2012 Ducati Superbike 848

The 2012 Ducati Superbike family marks the official introduction of the ground-breaking 1199 Panigale,
1199 Panigale S and flagship 1199 Panigale S Tricolore and opens a new chapter in the company’s iconic
Superbike history. The highly successful 848EVO and new for 2012, 848EVO Corse Special Edition with
enhanced electronics, suspension and stunning Ducati Corse livery, complete an incredible range.

SUPERBIKE 848EVO

The 848EVO is Ducati's most impressive mid-range Superbike ever, and provides an exciting way to enter the world of Ducati Superbikes. 2012 sees the arrival of the stunning 848EVO Corse Special Edition with Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Quick Shift, Öhlins rear suspension and 330mm brake discs all stylishly delivered in Ducati Corse official colours.

The “EVO” treatment applied to the 848 introduced a 6hp power boost to 140hp (103kW) and a torque
increase to 72.3lb-ft (98Nm) for razor-sharp and easy-to-use power delivery, while the combination of the
848's legendary (168kg) chassis set-up and planet-stopping Brembo Monobloc brakes gives unthinkable
braking performances most can only dream of.

Iconic features from the reigning World Championship-winning machines, are all part of the 848's DNA and
in pursuit of perfection, Ducati engineers have now further enhanced specification to deliver impressive
performance whether riding through mid-town traffic or racing through track-day competition.
The 2012 848EVO maintains the traditional colours of Ducati red with red frame and black wheels, “dark
stealth” with racing black frame and black wheels and arctic white with red frame and red wheels. New for
2012 is the 848EVO Corse Special Edition, specially dressed in red, white and black colour scheme with red frame and black wheels.

The 848EVO Testastretta Evoluzione engine

The 848EVO is powered by a liquid cooled, L-Twin, Desmodromic engine that produces 140hp (103kW) @ 10,500rpm and a high-accelerating 72.3lb-ft (10kgm) of torque @ 9,750rpm.

The 94mm x 61.2mm bore and stroke breathes through 4 valves per cylinder fed by revised inlet port
shapes and racing-style elliptical throttle bodies, which have an equivalent diameter of 60mm. The EVO’s
piston crown and combustion chamber shape improves burn efficiency, while the 13.2:1 compression ratio
and performance-driven camshafts provide 13mm of valve-lift and 257° of inlet duration.

Electronically injected and ignited by Marelli, the super-efficient power unit then exhausts through a
lightweight 2-1-2 system equipped with a catalytic converter and up-rated to twin lambda probes for smooth
mapping and Euro3 conformity. Terminating in twin under-seat silencers, the system delivers that
unmistakable signature sound of the Desmo 90° L-Twin.

The highly advanced 848 engine was the first Ducati Superbike to introduce vacuum die-cast crankcases,
formed using Vacural® technology, a process that achieves a significant weight saving and ensures
consistent wall thickness and increased strength.

Chassis

The 848EVO chassis and suspension are the result of a 'performance-first' priority approach to development,
in which the goals are always to achieve lightweight with high strength and rigidity to manage the highpowered
Testastretta Evoluzione engines. Developed in cooperation with Ducati Corse, the lightweight
Trellis frame features 34mm main section tubes with a material thickness of 1.5mm.

Producing a front subframe in magnesium underlines the attention to weight-saving detail Its construction
provides secure support for the headlamp, instruments and fairing, and the weight-saving around this high,
forward position contributes considerably to overall 'feel' and control of the machine.

The dual construction technique used for the single-sided swingarm allows the main operational
components to use individual aluminium castings so as to ensure strength around the pivot points, wheel
hub and suspension links, while lightweight, fabricated aluminium sections are used to complete the
construction into a single, beautifully engineered component. The 848EVO swingarm is then presented in a
sophisticated black-anodised finish.

The lightweight front wheels used on all Ducati Superbike models substantially reduces the moment of
inertia, enabling a faster change of direction and enhanced acceleration and braking performances. The
848EVO is equipped with Y-shaped, 5-spoke wheels finished in black and mounted with Pirelli Diablo
Supercorsa SP 120/70 ZR17 front and 180/55 ZR17 rear tyres.

The 848EVO features fully adjustable 43mm Showa forks with radial brake calliper mountings, which provide superior road holding and precise feedback. A control-enhancing steering damper maintains perfect frontend stability, inspiring supreme control and confidence alongside the increased power output.

The lightweight Trellis frame and single-sided swingarm enable a compact and weight-saving rear
suspension linkage system, which features separate lower pick-up points for the push-rod and fully
adjustable Showa single shock suspension unit. This 'tandem' design effectively reduces stress around the
linkage pick-up area of the Trellis frame. The 848EVO Corse Special Edition raises the specification even
higher with a fully adjustable Öhlins rear shock offering enhanced feel for performance-hungry sport riders.

Monobloc brakes

Ducati Superbikes have always been famous for their incredible, track-derived braking performance and the
848EVO is no exception. Featuring Brembo's powerful Monobloc calliper racing technology applied to 320mm discs, the EVO’s incredible braking capability is a result of Ducati’s continual quest for responsible
performance.

Machined from a single piece of alloy, the callipers achieve a higher rigidity and resistance to distortion
during extreme braking. The resulting increase in hydraulic efficiency not only delivers incredible braking
power, but also provides an enhanced and precise 'feel' at the brake lever. The twin Monobloc callipers
each have four 34mm pistons that grip 320mm discs to help generate planet-stopping braking.

The 848EVO Corse Special Edition takes that Monobloc braking experience to the next level with full
Superbike-style 330mm front discs.

Aerodynamic bodywork

Carefully designed for aerodynamic efficiency and to hug the sleek lines of the chassis, the Superbike
bodywork enables the rider to blend effortlessly into the correct riding position.

Its race-developed fairing design ensures perfect integration with the cooling system by providing efficient
flow through the advanced, large surface area coolant radiator, which is assisted by lightweight, high flow
electric fan assemblies and oil coolers. Aerodynamically shaped air ducts positioned just below the
headlamps are precisely calculated to provide ample air delivery to the pressurised airbox.

The lightweight bodywork contributes considerably to overall performance by reducing weight, protecting the
Testastretta Evoluzione engine's power output, and assisting the rider to effortlessly 'tuck in' from the wind
stream and reduce drag to achieve maximum straight-line track speeds.

Instrumentation

This pure racing digital instrumentation originating from Ducati's MotoGP project has no switches or buttons
to compromise its clean, minimalist lines. Instead, information additional to the default read-outs is managed
from the left-hand handlebar-mounted switch gear, allowing the rider to scroll through and select from
various menus.

The display, which has a bright white LED back lighting presents rpm and speed, with the former displayed
across the screen in a progressive bar graph. Optionally, the rpm and speed can be displayed in numeric
values. Additionally, it displays lap times, DTC level selected (if activated on the Corse Special Edition) time,
air temperature, coolant temperature, battery voltage, two trips and a trip that automatically starts as the fuel
system goes onto reserve. Warning lights illuminate to signify neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, low
oil pressure, fuel reserve, DTC intervention selected (if activated on the Corse Special Edition) and
scheduled maintenance. The instrument display is also used as the control panels for the DDA (available as
an accessory by Ducati Performance), DTC and DQS systems as well as listing lap times recorded by using
the high-beam flash button as a stopwatch.

Superbike lights and indicators

The horizontal twin headlamps are modernised interpretations of the iconic 916, restyled and updated with
the latest lighting technology. Two polyellipsoidal units light the way with a powerful beam while maintaining
an aggressive look to the front of the machine in pure Ducati Superbike tradition. The rear light employs a
specially designed strip of LEDs enhanced by a high diffusion lens shaped into the sleek lines of the
tailpiece. The same LEDs are intensified for brake lights.

The directional indicators also use the latest in LED technology for illumination. The frontal indicators are
beautifully integrated into the rear view mirrors, which come with an optional spacer kit enabling an
extension of 30mm over the standard mirror stem length.

SUPERBIKE 848EVO CORSE SPECIAL EDITION

Corse instinct

Dressed in the official Ducati Corse livery of red, white and black, the 848EVO Corse Special Edition takes the already exciting 848EVO and adds racing instinct with outright style and enhanced performance.

Equipped with full 8-level Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and the Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) system, the Corse Special Edition raises its game even further on the road or race track. Combine the enhanced electronic package with the superior feel of fully adjustable Öhlins rear suspension and 330mm front brake discs and it is clear that the brand new model fully deserves to wear its new official Ducati Corse styling.

The 848EVO Corse Special Edition uses identical DTC and DQS concepts as the new 1199 Panigale. DTC
monitors front and rear wheel speeds to detect rear wheel-spin under acceleration and electronically
reduces engine power to optimise traction performance. DQS allows the throttle to remain open when
changing-up through the gearbox, helping to save vital fractions of a second in the pursuit of faster laptimes.
The 848EVO Corse Special Edition rolls out in red, white and black Ducati Corse livery with red Trellis frame and black wheels.