SuperBike Magazine June 2020

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84 DUCATI 7481995DUCATI 748SPBigger is, generally, best. But connoisseurs often plumpfor the smaller option. A notion perfectly exemplified byDucati’s early desmoquattro superbikesWords: Roland Brown Pics: Oli TennantIt wasn’t the most glamorousstart to a test ride. A year afterDucati had introduced the 916with a lavish launch at Misano,I found myself battling throughsouth London traffic on theV-twin’s smaller-capacity follow-up,heading out to try Bologna’snew star on the packedroads of south-east England.Not that I was remotely disappointedabout that. With nosign of a press launch for thesmaller-bore desmo V-twin, I’dgot lucky when a generous ladycalled Sara had offered me aspin on her freshly-purchasedand utterly gorgeous 748 — notjust the standard model butthe hopped-up SP version. ThatMay day turned out to be oneof the best of my year, and oneof the most exhausting. TheDucati assaulted all my senses“PREDICTABLY THE DUCATI WAS A PAININ CITY TRAFFIC. BUT AS SOON AS IT HITTHE OPEN ROAD IT CAME TO LIFE. ABOVE7,000RPM IT WAS SERIOUSLY FAST.”with its vivid yellow bodywork,deafening Termignoni roar, andbreathtaking acceleration andcornering ability.Building a smaller versionof the 916 was a logical movefor Ducati, especially as therace-ready 748SP was perfectfor the increasingly importantSupersport racing class. Peakpower was 100bhp at 11,000rpm,nine horses down on the 916,though the free-breathing carbonTermis, supplied alongsidethe standard silencers, addedto that.PIG IN THE CITYChassis layout was shared withthe 916, including the steelframe, single-sided aluminiumswinger and 43mm Showaforks. The SP had an Öhlinsshock, though; plus cast iron320mm discs and braidedhoses teamed with its four-potBrembo callipers.Predictably the Ducati wasa pain in city traffic, but assoon as it hit the open road itcame to life. Above 7,000rpmit was seriously fast. At tengrand, where the 916 wouldhave been finished, the 748was still motoring towards its11,000rpm redline, power pulseshardening to a drumming noisethat all but drowned out eventhe Termis as the Duke headedtowards its 245km/h-odd topwhack.Of course, the 916’s famedmidrange grunt was in shortsupply. But the greater effortand concentration required toget the best out of the 748SPmade for even more fun on awinding road. That was partly100bhppower @11,000rpm
85Classic clocks layout, with easily-removed speedo for racing.Budget damper disappointing on an SP...‘Disappointment’ continues with Showafront forks. Brembos and cast iron discscheered us up though
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JUNE2020YOUR INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAI
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ducati.co.zaPANIGALE V4 25° ANNIVE
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22ENERGICA ELECTRICMOTORCYCLESMONTH
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6NEWSJack MillerBECOMES OFFICIALDUC
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19INDIAN CAPSThese smart and stylis
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH
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30 TRIUMPH ROCKET III R & GTNEVER J
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Page 36 and 37: 34TRIUMPH ROCKET III R & GTing itse
Page 38 and 39: 36 SUZUKI GIXXER 250 SF
Page 40: 38SUZUKI GIXXER 250 SFextra ZAR’s
Page 43 and 44: 41Life can be full of cruel jokes.
Page 45 and 46: 2019 Superbike TT - top of Barregar
Page 47 and 48: Hickman 2020; S 1000 RR Superbike,P
Page 49 and 50: BORN OFGREATNESS2020 SUZUKI GIXXER
Page 51 and 52: 49When Kawasaki introduced the Z900
Page 53 and 54: 512020 KAWASAKIZ900 ABSENGINEType:
Page 55 and 56: 53When Winston Yeh first burst onto
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Page 59 and 60: 57If you go back a few years to bef
Page 61 and 62: 59So Gen 1’s at around R140k offe
Page 63 and 64: 61Town on Turn 2 trying to getmy he
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Page 68: CamPetersenMoving into the Supersto
Page 71 and 72: DominicDoyleDominic Doyle has start
Page 73 and 74: 71This bike is perfect for the week
Page 75 and 76: BMW MotorradPre-owned Motorcycles.R
Page 77 and 78: 75Throughout the 2019 raceweekend A
Page 79 and 80: 77what we can achieve from our GP b
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Page 85: ALEXRINSAlex spent his time indoors
Page 89 and 90: Est. 1997011 672 9008073 206 0855sa
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Page 93 and 94: YART havemade atributeYamaha R6 tor
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Page 97 and 98: 95What team are you riding for?Bart
Page 99 and 100: 97What team are you riding for?West
Page 102 and 103: 100 RAD MOTO SHOP FOCUSShop FocusRA
Page 104 and 105: 102RAD MOTO SHOP FOCUSWHAT TO EXPEC
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SuperBike Magazine June 2020

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