Ducati 1299 Superleggera: A thrilling bench test

Ducati 1299 Superleggera – Presented at the EICMA 2016, Ducati unveiled what was described by Claudio Domenicali himself, CEO of the Borgo Panigale company, as the maximum engineering, technological and performance expression ever produced in series; which would debut the following year for a limited market. During the presentation, she was brought on stage by Casey Stoner, together with: Chaz Davies and Andrea Dovizioso.

The Ducati 1299 Superleggera is the first road motorcycle with a frame, swingarm, subframe and wheels made of carbon fibre. Under the hull, also made of carbon, beats a 215 horsepower EURO 4 desmodromic twin-cylinder, the most powerful that the Bolognese company has ever built.

In addition to the "heart", the "brain" is also completely new. A new electronics package that uses a six-axis inertial platform system (6D IMU – Inertial Measurement Unit) to manage the electronic controls. The 1299 Superleggera is also the first Ducati Superbike to be equipped with Ducati Power Launch (DPL), as well as having Engine Brake Control (EBC) already present on previous versions.

As regards the suspension department, the Superleggera is equipped with a 936 mm Öhlins FL43 multi-adjustable upside-down fork and an Öhlins TTX36 multi-adjustable shock absorber with titanium spring. At the rear, the classic single-sided swingarm guarantees a weight saving of 18% (-0,9 kg) compared to the aluminum unit of the 1299 Panigale, while the carbon fiber rear subframe is similar to that used on the 1199 Superlight.

A power-to-weight ratio that makes your skin crawl, as already mentioned, 215 horsepower at 11.000 rpm and a maximum torque of 14,9 kgm (146,1 Nm) at 9.000 rpm, for a dry weight of 156 kg .

Unfortunately a dream for few because, in addition to the price, the 1299 Superleggera was produced in just 500 units. All we can do is enjoy this incredible test on the dyno, in which the Superleggera "releases" all its indomitable horses. Simply incredible.