Having leaked online a few days ago, Ducati Motor's maniacal new superbike - the 1299 Superleggera - has officially made its debut at EICMA this year. Making the model very special is the fact that the new 1299 Superleggera is the lighest mass produced bike with the most powerful twin-cylinder engine powering the rear wheel.
2017 Ducati 1299 Superleggera Side Profile
The 2017 Ducati 1299 Superleggera is truly a unique bike that retains the quintessential Italian styling, albeit with a lot more flare. The company's flagship offering uses high-end carbon fibre in its construction for the monocoque frame, swingarm and wheels. The frame uses carbon fibre with aluminium alloy inserts co-laminated into the former and results in the Superleggera shedding its weight by 40 per cent (around 1.7 kg). Meanwhile, the carbon wheels have been made by BST and is wrapped with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres.
The 1299 Superleggera is the lightest at 150 kg (dry)
So how light is the superbike really? Ducati says the 1299 Superleggera tips the scales at a dry 156 kg on the standard model, while the race kit version drops another 6 kg bringing the dry weight to 150 kg, making it one of the lightest supersport offerings out there. The basic powertrain structure on the Superleggera also comes from the Panigale with the 1285cc twin-cylinder Superquadro engine making tweaked heavily and lightened to produce 215bhp, while the race kit version further pushes the output to 220bhp and 147Nm of torque.
Keeping all that power in check is Ducati's extensive electronics package on the 1299 Superleggera including the 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU) that manages the Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Slide Control, Power Launch, and Engine Brake Control. There's also a bidirectional Ducati Quick Shifter; newly calibrated Bosch Cornering ABS system and the Ducati Data Analyser + data capture system.
Ducati will make only 500 units of the 1299 Superleggera
The 2017 1299 Superleggera further gets upgraded on power with the race kit version that adds 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 riding setup is completed by the multi-adjustable 43 mm Ohlins FL936 inverted front forks, while the rear gets the Ohlins TTX36 shock absorbers at the rear. The suspension too is lighter by nearly 2 kg over the Panigale R. Braking performance comes from Brembo discs at the front and rear with M50 monobloc calipers.
Ducati 1299 Superleggera Carbon Fibre Frame
The 1299 Superleggera is as unique as it gets and that is why Ducati will be making only 500 units of these and costs a stupendous 72,000 Pounds (Rs. 59 without taxes) a pop. But before you gear up to buy one of these, Ducati says all models have already been sold out.
