With an aggressive front fairing, sleek lines and high-quality components, the new 2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848 arouses and captivates naked bike enthusiasts, who all seem to want one. What they'll find pretty soon at Ducati retailers across Canada is a powerful and agile sport bike wrapped in a friendlier, more efficient package.

Despite winning the 2008 Bike of the Year award at the Milan Motorcycle Show and earning a similar title in the US in 2009, the Streetfighter 1098 presents quite a challenge to the average rider. Its superbike roots make it particularly tough to handle on the road, while its extreme riding position is not what naked bike lovers normally wish for.

The Streetfighter 848 expands the Italian brand's lineup and will certainly delight riders after a responsive sport bike designed for the road and not as challenging as the almighty 1199. (Photo: Ducati)

More rider-friendly
Here comes the Streetfighter 848, a carbon copy of the 1098 which Ducati hails as more accessible and easier to ride. Yet, if you take a closer look at the spec sheet, you'll immediately realize that the new model has all the goods to be a real Streetfighter. The re-calibrated engine and ECU, revised chassis geometry and lower price together hint at a successful product.

The Superbike 848EVO's Testastretta L-twin with compact cylinder heads finds its way into the magnificent Streetfighter 848. In order to ensure friendlier operation on a daily basis, Ducati engineers increased the compression ratio from 12.0:1 to 13.2:1, added some counterbalancing weight, reprogrammed the ECU, and completely tweaked the air/fuel intake system.

The various maps have all been revised as well, not to mention the valves and camshafts. And while the Streetfighter 848 lost 8 hp in the process (for a total of 132 hp at 10,000 rpm), it gained extra torque at medium revs (for a total of 69 lb-ft at 9,500 rpm) and a sharper throttle response overall. What's more, service intervals have been stretched to 24,000 km.

The Superbike 848EVO's Testastretta L-twin with compact cylinder heads finds its way into the magnificent Streetfighter 848. (Photo: Ducati)