·
2008 · Supersport · Buyer's Guide
The 200 hp Street-Legal GP Replica
The Desmosedici RR is as close as a road bike gets to a racing prototype with lights and plates. Its 989 cc liquid-cooled V4 is derived from Ducati's GP6 prototype and makes 200 hp at 13,800 rpm and 85 lb-ft at 10,500 rpm. On paper that's a top speed of 188 mph (303 km/h). The parts list reads like a pit-lane inventory: sand-cast crankcases, titanium valves, forged magnesium wheels and a carbon-fiber subframe on a steel trellis frame. Its standing in the supersport class doesn't come from a spec sheet race. It's an exotic object first. Pure collector's metal!
This hardware is built for one thing: going fast on closed, well-surfaced roads. It has fully adjustable suspension front and rear, a steering damper and a slipper clutch. There's no ABS, no traction control and there are no ride modes, so the bike's speed rests on your inputs alone. At 425 lb (193 kg) wet, with a 32.7 in (830 mm) seat and a 4.0 gal (15 L) tank, it points to an experienced rider who wants analog intensity and doesn't need comfort. If you own one, check the two harness and tail-guard recall campaigns are done, and have the idler gears inspected at major services. Know what you're buying.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 200 hp (147 kW) @ 13,800 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 85 lb-ft (116 Nm) @ 10,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 989 cc |
| Engine | V4 |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 330 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 200/55-16 |
| Wheelbase | 56.3 in (1430 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| Wet weight | 425 lb (193 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
| Top speed | 188 mph (303 km/h) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
This one comes from years of listening rather than a single ride: paddock talk, owner conversations, club nights, and the messages riders send me about the bikes they live with. On the Desmosedici RR the chatter splits cleanly. The engine and the fact of ownership get talked about with heat. What it costs and what it asks gets talked about with a sigh.
The engine leads every conversation, and owners describe pulling clear of literbikes on a straight. Close behind sits the ownership itself: one of fifteen hundred, a street-legal version of the race bike, with an authenticity riders say nothing else on a showroom floor can match. The hardware draws the same language, race-grade in every direction. Nobody needs to be asked about the looks.
Running costs come up in nearly every one of those conversations, and not only the service labor. Owners talk about the price of the 16-inch tires and the carbon bodywork the way other people talk about house repairs. The throttle gets its own complaints, abrupt enough that riders stay working at it, and the clutch asks for real grip. Stiff suspension and short range come up as facts of life.
Recall 09V370000: STRUCTURE
DUCATI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 DESMOSEDICI RR MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TAIL GUARD AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE TAIL GUARD COULD OVERHEAT.
Main wiring harness routing defect (recall RCL-09-002)
NHTSA campaign 09V-160: the main wiring harness may be routed incorrectly, leading to chafing and possible loss of engine performance or electrical failure. Dealers will reposition and secure the harness.
Ignition coil failures
Owners report multiple coil replacements; symptoms include misfiring and warning lights. Likely a heat-related precision issue in the compact engine bay.
Cracking idler gears
The idler gears in the desmodromic valve train are known to develop cracks; should be inspected during major services.
Tail guard and exhaust clearance recall
Insufficient distance between the tail guard and exhaust silencer can cause heat damage; a recall was issued to address the issue.
Where this Ducati Desmosedici RR pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Desmosedici RR is actually built for.
Of these three riders, you're the best fit. Adjustable suspension, the steering damper, the slipper clutch and the GP-derived V4 are made for a closed circuit. Just don't expect any electronics to step in for you.
Made for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Barber Motorsports Park · Circuit of the Americas
It's a strong match for the canyons if you bring real skill. The chassis and engine are built for pace, but with no rider aids, broken pavement and traffic are entirely yours to manage.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
It's a decent fit, but not a natural one. Tight, repetitive mountain curves don't call for a 188 mph engine, and if you care more about technique than outright speed, there's more bike here than the Dragon needs.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway