John Zamora: Associate Editor
Miles Ridden: 450
Modifications: Not yet
It seems like the longer I work at Super Streetbike, the nicer my longterm bikes are becoming. I've ridden everything from a couple of 600s, to full on big bike brawlers through the city streets, backroads and racetracks. This year, my longterm bike is by far the nicest starting palette I have had to date.
The Ducati 848 in stock form can best be described in a single word--stunning. While an 848 may seem out of reach for the average Joe, it may actually be the best bang for the buck on the market. Normally after my new ride arrives I give it a once over and start to formulate a game plan of modifications to transform an ordinary machine into a super streetbike. As I tallied the upgradable parts on the 848 my list didn't seem to get very long. It already has a single-sided swingarm, Marchesini wheels and Brembo brakes. Steel braided lines? Check. Cool looking mirrors? Yep. Nice paint job? Yeah. Fender eliminator? Pretty much.
So, what the hell am I supposed to do to it? While just under $14K sounds like a lot for a middleweight bike, if you add up all the parts I'd normally put on a stock bike it would easily surpass that figure.
There are a few mild concerns however. I commute almost 100 miles a day, and while the seating position is perfect for the racetrack, it's less than ideal for zooming up the freeway. The rear pipes throw off an enormous amount of heat, and a good portion of my commute is through slow city streets. And then there's the, umm...I have to admit that I'm coming up short on complaints. This bike is f'n sweet!
I plan to simply enjoy the whole experience of riding a Ducati. There is a certain level of pride that goes with riding one, and I hope to exploit that to the fullest. There are some nice parts in the Ducati accessories department, and I'll also add the usual goodies like windscreen, levers and exhaust. Whatever I do, I want to make sure this bike runs and looks as good as the day I picked it up.
Coming next month Termignoni pipes, windscreen and levers