In yet another genre-bending approach to its motorcycle range, Ducati has today launched the Supersport and Supersport S in Seville Spain, and editor Leech is on-site to give the thing a shakedown on both road and track.
The bikes are aimed at the sport end of the sports touring category, with lots of go fast stuff to keep the boy racers interested, coupled with more comfortable ergos for those that are a little over the head down bum-up pain in the everything that full-on sports tackle demands.
There are two version, one a cooking model, the other a sharper weapon fitted with a few extra goodies.
Ducati reckons the bikes are an option for commuting, while offering a pretty focussed beast when you want to give it the berries. I’m riding both bikes today in Spain, on track and on a road loop, so that question will be answered in the next instalment. And a full test will appear in Australian Road Rider #137. Look out for that one.
Here’s a short rundown of what’s on offer…
The SuperSport range includes a SuperSport S version with fully adjustable Öhlins suspension, the Ducati Quick Shift up/down system and a rear seat cover: the latter are also available as accessories for the SuperSport.
Powering the SuperSport is a twin-cylinder 937 cm³ Testastretta 11° engine. This delivers 113 hp at 9000rpm and a torque curve that peaks at 96.7Nm at 6500 rpm. There are the three Riding Modes (Sport, Touring and Urban). Each Riding Mode can be customised, allowing the bike to be set up quickly to suit personal preferences and riding skills.
The frame is the Ducati calling card Trellis design with the engine as a stressed member. The bikes can be fitted with a full range of Ducati Performance accessories (some are included in the Sport, Touring and Urban packages) that let owners configure the bike.
So, that’s the taster. Now, where are my leathers.
Colours
- Ducati Red with Ducati Red frame and Matt Black wheels
Main equipment
- 937 cm³ Testastretta 11° engine with 113 hp at 9,000 rpm (the power value indicated is measured using a chassis dynamometer) and 96.7 Nm at 6,500 rpm
- Euro 4 emissions
- 2-1-2 exhaust system with lower pre-silencer and lateral silencer with stacked pipes
- Trellis frame with load-bearing engine
- Height-adjustable 2-position Plexiglas screen with 50 mm of travel
- 3-spoke wheels with Y-shaped spokes
- Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres, 120/70 ZR17 front and 180/55 ZR17 rear
- Fully adjustable 41 mm Marzocchi forks
- Sachs shock with adjustable spring pre-load and rebound damping
- Brembo front braking system with two 320 mm discs and M4.32 calipers
- Brembo PR18/19 front radial brake pump
- 3 Riding Modes (Sport, Touring, Urban)
- Ducati Safety Pack (ABS Bosch + Ducati Traction Control)
- Ready for Ducati Quick Shift (up/down)
- Headlight with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) *
- Full-LCD instrumentation
- Under-seat waterproof USB port
- Ready to incorporate Ducati Multimedia System (DMS)
