Motorcycle specifications Ducati1299 Panigale Superleggera 2017 The ultimate interceptor

Perhaps Ducati has gone too far this time! Or perhaps it has simply opened up a new path, shown the way forward, even heralded the beginning of an era in which carbon will be democratized. Let's not rush into the future, let's concentrate on luxury. And that's exactly what the Ducati 1299 Superleggera promises, despite its very sporty and technological credentials. This sporty machine crushes many a benchmark, becoming the most... no, it's more than that. It has become the lightest and most powerful production sports bike in motorcycling history; road-legal, that is. And despite this tempting calling card, the 1299 Superleggera is even more than that.

As beautiful as a simple Panigale, but adorned with an instantly slap-in-the-face deco, finished off with raised mufflers similar to those on the WSBK machine; the machine captivates before it bites. Let's quickly get to the point. The previous Superleggera, the 1199, was a wild temptation, with its carbon parts and high-magnesium chassis. This 1299 moves all the cursors to the maximum, halfway between aeronautical research and NASA. The strategic point, the one that calms everyone down: its frame, swingarm and wheels are made of carbon! Striking. In addition to their high quality, these parts boast increased lightness and rigidity. The frame-shell, made of carbon fiber with aluminum inserts, weighs just 2.6 kilos. By way of comparison, it boasts 40% less mass, i.e. 1.7 kilos less than the aluminum element of normal Panigales.

The single-shaft unit is equally astounding, benefiting from the same technological infusion. It's 18% lighter than the aluminum part on the 1299 Panigale, or 900 grams lighter. This component weighs in at 4.1 kilos.
More carbon? No, plenty. For the rims, with aluminum hubs. That's a weight reduction of 1.4 kilos, and a little more than 4 kilos for the pair. To get a better idea of the savings, a pair of forged magnesium wheels weighs approximately 6 kilos. And made of classic aluminum, they weigh in at over 10 kilos.
Black fiber is also used for the rear buckle, fairing, front mudguard, rear exhaust manifold and side shock absorber protection, timing belt housings and footpeg plates. The fact that most of the bike's bolts are made of titanium or aluminum is almost trivial.
All this to say that the weight drops to....... 156 kilos dry! And 167 when fully loaded. Not to mention that... Eh oh, quid? It's 1 kilo heavier than the 1199 Superleggera, despite all the lightened parts?! Of course, but the exhausts weigh a lot, along with the hardware needed to meet Euro4 standards. But we'll see how that can be sorted out ;-).

The 1299 Superleggera doesn't just flatter with its carbon propensity. It also boasts some of the best equipment around. Öhlins is entrusted with the suspension. And the equipment is more than beautiful. A superb FL936 fork supports the front axle, 1,350 grams lighter than that of the Panigale R. It is reinforced by 330 mm brake discs, bitten by Brembo M50 calipers, themselves controlled by a Brembo MCS 19.21 master cylinder. Under the thigh, a TTX 36 shock absorber with a titanium spring. It weighs 500 grams less than that of the R. More weight saved, more than formidable braking, and an efficiency that will be almost impossible to fault. Hang on to what you can when you open the throttle, and don't hesitate to throw it into corners with overspeed and conviction. With its carbon wheels reducing inertia by 26% at the front and 44% at the rear, the Superleggera doesn't just turn faster, it catapults itself around corners.

Exceptional chassis, exceptional engine. The 1285 cm3 Superquadro used here differs from that of the Panigale(std and S) in the use of racing parts and increased power. No production twin-cylinder has ever been more powerful, at Ducati or elsewhere. From the bowels of the Superleggera comes a fury of 215 horsepower at 11,000 rpm. Violence guaranteed. Torque surges to 15 mkg at 9,000 rpm. And it could be worse, because we're talking about the homologated road version. Add the Akrapovic titanium racing kit and you're on the verge of madness. It gains 5 horsepower and loses 4 kilos. The 1299 Superleggera is now in all its splendor, with 220 horsepower to tow 163 kilos of noble materials.

What are the differences between the (already highly advanced) Panigale and Superleggera engines? A lightened crankshaft with tungsten balance inserts, new camshafts, titanium connecting rods and (larger) valves, pistons with 2 rings, redesigned cylinder heads and aluminum cylinder liners. Crankcases are sand-molded, and the clutch is reinforced. In addition to improved performance, this engine is 2.1 kilos lighter than its Panigale counterpart.
Oh, and it also saves weight with a lithium battery (1.7 kg).

Ducati has long been involved in Superbike racing, and a little less so but with panache in MotoGP. This has enabled Ducati to build up and maintain a wealth of racing experience. And all the electronics that go with it. Much of this experience has been transferred to the Superleggera. An impressive list of driving aids live and work in this monster of power: Riding Modes, Power Modes, ABS cornering, DTC, DWC, DSC, DPL, DQS u/d, EBC, DDA+ w/GPS module.
It's impossible to understand! Let's make it simpler. First of all, the 1299 Superleggera uses the Bosch IMU 6-axis inertial unit. This offers greater precision and interaction with the on-board electronics.
- DTC Evo traction control, introduced on the 1299 Panigale S Anniversario, is even more precise;
- dSC, a new feature, acts on the engine in the same way as DTC, and provides glide control;
- the DWC Evo anti-wheeling system has been refined;
- ducati Power Launch DPL is a stop-start assistant;
- aBS cornering is an active anti-lock braking system for cornering, modulating brake pressure according to the angle of the bike;
- engine Brake Control EBC allows engine braking parameters to be set;
- the DDA+ w/GPS module for recording and analyzing riding data. As its name suggests, it is coupled to a GPS;
- The Riding Modes allow various configurations of the motorcycle's various assistances;
- Power Modes represent the different fuel injection maps;
- And finally, the DQS u/d. This is the in-house shifter. The Ducati Quickshift Up&Down lets you shift up and down at the flick of a boot, without touching the clutch.

No need to be realistic. This Ducati is all about dreaming, with no hope of clinging to an economic, rational or reasonable reality. And nobody cares about being wise and Cartesian when it comes to this very special Panigale. The engineers? They've let loose like never before. The future owners? They've enjoyed themselves, the heavily-loaded purchase price not being the most important thing. People like us, admirers as well as envious? We can't help but be charmed by so much technology. Further proof that the 1299 Superleggera is closer to a fantasy than a motorcycle: the planned 500 units were sold out even before the official presentation.

The Ducati 1299 Superleggera will be delivered with a race kit comprising :
- A protective cover
- Akrapovic titanium racing line, saving 5 horsepower and 4 kilos
- Front and rear stand
- A racing bubble
- Covers for rear-view mirror anchors
- A kit to remove the number-plate bracket

And there's a bonus in the box. Future 1299 Superleggera owners will be able to enjoy a unique experience: a day on a magnificent Italian circuit reserved exclusively for the occasion, in the company of the Aruba.it Racing Ducati Superbike Team, protagonists of the World Superbike Championship.

And that's not all: participants in the event will have the chance to test ride the Ducati Panigale R Superbike, the official bike entered in the World Championship for production derived motorcycles, with the assistance of the official team.

M.B - Manufacturer media