vented half clutch cover and heel guards, pod filters, Arrow Ti exhaust system, FBF chip and light-smoke windscreen, Power Commander III USB with custom map, TPO Dragon plug wires, Denso iridium spark plugs, Marchesini magnesium wheels, Corbin seat, Heli bars, aluminum carrier front rotors, TPO full floating front rotor buttons, billet rear brake caliper mount, Renthal/AFAM quick change rear sprocket carrier and 40T rear sprocket, 520 RK XSO gold X-ring chain, ühlins rear shock and Superbike forks, Brembo 998R calipers and radial clutch/brake mastercylinders, STM billet clutch slave cylinder, Paulimoto billet clutch pressure plate and retainers, Barnett clutch plates and springs, braided stainless brake and clutch lines, integrated LED lights with smoked lenses, custom mirror-mounted LED turn signals, fender eliminator, license plate trimmed and mounted above exhaust, 996 fairings, SPS tail and front fairing with white number plates, Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires, Woodcraft rearsets
Best Upgrade: "The Brembo four pad 998R calipers were an amazing improvement for the money."
Favorite Aspect: "It's 11+ years old but still looks fresh and handles like the best of today. I did my first trackday at Road America and while the new 600s pulled me in the straights, I beat them in the corners and walked away from them in the Carousel. It was very satisfying."
Mark Brown
Age: 52
Model Year: 2001
Miles Ridden: 13,500
Mods: Ultimap ECU, Termignoni carbon cans, MPL anodized pressure plate and stainless springs/anodized retainers, SpeedyMoto machined billet open clutch cover, bar-end mirrors
Best Upgrade: "The ECU and Termis for much better performance all through the rev range and the bar-end mirrors because now I can see what's behind me clearly."
Favorite Aspect: "The handling and engine torque."
Brad Bodner
Age: 39
Model Year: 1998
Miles Ridden: Many
Mods: Marchesini magnesium rims, carbon dash, Brembo four-pad calipers and radial master cylinder, lightened rear rotor and flywheel, slipper clutch, RS frame with R airbox and shower injectors, carbon belly pan, battery tray and tailsection, wiring harness mod, frame sliders, Öhlins shock, Race Tech forks internals, heat wrapped exhaust, quick change rear sprockets, Cycle Cat rearsets with GP shift and ignition switch, YTZ7s battery, hard-wired voltage regulator, oil cooler, Dunlop 208 tires, aluminum subframe
Best upgrade: "The wheels are the best bang for the buck because they quicken steering, improve acceleration and better suspension function."
Favorite Aspect: "I love everything about my 748. It's hard to describe, but the visceral reaction to starting a Ducati V-twin is inspiring as it literally roars to life. The rumble of twin exhausts are more like my memories of my Corvette V8 than any streetbike. I like listening to an open dry clutch and knowing that's the way it is suppposed to sound. I enjoy the rev-happy nature of the 748 over my previous 916.
The engineering of components and their placement is pure Italian artistry. The bodywork is sculpted to cheat the wind and please the eye. In the end you just have to ride one to experience it for yourself."