The wraps have been taken off! The Ducati 1299 Superleggera, the world’s first production motorcycle to have a carbon fibre frame, swingarm, subframe and wheels, has been unveiled at EICMA. Taking road going supersport motorcycles to an unheard of level, the 1299 Superleggera picks up where the predecessor, the 1199 Superleggera had left off.
With style, sophistication and performance at its core, the bike will be limited only to 500 units and folks lucky enough to lay their hands on it and brave enough to test it, will get a chance to ride it alongside Ducati’s WSBK bike in Spring 2017 at Monza (tentative location). Customers also get a track kit which includes a complete Akrapovic titanium racing exhaust, a racing screen, plate holder removal kit and kickstand removal kit. Oh wait, it also includes machined from solid, mirror replacement plugs, front and rear paddock stands and a bike cover.
Engine:
At the heart of the 1299 Superleggera is the most powerful twin-cylinder ever. Churning out 215 PS of maximum power at 11,000 rpm and 146.5 Nm of peak torque at 9,000 rpm, it is the pinnacle of Italian engineering. Mated to this is a six-speed gearbox with a bi-directional quickshifter. The 1,285 cc mill gets new titanium con rods and 116 mm diameter pistons. The engine core, which comprises of crankshaft, conrods, pistons, cylinder liner and flywheel, is 2.4 kg lighter than the 1299 Panigale.
That’s not all, the ultra-light lithium battery fitted in the bike saves 1.7 kg as compared to the unit on the 1299 Panigale. The track kit further boosts the power output by 5 PS and loses 4 kg of weight, thanks to a lighter, all titanium exhaust.
Carbon fibre everywhere:
The 1299 Superleggera’s claim to fame is the extensive use of carbon fibre. Here’s all the dope on the aerospace industry inspired tech involved in the bike:
- The monocoque frame gets 7,075 aluminium alloy inserts which are 40 percent lighter. That’s 1.7 kg lighter than the frame in 1299 Panigale.
- An 18 percent lighter single sided swingarm with the same number of aluminium alloy inserts is another one. That’s a save of 0.9 kg.
- Compared to forged aluminium wheels, the carbon fibre ones offer 26 percent less rolling resistance at the front and 44 percent less at the rear, resulting in better handling. In terms of weight, that is a reduction of 1.4 kg.
- Apart from these, the 1299 Superleggera gets a carbon fibre rear subframe, similar to the one used on the 1199 Superleggera, plus carbon fibre fairing, front mudguard, rear mudguard and exhaust heat guard.
Suspension and Brakes:
The bike gets multi-adjustable 43 mm Ohlins FL936 upside down forks which weigh 1.35 kg less than the Panigale R. The rear setup includes a multi-adjustable Ohlins TTX36 shock absorber with a titanium spring that shaves off another 0.5 kg. Supporting them is a 6 axis Inertial Measurement Unit. Riding aides include Ducati Traction Control Evo, Ducati Slide Control and Engine Brake Control. It is also the first Ducati to get a power launch system. Wait. You also get Wheelie Control and Ducati Data Analyser.
Braking duties are overseen by twin 330 mm semi-floating discs with radially mounted Brembo Monobloc Evo M50 4-piston callipers with cornering ABS, Brembo MCS 19-21 adjustable-ratio front brake master cylinder and remote lever adjuster in the front. The rear includes a single 245 mm disc with 2 piston callipers and cornering ABS.
Read More: EICMA 2016- Ducati Monster 797 Unveiled
Okay. So what do all these numbers add up to? The European version has a kerb weight of 167 kg. A US version, which does not have to comply to Euro 4 norms, weighs 165 kg. The race kit version though tips the scale at 162 kg. Want some perspective? The 1299 Panigale weighs 190.5 kg (wet).
Now is that exclusive enough for you?
