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Driving report Ducati 1199 Superleggera

Light and strong like no series motorcycle before

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Ducati is always good for surprises. After Desmosedici, the Italians are now astounding with the Ducati Superleggera. Light and strong like no series motorcycle before. And damn noble too.

“Actually, it is unfair to give the reader a watery mouth with a motorcycle that he cannot buy.” That is how a review of the began D.ucati 750 SS Desmo. Back then, that was 1975. The Supersport, a replica of the factory Ducati, which had ironed out the competition in 1972, was already completely sold out. Not even 300 pieces were built. And now history repeats itself. Who can buy a Superleggera? The price of 65,000 euros alone makes it an unattainable dream for most motorcyclists. If it were still available.

Driving report Ducati 1199 Superleggera

Light and strong like no series motorcycle before

Superleggera available for half an hour on the fantastic Mugello GP course.

Too easy for the SBK World Championships without ABS!

At the Desmosedici in 2002 it was the obvious visual and technical relationship to the MotoGP racers that took your breath away, at the Ducati Superleggera it is now the key performance data and how they were achieved: 166 kilograms dry weight meet homologated 196 hp, twelve more than the standard sisters. With the supplied racing kit, there should be 205 horses. No production motorcycle has ever been lighter and stronger. The Italians pulled out all the stops when it came to lightweight construction. Not an easy task, after all, the basic Panigale is already the lightest in its class. Forged magnesium wheels, a self-supporting carbon frame, the magnesium frame and tons of titanium screws are just the tip of the iceberg.

The fact that the whole thing is also street legal shoots the hell out of it. The unbelievable thing about it: If you were to remove the ABS on your own, the Ducati Superleggera would be too light for the Superbike World Championship despite its street regalia. No more theoretical considerations like this. The mechanics unwind the electric blankets, the pit lights are on green, the Superleggera roars loudly that they are ready for action from the titanium racing exhausts. The pit exit from Mugello is long, leads a little uphill, the Superleggera pulls brutally and yells under my helmet as if to say: "Watch out, you will soon experience your blue miracle."

technology & future

Background Ducati 1199 Superleggera

65,000 euro super sports car sold out

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Suspension strut with titanium spring unique in series production

And that’s exactly how it happens. The first bend is still tight, followed by two fluid alternating bends, the highest point on the route, before an outwardly hanging right-left combination descends to the terrifyingly fast bends Arrabiata I and II. And the Ducati Superleggera plunges down the slope like a hawk on its prey. It’s amazing how greedy and free of hyperactive nervousness she slams into the corner entrance. This high-precision, feather-light turn-in moves them far away from the series machine and close to real superbikes. Almost without a will it fits into ever deeper slopes, without folding against the asphalt. The Ohlins fork, specially built and tuned for the Superleggera, dedicates itself to even the smallest bumps in the ground with unbelievable accuracy and delivers fabulous feedback, which means that the Über-Duc is always slanted, cheeky and self-confident in the corners.

The suspension strut with titanium spring – unique in series production – takes things from the crisp, sporty side and ensures grip and stability even with violent acceleration attacks. The V2 goes to work like unleashed. Ultra-direct to the gas. From 7000 rpm it turns upward at lightning speed and pushes forward with brutal pressure. No wonder: the crankshaft was freed from a good 400 grams of flywheel and balanced with expensive tungsten plugs. Real superbike pistons with only two rings ensure less friction and, thanks to the milled floors, together with the revised combustion chambers and cam profiles, the compression ratio is increased to 13.2, which results in increased performance. This volcano is so angry that there is no time to breathe. As soon as you fire out of a curve, the next one comes in. Even on the 1.1 kilometer-long home straight, you can’t rest, because the Ducati Superleggera noticeably stirs when you accelerate if you grasp the handlebars too hard.

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Confident electronic helpers

The revised electronic helpers act confidently. The traction control of the Ducati Superleggera not only has a calibration function for different tire dimensions. It intervenes almost imperceptibly, the newly tuned automatic gearshift ensures precise, smooth gear changes and the new, adjustable wheelie control lets the front wheel only float slightly over the asphalt even on hilltops. Like the TC, it can also be adjusted from the handlebar. This Ducati is simply a dream. For me it ends after almost 30 intoxicating minutes. It has come true for 500 happy owners.

Technical data Superleggera

Jahn

The Ducati Superleggera undisguised. Overall, compared to the 1199 Panigale R, it saved 12 kg.

drive
Water-cooled two-cylinder 90-degree V-engine, 4 valves / cylinder, 144 kW (196 HP) at 11,500 / min *, 134 Nm at 10,200 / min *, 1198 cm³, bore / stroke: 112.0 / 60, 8 mm, compression: 13.2: 1, ignition / injection system, 68 mm throttle valves, hydraulically operated multi-disc oil bath anti-hopping clutch, six-speed gearbox, chain.

landing gear
Magnesium monocoque, steering head angle: 65.5 degrees, caster: 100 mm, wheelbase: 1437 mm, inner fork tube Ø: 43 mm, spring travel f / h: 120/130 mm.

Wheels and brakes
Forged magnesium wheels, 3.50 x 17 / 6.00x 17, front tires: 120/70 ZR 17, rear: 200/55 ZR 17, 320 mm double disc brakes with four-piston fixed calipers at the front, 245 mm single disc
with two-piston fixed caliper at the rear, ABS.

Weight
(dry) 166 kg *
Tank capacity: 17.0 liters super

Base price
65,000 euros (plus ancillary costs) *

* Manufacturer information

Weight savings

Compared to the 1199 Panigale R

  • Carbon cladding and more
  • Attachments: –1 kg
  • Magnesium monocoque, sand-cast: –1 kg
  • Carbon rear frame: –1.2 kg
  • Titanium exhaust system: –2.5 kg
  • Forged magnesium rims: –1 kg
  • Lithium-ion battery: –2 kg
  • Fork and shock absorber: –1.4 kg
  • Superbike pistons: –194 gr
  • Crankshaft with counterweights made of tungsten: –396 gr
  • SBK chain (520) and sprocket, screws made of titanium and milled parts made of aluminum: –1.3 kg

Total weight saving of 12 kg (ready to drive)

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