Ducati 848 (base model, 2008-2013) Maintenance Schedule
The Ducati 848 maintenance schedule — sourced from the owner’s manual, with reference to parts diagrams and online fiches.
The Ducati 848 is the “mini superbike” made between 2008 and 2013. It was originally the little sibling to the Ducati 1098 Superbike, but also was the little sibling to the 1198 (though in EVO and EVO Corse trim).
Aside from the engine, the 848 superbikes actually shared a lot of ride gear with the 1098, with many parts interchangeable (even if not always the same spec).
The Ducati 848 was released in a number of trims, primarily including the EVO and EVO Corse. Here are their maintenance schedules:
- Ducati 848 Superbike (2008-2013) maintenance schedule
- Ducati 848 EVO (2010-2013) maintenance schedule — Higher power engine, radial brake calipers
- Ducati 848 EVO Corse (2012-2013) maintenance schedule — Full Öhlins suspension, bigger brake rotor
The Ducati 848 Superbikes were all based on the same basic engine block, though revised for the EVO models. They all had an 849cc 8-valve liquid-cooled 90-degree L-twin, with a desmodromic valvetrain and belt-driven cams. In the Ducati 848 base model, the engine makes a claimed 92 kW (125 CV / 123 bhp) at 10000 rpm.
You’ll also find that the maintenance schedule quite similar to the maintenance schedule for the Ducati Streetfighter 848, as well as this bike’s bigger sibling the Ducati 1098.
The Ducati 848 was kept in business for a while (including in EVO and EVO Corse trims), and was eventually superseded by the Ducati 899 Panigale from 2013.
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What you need to maintain the Ducati 848
The following is a list of consumables (things like oil, spark plugs etc.) you need to maintain the Ducati 848.
The EVO and EVO Corse variations have some enhancements and so the parts list is slightly different.
| Part | Ducati 848 Spec |
|---|---|
| Oil | Ducati recommends Shell Advance Ultra motorcycle oil. You need 3.7L for a complete oil change. It’s hard to find and expensive so people suggest Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W-40. |
| Oil filter | Genuine Ducati part for the oil filter is 44440037A. You can also use a Hiflofiltro HF153RC oil filter which can be changed with a normal wrench. |
| Air filter | The Ducati part for the air filter is 42610201A. You can also use a DU-1007 from K&N. |
| Brake/ Clutch fluid | Ducati recommends Shell Advance DOT 4, but that’s quite hard to find, so Castrol DOT 4 Synthetic is a good and very high-quality alternative. |
| Coolant | Ducati recommends Shell Advance Coolant or a 35-40% mix of Glycoshell, a Nitrite, Amine, and Phosphate-free coolant. But any ethylene glycol-based coolant with corrosion inhibitors safe for aluminum radiators will do the job, and Pro Honda HP coolant is a popular choice. Those putting the Ducati 848 to race use prefer distilled water and Redline Water Wetter. |
| Timing belt | Is it time to change the timing belt? Don’t put it off… a broken timing belt will cost you a lot! You need part number 73740252A. |
| Front brake pads | The OEM brake pad part number is 61340201A. You can also use EBC HH brake pads for better bite and less fade: FA244HH. |
| Rear brake pads | Original OEM part number 61340381A, EBC part number FA266HH for more bite/feel. |
| Spark plugs | NGK code MAR10A-J. Note they’re sold individually. |
| Fork oil | Shell Advance Fork 7.5 or Donax TA |
| Chain maintenance | You can use any chain cleaner and lube, but the Motul chain care kit is a popular option. |
Regular maintenance for the Ducati 848
This is maintenance that you can do yourself. Every 600 miles/1000 kms OR 6 months:
- Lubricate the chain and check for play (use Motul Chain Paste or a full Motul chain care kit)
- Check brake wear levels
- Check oil level, top up with Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W-40 as necessary
- Check brake and clutch fluid, top up with Castrol DOT 4 if necessary
- Check radiator fluid, top up if necessary (with either a coolant that meets spec, or distilled water + Redline Water Wetter)
- Check tire tread and depth
These are regular maintenance operations. The owner’s manual has instructions on how to do these operations.
Ducati 848 Maintenance Schedule Table
Below is a list of maintenance operations for the Ducati 848.
Notes on the maintenance schedule
- The Ducati 848’s service intervals are every 12,000 kms or 7,500 miles OR 12 months. At every any of these points, check the table to see what’s due.
- Follow the earlier of the time- or distance-based interval, other than those items marked (1).
- For items marked (1), just follow the distance interval (ignore the time).
- The break-in service has been omitted as it has already been done.
| km x 1000 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 48 | 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| miles x 1000 | 7.5 | 15 | 22.5 | 30 | 37.5 |
| Months | 12 | 24 | 36 | 48 | 60 |
| Change the engine oil (Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W-40) | X | X | X | X | X |
| Change the engine oil filter (HF153RC) | X | X | X | X | X |
| Clean the engine oil pick-up filter | X | ||||
| Check the engine oil pressure | X | X | |||
| Check/adjust the valve clearances (1) | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the tension of the timing belts (1) | X | X | X | ||
| Renew the timing belts (part 73740252A) | X | X | |||
| Check and clean the spark plugs. Renew if necessary (NGK MAR10A-J) | X | X | |||
| Check and clean the air filter (1) | X | X | X | ||
| Change the air filter (DU-1007) | X | X | |||
| Check throttle body synchronisation and idle speed setting (1) | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the brake fluid and clutch fluid levels | X | X | X | X | X |
| Change the clutch fluid and brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) | X | ||||
| Check and adjust the brake and clutch control cables | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check/lubricate the throttle/choke cables | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check tyre pressure and wear | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the brake pads. Renew if necessary | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the steering head bearings | X | X | |||
| Check the drive chain tension, alignment and lubrication | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the clutch disc pack. Renew if necessary (1) | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the coolant level | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the operation of electric fans and sealing of coolant circuit | X | X | X | X | X |
| Change the coolant (race use — Pro Honda HP Coolant, or water + Water Wetter) | X | ||||
| Check the rear wheel cush drive | X | X | |||
| Check the wheel hub bearings | X | X | |||
| Check the indicators and lighting | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check tightness of nuts and bolts securing the engine to the frame | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the sidestand | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check tightness of the front wheel axle nut | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check tightness of the rear wheel axle nut | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the external fuel hoses | X | X | X | X | X |
| Change the front fork oil ( | X | ||||
| Check the forks and rear shock absorber for oil leaks | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check the front sprocket retaining bolts | X | X | X | X | X |
| General lubrication and greasing | X | X | X | X | X |
| Check and recharge the battery | X | X | X | X | X |
| Road test the motorcycle | X | X | X | X | X |
| General cleaning | X | X | X | X | X |
Wheels and tire sizes on the Ducati 848
The Ducati 848 runs a smaller profile rear tire compared to its bigger siblings, but still runs race-spec tires that are street legal. These days the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa is a popular choice.
| Wheel | Tyre (Tire) size | Tyre (Tire) pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70 ZR 17 | 2.1 bar / 30 psi |
| Rear | 180/55 ZR 17 | 2.2 bar / 32 psi |
General Information on the Ducati 848
The Ducati 848 is the successor to the Ducati 749, which was the little superbike in the stable next to the Ducati 999 superbike.
The Ducati 848 has an 849cc L-twin 4-valve-per-cylinder engine that’s liquid-cooled, a common feature on the superbikes (in contrast with the air/oil cooled engines on the earlier Ducati Monster models).
Things that distinguish the Ducati 848 from its immediate predecessor are
- The single-sided swing-arm — makes the motorcycle look amazing. Returning to the style of the Ducati 748.
- Larger, more powerful engine than the 748cc engine in the 749
- Different looks, reverting to the same aesthetic as the Ducati 916 (e.g. with double front headlights)
The Ducati 848 is still of the generation of Ducati superbikes that have a trellis frame that’s quite beautiful — even though it’s mostly hidden behind a fairing. (You can get the Streetfighter if you want to see it!)
The engine in the base model Ducati 848 produces a stomping claimed 92 kW (125 CV / 123 bhp) at 10,000 rpm in base form. So even though the Ducati 848 is a “smaller” superbike, it produces a lot of power — a similar amount of peak power to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 636, for example, but lower down in the rev range. This makes it still a very fast bike to ride!
The EVO and EVO Corse had a significantly revised engine that Ducati claimed made much more power.
Here’s how the models of Ducati 848 changed between the base model, EVO, and EVO Corse:
| Spec | 848 (base) | 848 EVO | 848 EVO Corse S.E. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak power | 92 kW / 125 CV / 123 bhp @ 10000 rpm | 103 kW / 140 CV / 138 bhp @ 10500 rpm (larger Marelli throttle bodies, revised cams, cylinder heads) | 103 kW / 140 CV / 138 bhp @10500 rpm |
| Compression ratio | 12.1:1 | 13.2:1 | 13.2:1 |
| Front brakes | 320mm discs, axial-mounted Brembo P4.32 calipers | 320 semi-floating discs, radial mounted Brembo M4.34 calipers | 330mm semi-floating discs, radial mounted Brembo M4.34 calipers |
| Front suspension | 43mm Showa forks, fully adjustable | 43mm Showa forks, fully adjustable | 43mm Öhlins fork, fully adjustable |
| Rear suspension | Monoshock, fully adjustable | Monoshock, fully adjustable | Öhlins monoshock, fully adjustable |
| Ride aids | – | Steering damper | Steering Damper, Traction Control, Quickshifter |
Because the Ducati 848 is the “smaller” superbike, it suffers a little from not being in the limelight of the Ducati 1098 with all its racing victories.
But the reality is that the Ducati 848, like many of the smaller superbikes, is considered by its fans to be the better choice for people who ride anything from street to track and aren’t top-end professionals or collectors who want the very best in their garage.
The power delivery and gearing of the Ducati 848 (its final drive ratio is 15:39, in contrast with 15:38 of the 1098) mean that it’s more engaging to ride the 848 at “reasonable” speeds. Changing the gearing further — or swapping out to the Streetfighter 848 — accentuates that feeling.
The ride gear of the Ducati 848 in base model is competent, even though it was superseded by that in the EVO and EVO Corse. The suspension isn’t Öhlins but it is fully adjustable front and rear, and the Brembo 4-piston calipers do a great job for most uses.
Nonetheless, the radial mount calipers in the Ducati 848 EVO are a noticeable upgrade.
The Ducati 848 was replaced eventually with the Ducati 899 Panigale, which was a significantly improved mini-superbike, but which lost the single-sided swingarm.
The single-sided swing-arm only made a return in 2020 with the arrival of the Ducati Panigale V2.
Ducati 848 Owner’s Manual
The above info was sourced from the owner’s manual, also consulting parts diagrams for the Ducati 848.
You can get manuals for Ducati motorcycles from Ducati’s web site.
