2012 Ducati 848 Streetfighter Review - First Ride

With the world launch of the 1199 Panigale superbike at the EICMA show in Milan still a month away, Ducati filled the interim with an international press launch of the 2012 848 Streetfighter. The combined street and track ride in and around Modena, Italy, exposed the newest naked performer to Sunday morning twisties and trackday duties.

Nearly identical in appearance to the larger 1098 Streetfighter, the new 848 is meant to provide motorcyclists a more affordable and less extreme option to the superbike-powered S model, which is the only other Streetfighter available for 2012 as the standard Streetfighter is being discontinued.

The most obvious difference between the two 2012 Streetfighter models is engine displacement.