SuperBike Magazine June 2020

84 DUCATI 748
1995
DUCATI 748SP
Bigger is, generally, best. But connoisseurs often plump
for the smaller option. A notion perfectly exemplified by
Ducati’s early desmoquattro superbikes
Words: Roland Brown Pics: Oli Tennant
It wasn’t the most glamorous
start to a test ride. A year after
Ducati had introduced the 916
with a lavish launch at Misano,
I found myself battling through
south London traffic on the
V-twin’s smaller-capacity follow-up,
heading out to try Bologna’s
new star on the packed
roads of south-east England.
Not that I was remotely disappointed
about that. With no
sign of a press launch for the
smaller-bore desmo V-twin, I’d
got lucky when a generous lady
called Sara had offered me a
spin on her freshly-purchased
and utterly gorgeous 748 — not
just the standard model but
the hopped-up SP version. That
May day turned out to be one
of the best of my year, and one
of the most exhausting. The
Ducati assaulted all my senses
“PREDICTABLY THE DUCATI WAS A PAIN
IN CITY TRAFFIC. BUT AS SOON AS IT HIT
THE OPEN ROAD IT CAME TO LIFE. ABOVE
7,000RPM IT WAS SERIOUSLY FAST.”
with its vivid yellow bodywork,
deafening Termignoni roar, and
breathtaking acceleration and
cornering ability.
Building a smaller version
of the 916 was a logical move
for Ducati, especially as the
race-ready 748SP was perfect
for the increasingly important
Supersport racing class. Peak
power was 100bhp at 11,000rpm,
nine horses down on the 916,
though the free-breathing carbon
Termis, supplied alongside
the standard silencers, added
to that.
PIG IN THE CITY
Chassis layout was shared with
the 916, including the steel
frame, single-sided aluminium
swinger and 43mm Showa
forks. The SP had an Öhlins
shock, though; plus cast iron
320mm discs and braided
hoses teamed with its four-pot
Brembo callipers.
Predictably the Ducati was
a pain in city traffic, but as
soon as it hit the open road it
came to life. Above 7,000rpm
it was seriously fast. At ten
grand, where the 916 would
have been finished, the 748
was still motoring towards its
11,000rpm redline, power pulses
hardening to a drumming noise
that all but drowned out even
the Termis as the Duke headed
towards its 245km/h-odd top
whack.
Of course, the 916’s famed
midrange grunt was in short
supply. But the greater effort
and concentration required to
get the best out of the 748SP
made for even more fun on a
winding road. That was partly
100bhp
power @11,000rpm