Ducati 848 Superbike 2008

The 2008 Ducati 848 is 30% more powerful than it’s predecessor, producing 134 hp. It is also a stunning 44 lbs lighter. These two factors combine to give a power to weight ratio which is even better than the 999.



Where Ducati have managed to lose that much weight is beyond me and I can only guess the paint must be helium based or something. Although they are claiming a new engine production method to vacuum die cast the engine casings which saves 6.5 lbs alone and a new clutch that save 2.2 lbs, so that means the other 35 lbs can only be down to the paint.


The 848 shares much with it’s bigger brother, the 1098. The wheels are identical (although shod with a skinnier tire on the back) and the bodywork is exactly the same. Ducati launched the 848 in Almeria, Spain, and Rueben Xaus demonstrated it’s wheelie capabilities and apparently stunning cornering ability. Take a few laps with Reuben in the video.


This is an all-new bike. Rather than sleeve down the 999 engine, Ducati have constructed a brand new one and this will certainly give the 600s a run for their money. Styling is the usual spectacularly sexy Ducati and the 848 is available in red or white, although why on earth any one would want anything other than red is a mystery.

The specifications are impressive to say the least and I can see this one becoming extremely popular. And at last, Ducati have built this one for the road first, the race track second. The 848 is not eligible to enter either World or AMA Supersport racing, so it should be well mannered on the road. The legendary Ducati grunt makes it a breeze to ride and just about every journalist at the launch fell in love with it.



Rueben manages to show just how quick it can be, but the power to weight ratio and nice flat torque curve are enough to make this an easy, sporty ride without too much stress on the rider. Jane Omorogbe was lucky enough to get to ride it at the launch and her review is at the bottom of the page. Ducati are also claiming 50% less maintenance costs this year, with service intervals stretched from 600 to 7,500 miles which is good news for those put off by Ducati’s world famous running costs. It’s an extremely sexy bike, but it’s probably worth stumping up the extra few grand for the big one. Me – I’ll be sticking to the monster.

CBR600RR Honda - 2008 sport bikes

Close your eyes just a fraction, squint a little, take a good look at the 2008 Honda CBR600RR and you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at Nicky Hayden’s MotoGP bike. The same clean lines, beefy swing arm and sharp profile adorn both motorcycles. Dual Stage Fuel Injection, Pro-Link rear suspension and HESD electronic steering damper, drool drool. Honda make no bones about the fact that MotoGP is where they test designs for their new bikes and it shows. Whether you can ride one as quickly as Nicky is another matter, but feel free to try.



What was unaffordable, cutting edge technology just a few years ago now sits resplendent on a bike you can pick up from a dealers and ride away for less than ten grand. Honda have continued their process of slow refinement and development with the CBR 600 and this year’s model is almost identical to last years, slightly heavier, up a few pounds from 2007 (depending on which Honda site you get info from) and the rake has been changed slightly from 23.7 degrees to 23.55 – hardly enough to be noticeable. Honda are selling their 2007 model alongside the 2008 and with so few small changes apart from the color scheme, they have sensibly priced the 2008 a mere $100 more than the ’07. Apparently Honda’s current policy is to only make significant model changes every second year and 2007 saw a major revamp. It does look good in black though.

The Honda CBR 600 has had consistently good reviews since they introduced the model and with good reason. There are a selection of reviews from the 2007 launch at the bottom of the page – still applicable as the CBR 600RR has not had any significant changes this year. CBR600’s have been winning accolades and awards all round the world since 1987.



The CBR600 was the club racer’s choice the moment it was released. Cheap, fast straight out of the box, and reliable. Easy to set up doesn't even come close. Literally open the crate, put it together and you have a competitive machine. On top of that, they hardly ever blow up. In 2007, Ian Hutchinson broke the Isle of Man TT race record in the Supersport/Junior class with a race winning 123.225 mph average speed on the HM Plant Honda CBR 600 - On what is basically the same bike you or I can buy.



If you want a fast, reliable mid-sized sports bike, the Honda CBR 600RR is hard to beat.

Yamaha R6 - First Ride 2008 sport bikes

Eight years ago Yamaha's ground breaking YZF-R6 smashed traditional middleweight class rules. Its light, nimble chassis paired with a compact yet powerful, high-revving powerplant wrapped in sharp, aesthetically pleasing bodywork raised the bar and simultaneously transformed what riders have now come to expect from a 600cc Supersport bike.

The Yamaha R6 has always been a machine of few compromises, and that's why we've always loved it. It also explains why R6 sales now account for 51-percent of Yamaha's sportbike pie. But as Honda's CBR600RR showed in this year's Supersport Shootout V, a bike with compromises sometimes can edge its narrowly focused competitor.

Not happy with being relegated out of the top spot, the R-six is back for '08 with some substantial changes that aim to bring the bike back to the front.

Visually it's difficult to distinguish the new R6 from the old. Yamaha recognizes that since its major overhaul in '06, the R6 has become a rolling icon - best viewed at any angle. So instead of messing up a good thing, the Tuning Fork designers chose to make some very subtle tweaks that further enhance the machine's clean, yet edgy, look. And unless you have the two bikes side by side, it can be difficult to spot the changes.

Up front, the upper cowling had been reshaped and the rearview mirror mounting points have been relocated from the fairing itself to the fairing support stay. The side fairings have been slightly modified and have an upper edge that reaches farther forward, which smoothes out the aerodynamic package. The already miniscule tailpiece has been tapered, which completes the stealthy radar wave deflecting image.

Despite its nearly identical appearance, underneath that slick new bodywork lies an entirely new chassis. Everything from the fork, lower triple clamp, frame, shock, swingarm and even the subframe has been reworked in order to extract maximum handling performance out of the slightly-heavier 366-lb machine (claimed dry weight).

We've always been impressed by how nimble and precise the R6 chassis has been, but up until now that sharpness has come at a price - overall stability. This was especially noticeable when speeds extended into triple digits.

Yamaha acknowledged the problem and the new black deltabox aluminum frame has been tuned for more rigidity in some areas, less in others. Despite the tweaks, the frame retains the same asphalt carving 24-degrees of rake, 97mm of trail and 54.3-inch wheelbase. Steering head and motor mount areas have been reinforced helping to make them more rigid. The main frame cross member has been removed and frame wall thickness has been slimmed by 0.5mm which helps to optimize frame rigidity.

The rear subframe is now made of magnesium (a first for a Yamaha production motorcycle) and weighs over a pound less then the cast aluminum design it replaces. A pound may not seem like much, but every little bit helps in the never-ending quest for optimum mass centralization.

One specific technological innovation that trickles down from the R1 is Yamaha's Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I). The system varies intake funnel length from tall (66mm) and short (26mm) position when throttle angle input is greater than 60 degrees and engine rpms are greater than 13,700. This means engineers no longer have to make a compromise between top-end and mid-range intake tuning, giving R6 riders the best of both worlds.

The Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I), seen here from the R1, has trickled down to the supersport class. The MotoGP-derived system alters intake funnel length for optimal mid- and top-range tuning

In the capable hands of Graves Motorsports, the new R6 looks to be an excellent and immediately competitive racing platform. You too can have a taste of what both Josh Herrin and Ben Bostrom's lives are like in four distinct flavors: Team Yamaha Blue, Raven Black (with race-inspired sponsor decals) and Liquid Silver for $9599. Or if your looking for something more exclusive that will help you embrace your inner mullet-you can pickup the Cadmium Yellow with Flames color scheme for $9799. Without a doubt, the new R6 is the best Supersport Yamaha has ever produced, but will it have what it takes to dethrone the Honda CBR600RR? We're counting the days until we can find out.

2008 KTM 1190 RC8 2008 sport bikes

The 65th EICMA show in Milan keeps cranking out the surprises, with Austrian manufacturer KTM introducing its first-ever Superbike design - the 1190 RC8.

Yet the KTM RC8 debut isn't too shocking, as the "Made in Austria" Superbike has been a long time coming. First breaking cover at the 2005 shows, the then-concept machine was powered by the Super Duke 999cc Twin. Promised for eventual production, the project morphed into the 1190cc version unveiled this week at Milan.

KTM announces the dawn of a new era, making the official Superbike plunge with the 1190 RC8.

Explaining the development of his company's first Superbike design at its Milan debut, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer said: "The RC8 is the perfect embodiment of the collective know-how and the sporting passion of our development teams. In addition, they have proven that KTM is capable of pushing through its own model strategy and in doing so, being absolutely true to our clear brand philosophy, also on the road."

Based off the LC8 Twin powering the Super Duke, the RC8 motor is punched out to, we assume, 1190cc displacement. Power claims for the new V-Twin are 155 horsepower and 88.5 lb-ft torque. If our past experience with the LC8 platform is any indication, the RC8 will benefit from a bounty of torque and magnificent mid-range - characteristics which figure to only be enhanced by the extra 190cc.

Dispensing with the raucous leftovers from the new V-Twin is an under-engine exhaust, positioning we've seen before on Erik Buell creations. The underslung design helping to keep a low center of gravity.

With its entry into the Superbike class, the 1190 RC8 is an exciting option with a style all its own.

The chassis is made up of a tubular steel frame mated to what appears to be a standard-fare aluminum swingarm. KTM continues use of WP suspension, with a non-traditional rear linkage located at the top of the swingarm. The WP components are complimented by radial-mount Brembo brakes, both of which the Austrian firm utilizes on its other high-performance streetbikes. The total design adds up to a claimed tank-full weight of 440 lbs.

Images of the new Superbike entry indicate a stock steering damper, as well as a pivot in the subframe to adjust seat height. In this regard, the Austrians have taken an adjustability cue from their Northern Italian neighbors, Ducati, which offers seat adjustment forward and back. It is a feature which signifies the RC8's intentions to accommodate a wide array of riders on the street.

Either the new KTM superbike has a adjustable pivot to alter the seat height and subframe, or we had too much to drink last night.

But is this orange tiger a purpose-built streetbike or full-blown racing platform?

Given KTM's history of competitive racing, it seems a safe bet that the RC8 will be contesting championships in the near future. A fact backed up at the Milan Show by the RC8 on display being in full Red Bull racing livery trim. But don't expect the new KTM to jump right into the deep World Superbike end of the racing pool right away. When we chatted with KTM reps at the Super Duke press intro last year, they hinted the RC8 would skip SBK right out of the gate and get its toes wet in some European national series first. (One possible arena where we could see the KTM here in the States is the MOTO-ST series.)

Our conversations with the orange folk also gave us an insight into KTM's styling intentions with the RC8. At the Duke intro reps showed us blacked out silhouette shots of the future RC8 next to its Japanese superbike competition. It was clear then that KTM designers wanted a machine uniquely identifiable by its profile alone and they have delivered. From its spacious undertail rear to the sharp bodywork up front, there's no mistaking this KTM for any of its literbike competitors.

Also, although no MSRP is listed in KTM PR, we were assured by our Austrian friends that they want the RC8 to be affordable for the general public. Whether Austrian notions of affordability conform to those of your regular Yankee remains to be seen.

The 1190 RC8 will be offered in KTM's trademark orange and black scheme, as well as a white and black version. According to KTM PR the new model will be available March 2008, "just in time for the start of the new motorcycle season."

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R 2008 sport bikes

You have to love Kawasaki’s rationale for improving their already blisteringly-quick 2008 ZX-10R: Give the new components to Kawasaki’s Japanese Superbike rider Akira Yanagawa, have him thrash them to destruction in Japan’s super competitive All Japan Superbike series, any bits that pass the test then get given to the production test team, tweaked, adjusted and generally improved upon, then they are handed back to Yanagawa for more testing.



So, if you don’t like this year’s ZX-10, talk to Yanagawa, although from where I’m sitting, there’s not much wrong with it. Yanagawa himself gave it glowing reviews after his first test ride.

made for wheelies .

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Site



So what’s new for 2008? Pretty much everything actually. A new engine for starters, which includes secondary fuel injectors, oval throttle bodies and reshaped intake ports. A new exhaust system and ram air ducts to increase intake flow. A slipper clutch and improved gear ratios allow more aggressive down shifting and better power delivery.



And to go with the new engine is an all-new frame setup including a new two piece sub frame, a new swing arm (pressed instead of cast) longer steering tube, and increased strength to the main frame by using increased wall thicknesses, and changes to the frame stampings.



New forks, new rear shock, bigger, thinner brake discs and new wheels that are squeeze cast, whatever that is. And to top it all, a complete new styling package

All this means – lighter, more aerodynamic, more powerful, better handling. In short, faster. The 2008 Ninja ZX-10R might bear the same name as it’s predecessor, but that’s it. All-new, all-fun. I can’t wait to get my hands on one.



So what do the reviewers think? Awesome just about sums it up. There is a review by motorcycle.com in the links box, but they loved it – “smaller, skinnier and sharper,” is how they describe it.


Kawasaki’s plans for World Superbike domination rest on this bike, and how well it performs will soon be seen. With the WSBK rule changes for 2008, it will be interesting to see if a four cylinder can stay the course against a larger capacity V-Twin. Either way, it’ll be fun to watch. This is Kawasaki’s official WSBK entry for last year, the Neos Banca Ninja ZX-10R – 10 kilos lighter than the stock bike, tell me you don’t want one and I’ll call you a liar. I wonder how much they want for last years bikes?

Ducati 1098 S/R 2008 sport bikes

The 2008 Ducati 1098R is the lightest, most powerful bike Ducati have ever produced. I will say that again – the lightest, most powerful bike ever. Considering Ducati are World famous for light, powerful bikes ( read fast ) that is saying something. The 1098R produces 180hp, weighs in at 165kg and kicks out 134 Nm of torque. Can I sit down now. This is the bike that Ducati hopes will take them to World Superbike success in 2008. With a top speed of over 187 mph, not an unreasonable target.



Based on the street-legal 1098S, the R has been overbored to 1198cc, increasing from 104mm to 106mm with a stroke value of 67.9mm. That’s a staggering 1.56 ratio. From a twin, in fact, this is the most powerful twin cylinder in history.


Ducati Links: Ducati Corse Ducati Home

The race-kitted 1098R comes complete with a pair of carbon fiber 102dB silencers and a dedicated ECU, with 8 ready to go profiles switchable from the instrument panel. Ducati also include a DDA (Ducati Data Analyser) and guarantee a 50% reduction in running costs this year. Gone are the days when the engine needed a complete rebuild after every session. The bike is available in one color and one color only – Fire Engine Red – nothing else will do.

The road legal 1098S is only slightly less impressive. The 1098 introduced a number of ‘firsts’ for Ducati and production sport bike design. The 1098 was the first production motorcycle fitted with Brembo Monobloc brakes, the first to have a data acquisition system integrated as standard equipment and the first to use an ingenious construction method for its weight-saving single-sided swingarm. Fully adjustable Ohlins FG511 forks with low friction Titanium Nitride treated sliders. The list is endless.



The 1098S is a race bike, make no mistake – it might be fitted with street legal lights, exhaust and a license plate but it’s a race bike. The riding position forces the rider to mould to the tank and seat, crouching behind the fairing. The chassis responds almost as though you were transmitting the commands telepathically and gives all the feedback you could ever require.



How could you not want one of these? If you don’t want one, there is something wrong with you – see a doctor immediately. The 1098S is almost worth getting divorced over. There are plenty more where that one came from, but a Ducati 1098 is for life. The only really difficult decision is whether to buy a black one, or a red one.

YZF-R1 2008 sport bikes

The 2008 Yamaha YZF-R1 is unashamedly based on MotoGP technology. The YCC-T fly-by-wire throttle system along with the World’s first electronic variable-length intake funnel system and slipper-type back torque-limiting clutch all come from MotoGP testing. A short-stroke 998cc DOHC, 16-valve, liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine produces more tractable power than ever; the Yamaha Chip Control Throttle controls a 32-bit ECU fuel injection system for super-responsive, smooth, instantaneous power delivery and a two-piece ergonomically designed fuel tank carries fuel in the rear section, which helps centraise the mass, while the front half contains a Ram-Air-fed airbox for increased power. God, this sounds like the spec sheet, but Yamaha have gone all out this year, perhaps with the knowledge that they will have to pull something spectacular out of the bag in 2008 to beat the Ducati V-twin 1198cc 1098 S since the introduction of an increased capacity for the twins in World Super Bikes. Yamaha have done their very best to increase aerodynamics, reduce engine friction and take advantage of the latest in computer control. Yamaha rider, Noriyuki Haga, came awfully close to taking the WSB championship last year finishing just 2 points behind James Toseland on the Honda CBR1000RR. Although it has to be said, Toseland rode the wheels off the Honda to win. It’s amazing what the chance of a MotoGp berth can do – Toseland is moving to Yamaha’s MotoGP squad in 2008.

Valentino Rossi and the YZF-R1
All in all, the Yamaha YZF-R1 is pretty much unchanged from 2007. Seeing the 2007 model came within a gnat’s whisker of winning the WSB championship, that’s understandable. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha’s MotoGp rider and several times World Champion took one for a spin and was very impressed.

Reviews and Opinions
Since it’s original launch, the Yamaha YZF-R1 has had journalists and reviewers reaching for the nearest superlative. Universally liked doesn’t even come close, in fact I don’t think I have ever had a bad word said about it. Yamaha really put a great package together with this bike. Race bred it may be, but as a road package it’s hard to beat. Impeccable manners, extremely powerful yet controllable engine, comfortable riding position. I know Rossi is paid to like the bike, but his comments actually seemed heart felt and I can’t imagine him laying down a line of bullshit just to sell a bike. At the end of the day, he’s more concerned with pleasing his legion of fans than sucking up to Yamaha.

Everyone likes this bike and there are a selection of reviews at the bottom of this hub.
I used to own the 750 version, the YZF 750RR and that was a joy to ride on a day-to-day basis. If you are looking for a usable, fast liter bike, this is a good bet.

MTR01 and YZF R1 Launched

NEW DELHI : In a bid to grab bigger marketshare in India, Japanese bike major Yamaha has deviated from its mass market strategy and will now concentrate on niche motorcycle segments. It is also in the process of getting approvals for investment of Rs 1,000 crore in the Indian subsidiary from the parent company.

Yamaha, on Tuesday, launched two of its premium bikes— MTR01 and YZF R1. Both the bikes have been priced at Rs 10.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The Japanese bike maker currently enjoys a dismal marketshare of 3% and is betting on its niche products for a transformation. Yamaha Motor India CEO & MD Tomotaka Ishikawa said: “We are looking at re-establishing the Yamaha brand in the country. We are therefore looking at fresh products targeted at the niche segment with better technology.”

He added that the company would not concentrate on the commuter or 100 cc segment anymore. “We would look at niche segments and would be launching some fresh products at the Auto Expo in January 2008,” he said.

Talking about the company’s investment plans, he said, “We are in the process of getting approvals for the Rs 1,000crore investment earmarked to us.” He reiterated Yamaha’s goal to grab 10% marketshare in the bike market by 2010.

The two super bikes that it has launched will be imported from European markets as fully-built units. While MTR01 is strapped with a 1,680 cc engine , YZF R1 has a 998 cc engine. The bike maker will initially sell the bikes through five dealerships. It expects to increase it to 50 dealerships by 2010.

“Initially we will sell these sport bikes from Ahmedabad, Chennai, New Delhi and Bangalore as we are looking at setting up an after-sales service infrastructure,” said Yamaha Motor India’s marketing head P Sam. He added that since only about 400-500 premium bikes are sold in a year, the company expects to sell only about a dozen units annually.

Yamaha India expects to see a massive dip in its fiscal sales tally. “We sold about 2.35 lakh units last year and we expect it to dip to 1.8 lakh units this year. This is also because of the negative growth the industry is witnessing,” he said.

winter moto gp news

# New Kawasaki signing John Hopkins was the fastest rider on day two of the Sepang test.Hopkins, eighth on day one, used a late lap to edge out former team-mate Chris Vermeulen by 0.144secs at the conclusion of the second day in Malaysia, with day one leader Randy de Puniet demoted to a still impressive third for HondaLCR. Kawasaki revealed that there will be no 'new' machine for 2008."What the're doing is to keep improving on what they have now and get new parts throughout the winter. So they'll always have new parts to test, but there won't be a completely different bike or anything like that."

# Nicky Hayden put 65 more laps on the new 2008 spec Honda RC212V during day two of testing at Sepang - and killed a Cobra in the process! Hayden's knee collided with an unfortunate snake at Turn 11 of the 5.548km circuit. The Repsol Hondarider emerged unscathed from the encounter but the snake was not so lucky..."I smoked my first snake, the poor thing," confirmed Nicky. "I was just heading through turn 11 when the snake sat up and I saw it but I was committed on the apex of the corner. I picked the machine up and tried to avoid him but caught him with my knee. I'm pretty sure it was a cobra and I'm sorry for it."

# MotoGP riders to undertake final 2007 tests at Jerez from 27-29 November.

Suzuki is the only factory not present in Spain, having instead chosen to develop its GSV-R at Phillip Island in Australia.

Rossi will be back on two wheels this week, during testing at Jerez, when he is due to ride with Bridgestonetyres for the first time.

winter moto gp news

# New Kawasaki signing John Hopkins was the fastest rider on day two of the Sepang test.Hopkins, eighth on day one, used a late lap to edge out former team-mate Chris Vermeulen by 0.144secs at the conclusion of the second day in Malaysia, with day one leader Randy de Puniet demoted to a still impressive third for HondaLCR. Kawasaki revealed that there will be no 'new' machine for 2008."What the're doing is to keep improving on what they have now and get new parts throughout the winter. So they'll always have new parts to test, but there won't be a completely different bike or anything like that."

# Nicky Hayden put 65 more laps on the new 2008 spec Honda RC212V during day two of testing at Sepang - and killed a Cobra in the process! Hayden's knee collided with an unfortunate snake at Turn 11 of the 5.548km circuit. The Repsol Hondarider emerged unscathed from the encounter but the snake was not so lucky..."I smoked my first snake, the poor thing," confirmed Nicky. "I was just heading through turn 11 when the snake sat up and I saw it but I was committed on the apex of the corner. I picked the machine up and tried to avoid him but caught him with my knee. I'm pretty sure it was a cobra and I'm sorry for it."

# MotoGP riders to undertake final 2007 tests at Jerez from 27-29 November.

Suzuki is the only factory not present in Spain, having instead chosen to develop its GSV-R at Phillip Island in Australia.

Rossi will be back on two wheels this week, during testing at Jerez, when he is due to ride with Bridgestonetyres for the first time.

Latest news from Moto gp....07 - 08 Winter testing

Yamaha Tech 3 has officially confirmed that it will field Colin Edwards alongside reigning double WSBK champion James Toselandduring the 2008 MotoGPWorld Championship. The pair will be riding the latest 2008 YZR-M1, and will be on Michelin rubber.


Sepang MotoGP test times :

Thursday, 15th November 2007 Preparations for the 2008 MotoGP season continued with the start of a three-day test session at Sepang in Malaysia... 1. Randy de Puniet FRA Honda LCR (M) 2min 3.033 secs2. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 3.357 secs3. Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 2min 3.406 secs4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot (M) 2min 3.607 secs5. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 3.748 secs6. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 4.068 secs7. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 4.164 secs8. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 4.316 secs9. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 2min 4.433 secs10. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 2min 5.438 secsReigning double World Superbike champion James Toseland suffered this small fall during his MotoGP debut for Yamaha Tech 3 at Sepang on Thursday.Fortunately, JT was able to remount his M1 and the incident caused little interruption to his programme.Toseland went on to complete 29 laps, before rain arrived at 2pm, with his best time good enough for tenth position, 2.405secs behind pace setter Randy de Puniet. de Puniet also fell.