Look at aftermarket clip ons for the handlebar issue. I have a 848 that I bent a handlebar (driveway tip over 🙁) and decided to go aftermarket, the bar itself was probably around an inch or so longer, they were long enough that I got it a bit wider and could probably go about another half inch out on each side at least. It definitely made a difference though!
@@indianalunden4342 okay I’ll have to have a look as I think I’m keeping the bike for another year I think so making her a bit more comfortable will go a long way! Thanks for the info (also I had a driveway tip over too, happens for the best of us)
It’s expensive but look for a speedymoto top yoke, it’s a gull-wing shape which allows you to raise the bars by 15mm which makes a good difference. I tried the helibars also but didn’t like them as it’s a different offset. Smaller front sprocket is a cheap mod, 14t and helps a lot, and a Oberon clutch slave. I’ve had 2 848’s and love them to bits. I currently have a 899 which I hate to say it is better in every regard as a road bike but is such a different bike I’m hoping to get a 848 evo to keep alongside as it’s a ‘original Ducati twin’
@@Phillc748 That’s helpful thank you. Yeah I must admit the 899 seems a world apart to the 848 but it’s interesting to hear you’re going the evo back as a 2nd machine. I bet they offer such different things. My 848 literately has no rider aids 😂
Mate,are you serious? It's a short distance race bred motorbike! Not designed for what you bag it out about! I have one,and it's not designed to ride like a pussy! Harden up lad!
@@martinbishop5228 I watched a video on the 848 street fighter today actually. My next bike will be an MT-10 though so hopping on the naked hype train 😉
Lovely bike, I have to agree. I got my 2008 a couple months ago and don't regret it. Question for you. Are the side fairing '848' decals and nose fairing 'Ducati' letters stuck on top of the clearcoat or under it? Mine are on top, but the lettering on the tank is underneath, which I find to be a strange inconsistency. Others have reported the same on their base 848, but evo and 1098 owners are entirely under the clearcoat.
@@Rgh71fish glad to hear! I’m not really sure tbh, it feels like the letters are on top but I’ve never paid much attention to it. I ignore its flaws cause she’s too pretty 😂
I don’t want to sound like a jerk but honestly man, this is a old school sportsbike… that’s the way it is, if you really wanted something much more comfortable u should have gone for the supersport, if you like the style, or the multi 1200 or even the monster
@@FraxeroneMemone Naa fair comment. I’ve lived with the bike for 4 years, I guess now my needs have changed and I’m ready for something different. No shame in admitting that is there?
I have a 1098, which is basically the same bike. All of the issues you cited are real, known and expected with this type of bike. If you are in decent shape with good core strength that will take some of the pressure off the wrists. With the rather small tank, you will be taking a break every three hours or so/125mi for gas so you get a chance to stretch. Mine is also happier in the higher rev range so I do row the gears quite a bit, which is fine as long as you have a well developed grip on the clutch side. I’m 6’, 175lbs and my only complaint is the overly stiff rear shock spring that makes it almost impossible to set any sag and the lack of decent access to the shock adjuster. I ran the preload spring all the way out and that helped a lot as my back was getting hit with every pavement imperfection. I have almost 39K miles on mine and it’s still a beast!
Appreciate the comment, at first I didn’t care at all about all the bikes comfort negatives but as I’ve owned it for 4 years now I feel a new machine is needed to switch it up a notch. Always wondered how the 1098 felt so thanks for sharing and very impressive on the miles!
Really? Sounds like you got really unlucky. What went wrong with it can you remember? My radiator blew within first month of owning it but found a good mechanic and he found a replica version from China for £190 (real Ducati one was £800) and haven't had any problems since thankfully
@@britboybike_adventures3813 The engine light constantly went on and the A/F ratio was too rich, for that reason alone it was at the dealer for 3 months. The first dealer even send it to another shop to get it fixed... Second problem I have (still own the bike but not for long) the engine constantly turns itself off after 2 minutes of driving. Maybe its something simple like spark plugs but I still need to change the rear one. Currently no motivation to do anything :/
@@crad5476 Doesn't sound very fun, sorry to hear. Mine turns off when I'm in 1st gear and the engine is still cold if I let the revs drop too low but don't think it's the same thing. Sounds like a swap for something else is needed then.
@@britboybike_adventures3813 Yeah its not a cold engine. It first appeared after 1 hour of driving, it then failed on the highway with no way to safely put it anywhere. Glad someone came to my rescue and tried to help me. I just hope I can get it running now to sell it :D Hope you never have these problems. Have fun riding yours ✌
Sf? What does that mean? It's a brilliant bike but this video is highlights what I think are its downsides. If these don't affect you but you have found the right bike for you!
How comfortable is it from a heat standpoint.. on the seat or from the engine.? im narrowing down between a ducati PV4, BMW1000RR and R1. i keep hearing the ducati is like being on a skillet but to me its the most beautiful., R1 Second.. i wish the R1 came in Red
Waoh, what a great choice to have. Tbh I didn’t really feel the heat at all on this one. I’ve got a Ducati 848 and lots of people talk about heat but unless it’s boiling outside it doesn’t really bother me. Have you tried each one yet? I think if you test ride them you’ll then know straight away which is for you. Very different engines and I would argue R1 and S1000RR are slightly more manageable and “friendly” versus V4 you’d struggle in 1st gear anywhere 😂
I have the same bike but it is only used on track, Things i would recommend is straighten the bars more as they are facing inwards to muchand you will notice straight away, And change the screen to a double bubble screen, If you lower the pegs they will be scrapping on the ground as mine are 1inch higher, With the gearing go one tooth smaller at the front it will also accelerate better to. Tank grippers are good to as you grip the tank with your knees and takes the pressure off your wrists too. Hope these little tips help
Hi Mark, so would that mean getting new bars altogether? Double bubble screen wouldn't be too difficult to find, and tank grippers I already have and do they help to an extent. I'm half tempted to also get a taller seat as it should mean less bent knees?
Great review and bike! I have the previous generation (which I think looks more awesome), but this new one - the SP in particular, is very tempting. I can't think of any other street/naked bike I'd want over the MT. To me it seems like you are haveing the bike in the least agressive Power mode (based on the throttle input needing to get it kicking). You should have tried PWR1 also... 😃 (unless I'm mistaken - but everyone that tries this bike should at least have a little visit into that mode...)
Thank you, I appreciate it! Out of all the bikes I've tried, I think it's the one that's impressed me the most, it just seems so much fun for the price. If I buy it, I'll be sure to put it on the top mode then 😉
Oh man. You got the wrong bike for you. I have a 1098, so basically the same bike. It is powerful, smooth and comfortable. I can ride it for 3 hours and then after a break, ride for another 2-3 hours. At normal speed of around 100-120 km/h the screen works just right.
@@britboybike_adventures3813 not mapped but has the Termi half system ecu. 1098 has a reputation for smooth power delivery from relatively low revs and mine is the same. They are often hard to start though. Additionally, they are very hard on engine main bearings so they should never be lugged at low revs. Great bike and bags of power. I also have a 853 (748) that is a joy to ride
I got a "Corsa" screen for my 1098R. A little higher than even the double bubble IIRC. No issues with wind blast. With earplugs 2-3 hours isn't an issue. But three hours is likely two tanks of fuel so you have to get off frequently anyway.
Haha awesome man. Well hopefully this video has given you an insight on the negatives and if you can overlook the comfort part you’ll love it. They’re still a bargain really at the prices they’re at (although evo slightly more expensive isn’t it)
@@britboybike_adventures3813Little bit more expensive but not too much tbh. The only thing really bothers me is the heat. Weather gets really hot where I live (35+). I'm not sure my ass & legs can handle it 😄
As a fellow 848 owner love your videos and got to agree it is a bit of a love hate relationship. I agree with pretty much with everything you say here, luckily for me do not suffer any wrist issues but 100% agree on the peg positioning. Pretty much cramp up every ride over an hour. Have you considered a front sprocket change for the chattering on 1/2 gear? Worked reasonably well for me since I did this and have been able to reduce the amount of time "feathering" the clutch.
Appreciate the comment thank you. That statement pretty much summarises it, it is a love and hate relationship 😆!! I haven't actually, I may need to check with my mechanic how much that might set me back
I think most riders who get sore wrists don't ride enough. I'm lucky enough to be able to ride all year and do about 7000km a year on my bikes. Pilates is also helpful.
@@britboybike_adventures3813 I'm very fortunate to be able to ride most weekends and often a couple of days in the week as well. Also the track a couple of times a year
@@LeTessier916 Lucky man, only been on track once and it was terrifying (obviously in the beginner group) but awesome experience even though I nearly went into the gravel twice!
Thank you I appreciate it, that's literately going to be the main talking point for my "things I love" 🙂 video. Even though she's 15 years old she still gets looks everywhere she goes!!
At least it has proper paint job. Enough of the solid dark crap give me colorful flashy race inspired paint jobs. The 80s and 90s had great paint jobs luke this yamaha and kawasaki real green and white not new dark green. 90s zx ninjas green baby. This red and white or better yellow and black from 80s yamahas like rz350. Designers today have no style at all. All sharp.edge wedge crap with rwar tail looking luke a sliver of plastic and boring paint
Hi I have owned one of these bikes from new April 2022 done 12000 in that time that's just summer riding, i have been riding bikes for 52 years and have owned so many I cant count them all. but this is the best all round bike I have ever owned .best parts the engine fantastic pulls from nothing, could do with a taller 6 gear though seat is good for 150 miles, before numb bum gets to you. brakes need a good pull to get the best out of them, original tyres are total crap fitt metzlers highly recommended handles great you can get a foorrest down if you try hard all in all a fantastic bike louis masters
Appreciate the comment and happy to hear you have found your bike! I’m contemplating 3 bikes atm for my next one, the Yamaha Mt-10, KTM SuperDuke GT or the KTM SuperAdventure S. Still don’t know which one to pick 🤔
I've got this bike, but the GT+, I look at it like this - A mode = Aggressive mode(Sports/Touring/Rage/Fun) mode. B=Sports/City/ Urban/Fun mode. C= Crappy roads/bad weather/reduced power throttle response, modes. In my personal opinion 😁
@@britboybike_adventures3813 lol I just mean I think you underestimated your closing speed to oncoming traffic a few times when overtaking. I've done it once myself, easily done on a bike like the R1. Happy (and slower) riding!
I have the rally and you can adjust the engine braking in the settings for each mode, also the brakes are a little wooden as they are using the touring pads, after 1500 miles mine feel bit better but I’m probably swopping them out for a sintered one 🙂
My R1 is flash tuned and runs a sprint filter with full titanium akrapovic system and always ride in A-mode unless it's really cold or raining then i ride in C.
If you dont like this bike , you are a middle aged man or older trying to reclaim your youth running about the streets with a panigale or similar wearing full team leathers.
Man! Those closed-in hedge-row lanes with NO "shoulder" or visibility to the side... I'd have a claustrophobic attack. Oh for the wide open spaces of the US! (-:
Haha funny you say that, whenever I go through one of those corners the thought that goes through my head is: “what if a tractor is behind that bend!”. All I can do is slow down and take it wider coming in but that’s about it 😂. Oh yes, US roads are good to test out top speed 😉
"Upstate" NY is one of the best riding regions I've ever found for its wide-variety of tasty roads. Not one hedgerow! BUT- clearly you guys are lacking one important factor: DEER. We are vastly over-populated, they're treacherous, and I've hit a couple now. Almost hit a black bear last year. @@britboybike_adventures3813
I have owned a 2015 BMW S1000XR, this bikes one and only real competitor, and I own a 2020 SDGT right now, same as this just a slightly different dash and some other tiny changes. For relevant context I've ridden an MT10, Tuono V4, I've ridden Tracer 9 both normal and GT, Ducati Multistrada 1260 and R1200GSA, i think these are the only bikes relevant for comparison Out of all these bikes the only 3 standout are the Tuono V4 and the 1290 GT and the S1000XR. The XR is the most well rounded in touring, performance, comfort and technology. The Tuono is the best performing and handling bike on this list The KTM is 95% the XR and 95% the tuono in one bike. It has niggles but it is by far the highest performance sport tourer and also one of the most capable tourers in general. The GT is a little more sporty riding position than the XR but for me it's still all day comfort, especially after changing the bar position to fit me and a new screen. It's got really good lower body protection, it's got smooth, non turbulent air flow, if a little loud. It's got by far the longest tank range out of all these bikes with the exception of the Enduro and GSA versions of the Multistrada and R1200GS (both of which have 30L tanks or there abouts) The GT, when trying to get somewhere has insane fuel consumption for a 1301cc V-twin, on country roads averaging 60mph, i can get as high as 60mpg, and the longest i've done on a single tank is 260 miles with 1.5 liter left in the tank. Then on the other hand, it's just as quick as the Tuono up to about 130-140mph, it has very very similar handling only a little bit slower than the Tuono due to weight, but a bit easier due to wider bars. The tuono's Öhlins Smart EC2.0 soaks up bumps like nobody's business whilst being extremely supportive, the KTM's is not quite that good but out of all the other bikes it's by far the best compromise between handling and comfort. The XR is harsher and not necessarily more supportive, the MT10 stock is straight up garbage on the front end, can't comment for SP, the Tracer 9 regular is horrific, the GT handles ok but can be very harsh over small rattly bumps and a bit wallowy, R1200GSA and Multistrada are both more comfort less performance. The GT is a good compromise between comfort, and the settings offer a wide "range" whereas something like the XR, difference between "Road" and "Dynamic" are mostly only felt under hard braking or very big bumps/drops. Stock the GT's gearing is incredibly long, allowing for 193mph in 6th gear at redline, this is obviously impossibly high and if you drop below 60mph in 6th, accelerating shakes the whole bike, so gearing down at least a tooth on the front or 2-3 up on the rear is a must for long term ownership, makes the bike that little bit more bonkers. 24:55 Reliability... There is not many around and people like to parrot what they see online... These bikes are extremely reliable once they're past their first 5000 or so miles. It seems there are a lot of "initial failures" which is good because that's covered by warranty and you'll be sorted out. KTM dealers are pretty decent as a whole, better than most japs, not quite BMW levels. Once they're past that initial 5000 or so miles trouble free they'll practically survive forever. I personally know 2 GT owners both with over 50k miles on their bikes issue free. 99% of electronics issues with the bike are from loose battery connections and generally low batteries, this is because the bike has a very "strict" self diagnostic routine and even having as low as 11.9-12.1V on the battery (which would be fine for most analogue bikes to get started and work) will throw all sorts of errors on the KTM. The engine itself is bulletproof and has been for years, the components (suspension, brakes, control modules) are also faultless as they're either all high quality off the shelf parts that are used on many other brand's bikes or they've had years to refine them (the GT's chassis has been in use since 2013) I myself have never had any issues apart from the aforementioned phantom error codes as a result of weak battery. Tl:dr: Arguably the best sport touring bike on the market by some margin, can be a little pricey.
Really appreciate the time you took to write this comment. I’m curious, how did you feel about the MT10? I guess what were the reasons you weren’t happy with it? So far it’s the bike that’s blew me away the most so interested to hear your thoughts. I did really like the SDGT, but I did find the engine quite snatchy which I guess gives it character in my eyes. Interesting about the reliability. You going to upgrade to the new model?
@@britboybike_adventures3813 I've had a 2022 base model MT-10 with me as a loaner for about 1000 miles with 2700 miles on the clock when I got it. Mind you this is the old gen and the new one has improvements, but on a short test ride I took the new one on it felt 95% the same in terms of handling and engine character, if anything the old was a little more "vivid", brakes and suspension are basically the same between the new and old model and they're my 2 biggest concerns. The brakes on the MT10 are ok when you use them occasionally, and I didn't believe what people were saying about the R1 brakes being incredibly bad, but god damn, I almost went off the road when at the end of the long straight in my local twisties I pulled the brakes and they basically didn't work... I'm sure pads can fix it but even outside of the insane fade they are very spongy and have a wooden feel, especially when compared to the quality stuff on the XR and the even better stuff on the Tuono and SDGT (they both run Brembo M50s and MCS cylinders). The second issue I had with the MT10 was suspension/handling. Apparently it's got the chassis from an R1 but yamaha just can't do front ends... With the exception of the Tracer 9 which is actually fairly nosy, all their bikes have incredibly vague front end feel, The bike I had was on fairly fresh Bridgestone S22s so quality tyre, and I set the sag up, damping, even tried playing around with fork height and I could just not get rid of the feeling that the front end wants to tuck under at mid-low speed corners (say under 30-35 mph) especially as you trail off the brakes, it feels like it just wants to drop. The back end of the bike is incredible, and when on the gas, or going left to right without braking it's very nice but I hate a bike with a bad front end, you can't catch a front end slide unless you're Marquez but a loose back end is easier to deal with. Also very well balanced for acceleration, getting power down but also doing easy wheelies, really fun in that regard. Another 2 smaller pain points is the electronics on that old model which doesn't really apply as it has the same stuff as on the Tracer 9 and MT09 which are fairly good if not quite up there with the Europeans, but the previous gen was horrible. It doesn't catch sideways slides at all, which is not an issue if you know what you're doing but fairly unnerving when exiting a muddy car park, with traction control on max, and the back end just goes out, forcing me to catch it myself before TC did anything. Same for the ABS, it's very abrupt and not "fine", not normally an issue but can be felt when you're nowhere near slipping the front and pushing harder into twisties. It sort of "ratchets" a click or 2 before giving you full braking when getting on the brakes hard. Lastly fuel consumption.... Holy mother of... I'm not a cheapskate, but when the lights came on at 85 miles on a 17L tank, and I was like "maybe it's just an early light, i should be fine until 110-120" Then ended up PUSHING THE BIKE at 98 miles...... I knew I can't afford this bike in the long term... I do about 15-20k miles a year on my bikes so even though fuel consumption and range are not normally a concern on a bike for me, this drank damn near double what my XR did and it wasn't any quicker... When looking at the type of riding I do, which is lots of fast twisties but also touring (the MT10 does have a touring version with soft panniers and tall windscreen) and looking at the value proposition... It's just a no brainer... Even now a good condition old Gen MT10 is in the region of 7-8k which is ludicrous when you can get a fully loaded Gen 2 1290 GT with 3 boxes and all electronics for 9.5-10k. Even the Gen 1 1290GT is "Smarter" and has more electronics whilst being 90% the same bike as the Gen 2 and those can be had for as little as 6.5k. I loved the engine and the noise on the MT10 but I like the noise equally on the SDGT with a can, the shorter gearing actually removes the snatchiness a surprising amount and all around becomes smoother and quicker, chain tension is also very finicky on the SDGT, the marks on the swingarm are OK, but really you wanna stay between t he middle and the lower mark for smooth shifts and no drivetrain lash. I don't have any plans to upgrade, I don't think KTM are bringing the 1390 version of the GT until like 2025 and due to the miles I do on my bikes I usually run them until they start matching the cheapest examples on the market so they still have some residual value, but for now the GT seems like a keeper. I was toying with the idea of trading in my 1290 because insurance basically didn't want to insure me next year, offering me no insurance, then 2 months back they were saying like 2.5k a year for TP only but as i'm nearing my renewal it seems to be going back to normal. The only 2 bikes i'd have considered trading this in for is strictly the Tuono V4, and that strictly for 1 year to scratch that itch for an amazing dailyable sport bike, or a GSA as I want to dabble in more off road and it was a great bike whilst significantly cheaper in insurance and to pick up too, sort of a "side-downgrade".
@@AntaresSQ01 you should be a KTM salesman, I'm half tempted to take the 1290 out again based on your recommendation😂. Appreciate the feedback thank you and safe riding!
@@britboybike_adventures3813 I'm not trying to sell the bike just my experience with it haha, it entirely depends on your budget. If you have 8k in your pocket a Gen 1 S1000XR is probably a better buy than a Gen 1 SDGT, if you have 10 grand in your pocket, it's 50-50, if you have 11-12 grand, a nice Gen 2 1290 SDGT is a better bike than the Gen 2 XR imo, pick and choose your poison.
I had a Ducati 848! Needed more speed. Bumped up to a Ducati 1198s! Perfect! Pulled like nobody's business. Problem was it was in TOO Good of condition (showroom) to ride on a regular basis Traded it in for a 2020 low mileage MT 10 with oodles of add on's. NOT quite as fast as the 1198s but far more comfortable. Also lacking low end torque of that 1198 jewel! Thanks for video!
Really helpful thank you. Do you ever look back and think I made the wrong decision? Sounds like you're pretty happy. Reason I ask is I find myself at the same crossroad, keep my beautiful yet incredibly uncomfortable italian masterpiece or trade that for comfort (while still upgrading power) and usability? You can pick up some really good deals on pre22 MT10s
