DUCATI 1199 SUPERLEGGERA (2014 - 2014) Review

Based on the 2015 homologation-special Panigale R - which was itself based on the Ducati 1299 Panigale but with an uprated version of the 1199 Panigale engine, the 200bhp Superleggera (‘super light’ in Italian) weighs just 155kg dry, or 166kg wet with no fuel, which is the same as the Bologna firm’s WSB racer.

• Related: Ducati Superleggera V4 review

Ducati created 200 shiny new parts for this most exclusive slice of exotica, including a magnesium frame and wheels, a carbon fibre seat unit, a bucket-full of titanium fasteners, a feather-light 700g lithium battery and revised electronics. It’s a bit of a handful to ride but who cares when it looks this good?

Race-bike-light the Superleggera steers with the precision of a WSB machine and has the braking power and stability to match. There’s masses of feeling for grip from the Pirelli Super Corsa SP tyres and a sophisticated traction control system to helps you tease out a quick lap time. But hard on the throttle it has a tendency to shake its hips and tie itself in knots, like the rest of the big Panigale range, so it’s a challenge to ride as fast as a Japanese or German superbike. But the anti-wheelie control calms things down a fair degree.

Hairy cams, titanium exhaust valves, 97g-lighter short-skirt pistons and a 396g-lighter crank all help the Superleggera’s motor reach 200bhp and make a hefty 99ftlb of torque and replacing steel fasteners with titanium reduces weight. Fuelling and throttle connection is top notch, which is just as well given the brute power on tap. With its massively over-square engine you need to rev the big twin hard for best results. There’s a choice of Race, Sport and Wet riding modes offering differing levels of power delivery, traction control, anti-wheelie and engine braking control.

The Superleggera is quite simply a work or art, made with the best of the best parts and materials. With its bodywork removed you could sit and drink in the detail for hours on end.

Costing £54,000 new, the Superleggera was hardly the deal of the century, but all 500 were sold before the bikes left the production line making it more exclusive than the MotoGP-inspired Desmosedici RR. It’s more likely to go up in value than down.

• Related: Ducati 1199, 1299 and V4 Superleggera ridden in Scotland

As well as being made from lashings of titanium, carbon fibre and magnesium, the Superleggera has a full electronics package, including a smoother new quickshifter system and a ‘Rapid Adjuster’ fitted to the left handlebar. The finger and thumb paddles can be set to adjust the level of traction control, anti-wheelie or engine braking control. You also get a race kit, which saves another 2kg and adds 5bhp. It includes a full titanium exhaust system, ECU map key, datalogger, paddock stands, bike cover, machined aluminium mirror and number plate holder blanks and a special charger for the lithium battery.