The Streetfighter was announced in 2008 at the EICMA fair in Milan and was built by Ducati in 2009. It was a converted superbike without fairings, a longer wheelbase, and a wider handlebar. The characteristics of this motorcycle are a powerful engine and an aggressive look. The Streetfighter was built from 2009 to 2011, and the S version from 2009 to 2012.
In 2012, Ducati made a change of pace in the Streetfighter family and released a new, smaller Streetfighter with higher handlebars, wider footrests, a modified seating position, and powered by an 848 engine. The new Streetfighter 848 targeted a different clientele, which prefers a less extreme design than that of the big Streetfighters.
The 2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848 is powered by an 849cc L-Twin Desmodromic liquid-cooled engine working in unison with a six-speed manual gearbox developing a power of 125 hp at 10,000 rpm and 89 Nm (66 lb-ft) of torque at 9,750 rpm.
The 848 has the same tubular steel trellis frame as its predecessors, on which the suspension composed of a 43 mm Marzocchi fully adjustable upside-down fork on the front and a Sachs fully adjustable monoshock with progressive linkage on the rear is mounted.
For braking, the 848 has two Brembo 320 mm discs, 4-piston calipers on the front, and a 245 mm disc, 2-piston caliper on the rear.
The contact between the wheels and the pavement is made by the Pirelli Diablo Corsa tires mounted on Marchesini forged aluminum 10-spoke design wheels.