Ducati 748 Biposto Review

Overall Rating

It looks unbelievably beautiful, even modern for a 10 year old bike. With carbon end cans, the noise that the v-twin powerhouse produces is enough to make any man weep (because they wish they had one).

Not looking forward to service time, which can be very expensive and too frequent.

Having finally graduated from 125's, I decided to go the whole proverbial hog and buy my (almost) dream bike - the Ducati 748 Biposto. I say almost, because my dream weapon of choice would be a 916 or a 996, but for now the 748 packs a massively bigger punch than I'll reasonably need, and is aesthetically identical.

I'll get the easy bit out of the way, I love the look of this bike. Thirteen years after the first chassis rolled off the production line in Italy, and it still looks as fresh and beautiful as ever. A real head-turner. The noise it makes is phenomenal; as if to encourage people to look at how pretty it is, it makes a deep, 'end of the world'-esque noise that makes people look first in terror and then in envy.

The engine has massive of grunt - though despite being 748cc is more comparable with a sports 600. The speedo goes up to 180mph, though I doubt it would tip those scales, despite my model having a race chip and exhaust system. I have (accidentally) reached a very effortless 135mph while motorway riding (it really was an accident), and that wasn't in top gear, or even full throttle, so the 748 certainly has plenty of power.

The smug feeling I get riding this bike (a common problem of Ducati riders so im told!) makes me ignore the blatant problems, such as the very punishing riding position (particularly for commuting), the 1 tonne clutch, the bikes stark inability to go slowly; It could just be a fault on my machine, but it simply will not go below 25/20mph without riding the clutch.

Obviously I've owned this machine for a very short period, and like any new relationship I am in the honeymoon period. I am worried however about the looming (circa 10 months) service regime that MUST be adhered to unless I want my work of art to be just that, and only that.

Members' Comments onDolestar's Review

• BIMMER on 15th Mar 2007

  Sounds like a nice bike!

• dickwalton on 4th Sep 2007

  Very helpful write up that. I now know I need to buy one soon. Very soon.