MILAN SHOW: Ducati 1299 Superleggera – excess all areas

It’s the first factory production bike to be equipped with a carbon fibre frame, swingarm, subframe and wheels, and results in a gobsmacking kerb mass of just 167kg – or 156kg dry. Combine such a low mass with the incredible 215bhp output from the 1285cc L-twin Superquadro engine, and it should add up to the one of the most devastatingly effective superbike packages ever created.

Highlights

• Carbon fibre monocoque frame
• Carbon fibre wheels and swingarm
• Aluminium petrol tank
• Carbon fibre fairings
• Öhlins suspension

The facts

• 215bhp
• 167kg
• Seat height 830mm

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Carbon weight loss

The monocoque frame, beefy single-sided swingarm, subframe, fairings and wheels are all constructed from super-high-end carbon fibre, and all are unique to the new Superleggera.

The frame has 7075 aluminium alloy inserts that are co-laminated into the composite structure, and result in a unit that weigh 40% (1.7kg) less than the non-carbon version. The single-sided swingarm sliced another 18% (0.9kg) off the total when compared to its aluminium counterpart, while the fairings are also constructed in the glorious weave.

Also standard fitment are the beautiful high-strength carbon fibre wheels, made for Ducati by carbon wheel gurus BST, saving another 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs) and offer 26% less rolling resistance at the front and 44% less at the rear – and wear Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP rubber.

Power and control

The heavily tweaked and lightened 215bhp Superquadro also benefits from an exhaustive electronic control package.

The 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU) manages the Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Slide Control, Ducati Power Launch, and Engine Brake Control. There’s also a bidirectional Ducati Quick Shifter, and newly calibrated Bosch Cornering ABS system to help with those moments when your talent – or someone else’s – evaporates. And to prevent too much bragging, there’s the Ducati Data Analyser+ data capture system.

The Superleggera comes complete with a race kit that includes a titanium Akrapovic race exhaust, a race screen, plate holder removal kit, kickstand removal kit, billet mirror plugs, front and rear paddock stands and a bike cover. 

The ultimate ride

The new chassis set-up is completed by Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes. The multi-adjustable 43 mm Öhlins FL936 inverted fork weighs 1.35kg less than the Öhlins fork on the Panigale R, while the Öhlins TTX36 shock absorber has a titanium spring that shaves another 0.5kg off the total.

Bolted to the bottom of the fork are a set of 330mm Brembo discs, being gripped by Brembo M50 monobloc calipers, with new TT29OP1 brake pads, all controlled by a Brembo MCS 19.21 radial pump.

Only 500 will be built, each costing a colossal £72,000 – and Ducati say they’ve already sold every single one of them. 

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