Hello, Ducati is one of the most respected sports motorcycle manufacturers in the world, a recognition that had to be worked on for many years, although it is noticeable that to achieve maximum recognition it had to abandon part of its roots: the L2 engines. The twin-cylinder engine has been Ducati’s trademark for so long that the announcement of a V4-powered superbike was quite a shock, perhaps one of the most drastic changes for the Italian company.
However, for fans and purists there will always be the old models, among which of course the saga of the Ducati 916 and Ducati 998, the Ducati 1098 or the model that separates them stands out and that is always stigmatized by a design that may have come to one bad timing: the Ducati 999 – it had to replace a motorcycle that is considered one of the most beautiful of all motorcycles ever built, and that was too great a burden. Motorcycles, all sensational and exciting, but they always make people forget other models that are no less interesting because they are less powerful.
Models like the Ducati 748, a copy, a carbon copy of the 916, but intended for the supersport segment. The 748 appeared in 1994 and was produced until 2002, when it was replaced by the Ducati 749, which copied the design of the 999 curve for curve. And as a full-scale “copy”, the Ducati 748 also reproduced some of the characteristics of the 916: spectacular sporting behavior – on smooth asphalt -, a sound full of personality, comfort conspicuous by its absence, an experience that few motorcycles could achieve, high Running costs and a design that, as we said, is considered one of the most beautiful in the motorcycle world.
The 748 also copied the 916 in the chassis, with a frame made of steel tubes and a single-sided swing arm. The only differences, apart from being a slightly narrower motorcycle, could be seen in the dimensions of the rear tires, as the 916 had a 190/50 17 and the 748 in turn used a 180/55 17.
Of course, it also differed in the engine and its performance, but this was not visible to the naked eye unless you got closer and looked through the openings in the fairing. If you did that, you’d see a 748cc L2, but it retained all of the internals of the 916 engine. The engineers “simply” installed new cylinders and heads to make room for the new, smaller engine. Of course, an engine that could turn at 11,000 revolutions, an important number for a two-cylinder.
Although many insisted on comparing it to motorcycles like the Suzuki GSX-R 750, the Ducati 748 was actually derived from the Honda CBR 600 F, the Gixxer 600 or the Kawasaki ZX-6R; In reality it was a Supersport that produced 98 hp and accelerated the motorcycle and its rider to a speed of 248 km/h.
