Full Review! My First *real* ride on my 848...
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So I could hardly sleep last night anticipating my first "real" (e.g.: not mostly highway or in the city) ride on my 848. Fired her up and took my time getting up to Southern NH where I met up with a couple of friends... we eased into the day, eventually finding the better, and faster roads. About an hour in, hit one of my favorite roads, and one I know very well... I couldn't resist, and let it rip...
HOLY EFFING SH*T BATTMAN. This bike is *incredible.*That has to be, by far, the fastest I have *ever* gone down that stretch of twisty tarmac.. compared to the 675 I had in '06, and the RSV Mille which I sold prior to getting my 848 provides (IMO) an excellent contrasting reference to judge the 848's qualities against. From the ~250 miles we did today, most of it was in the *decent pace* range on nice back roads... She is as light and agile as the 675, but that's where the comparisons end. The engine is phenomenal and I'm confident she would pull a 675 easily. While the RSV (mine had a 1060 big bore kit) has one of the gruntiest most addicting motors I've ever had, the 848 motor I would take in a heart beat. The Mille commands attention and respect, and is a complete bear to handle below 4k rpm... you have to pay 100% attention on that bike, where the 848's mill is so smooth and refined, you quickly forget about anything but the natural connection between your right wrist and the ground. And my oh my, does she love to rev. I was, and am continually amazed at the 848's power up top and the sheer velocity with which the tach goes from 6k rpm to redline... it's so fast, you almost can't react to the shift lights... phenomenal. One aside, for any of you who havn't changed your gearing... DO SO NOW. Drop 1 tooth on the front sprocket at a MINIMUM. She is STILL geared tall, and lugs on the highway in top gear... I'm debating going up 2 teeth in the rear, and will surely do so for the track (I race at Loudon, which is very tight)... but we'll see how that gearing works for the street. But either way, stock would be simply ridiculous and unwarrented... do yourself a favor and spend the $50 for a 14T front.
The brakes are just about zen for fast riding, perhaps a *scosh* soft for full on racing, but anything shy of that and I can't find one, single fault with them. 'Nuf said!
The suspension is vastly improved with some fiddling... after riding her home from the shop, I took a solid 2 full turns out of the preload on the rear shock, and finally got my sag set at 32mm front / rear. Bounced the forks, and WAY too stiff, so the clicks come almost all the way out (I'm 225 lbs, mind), and the bike STILL feels stiff, but now in a good way. The more I rode today, the more I liked the way she's set up now...the bumps never upset the chassis and she drove hard out of corners. I would give the 848 a healthy advantage over the 675, but this is the one category where the Mille R simply outclasses the 848. As good as the 848 is, it's no match for Ohlins R&T forks and fully adjustable Ohlins Shock. That said, after reading forum after forum, I was prepared for the worst with the 848's springers, but after some fiddling I am quite happy with the stock setup... at least for the street. I will still be bringing the bike to GMD as soon as I can afford the visit for a Penske Triple Clicker and some SBK valving in the forks, but at least for now I won't be parking the bike anytime soon, that's for sure!
However, if you're anywhere south of 180 lbs, the suspension is down right dangerously stiff.... get your shop or a local suspension guru to swap out the springs and get everything dialed in asap!!!
So.... to wrap things up, this was the most fun I've had on the street in as long as I can remember... I'd gotten into the habit of not looking forward to street rides lately, as there simply is nowhere suitable for the mother-of-an-engine the Mille has... it was no fun around town, and needed wide open spaces to romp. I was afraid the 848 would be similar, but the engine is so playful, just begging you to click through the gears... it was like my first trip to the track, or first ride on my very first street bike. I was giggling in my helmet anytime a small crest of a hill approached... one click into 2nd and the wheel lofts down in the air with ease, and very much composed. I even got the front to hover about 6-10" driving out of a corner from first through a change into 2nd (whilst fairly leaned over, mind!!), which I can't remember ever accomplishing on the street before. No muss, no fuss, no drama.. just brake, turn, twist, grip and away she goes.. just, breathtaking really.
I had huge, HUGE reservations buying my first-ever brand new Ducati... some nagging voices in my head saying, "Will I regret not getting an 1098?" Or... man, that's a lot of $$ for what might be something I can only enjoy on the track.... Today put those nagging voices to bed, forever. The 848 is the perfect bike. At least for me... (for now)
Big thanks to DrDesmosedici for showing me some roads I never thought could exist this close to home... I'll be spending much more time terrorizing So. NH now
Till next time...
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If loud pipes save lives, imagine what learning to ride would do. 
Originally Posted by scottieducati
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