Ducati 748 S 2002 — Specifications

When Ducati developed the S version of its 748, the Bolognese manufacturer didn't just slap a letter on the fairing. The recipe is more subtle than that. You take an already excellent base—the 90° V-twin Desmodromic engine that built the brand's legend—and give it a chassis worthy of its sporting ambitions. The result is an Italian machine that doesn't cut corners on the rolling chassis, even though the engine remains strictly identical to the standard 748.

Beneath the redesigned fairing that echoes the 996 R, the 748 cc V-twin still delivers 97 horsepower at 11,000 rpm with 73 Nm of torque peaking at 9,000 rpm. Not enough to rival the Japanese inline-fours of the era on a spreadsheet. But the Ducati 748 S can't be reduced to raw numbers. Its 11.5:1 compression ratio, oversquare bore and stroke of 88 x 65.5 mm, and four valves per cylinder give it a character that inline engines have never been able to replicate. This twin sings, vibrates, and responds to every twist of the throttle with a personality you won't find on a ZX-7R or a CBR 600 F. If you're after pure power, you'll need to look at the 748 R. Here, balance is what matters most.

Where the S version justifies its existence is in its road-holding. Showa supplies 43 mm inverted forks with TIN coating to reduce friction—a detail that changes everything on corner entry. At the rear, the Showa monoshock works through 130 mm of travel, supported by a steel tube trellis frame whose 1,410 mm wheelbase guarantees formidable agility. The five-spoke Marchesini wheels reduce unsprung mass, which translates into sharper direction changes and more incisive braking on the dual front discs. At 196 kg dry and 210 kg wet, the Ducati 748 S remains a demanding motorcycle that rewards the precise rider and punishes the careless one. The 790 mm seat height poses no issues for average-sized riders, and the 17-litre tank provides decent range for a sportbike of this caliber.

The real debate around this motorcycle lies in its price positioning. At 13,500 euros in 2002, it was playing in the same league as significantly more powerful Japanese hypersports. Anyone buying a Ducati 748 S isn't looking for the best price-to-performance ratio. They're looking for the texture of Italian engineering, the prestige of a Bolognese trellis frame, that unique sensation when the V-twin climbs through the revs sounding like a sewing machine possessed. Today, a used Ducati 748 S represents a gateway to the Ducati legend at still-reasonable prices. The limited-edition Senna versions are snapped up by collectors, but a 1997, 1998, or 2000 748 S in good condition remains a smart buy for anyone who wants to ride Italian without mortgaging their house.

This motorcycle is aimed at connoisseurs, at riders who prefer character over statistics. The Ducati 748 S spec sheet doesn't lie about its intentions: it's a sportbike with temperament, not a track weapon. It will appeal to the experienced rider who has already tasted Japanese machinery and wants something different. Something less rational, more visceral. And that is precisely what Bologna has always done best.