Say hello to the Ducati Superleggera V4 – the lightest, most advanced, and most powerful production bike from Bologna.
The Ducati Panigale V4 isn't a tame motorcycle by any measure. In fact, it’s one of the fiercest superbikes ever made. And that is evident when you’re sitting astride one – the last time we rode it at the BIC, the Panigale V4 was breaking the sound barrier with its raw speed . . . or so it felt. Like always, though, Ducati is yet again pushing the envelope with the V4. You see, last year, they came up with the bonkers V4 R, and now a couple of days ago, they launched an even madder version of the bike – the Superleggera V4. So what's so special about this new V4? Let's take a look.
The Superleggera is Italian for super-light, which is self-explanatory here. The Superleggera V4 has gone on a serious carbon fibre diet and weighs just 159kg dry – which is 16kg less than the standard V4! The weight savings have been achieved by using a frame, subframe, swingarm, and wheels that are made of carbon fibre.
Now, 159kg might sound a lot for a 300cc bike, but for a motorcycle that’s powered by a 221bhp 998cc V4 motor, that’s borderline bonkers (note, it gets the V4 R’s SBK-spec motor and not the original 1,103cc engine from the standard V4/V4S). Want to go even faster? Well, you can always opt for the track-only Akrapovic titanium racing exhaust, which bumps the power up to 231bhp while the weight is cut down further by 6.7 kilos!
The Superleggera V4 is equipped with three reprogrammed riding modes – Race A, Race B and Sport. Additionally, there're also five additional riding modes that can be personalised. Ducati’s latest-generation electronics or EVO 2, which includes Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Ducati Quick Shifter, are in the mix as well. Elsewhere, there’s an even lighter Öhlins suspension along with a pressurised fork and lighter machined aluminium fork bottoms, a titanium shock absorber spring, and MotoGP-derived valves. Braking duties are carried out by Brembo Stylema R callipers.
The price? It costs a fortune and then some – the Superleggera V4 is priced at 100,000 euros (Rs 78 lakh, approximately). However, for that money, you get a lot in exchange. You see, not only will you be a proud owner of Ducati’s fastest, most powerful, and most advanced road-bike to date, you’ll also have access to the company's ‘SBK Experience’, wherein Ducati Superleggera V4 owners will get a chance to ride the company’s V4 R race-bikes at Mugello! On top of that, 30 owners (of 500) will even get an exclusive opportunity to ride Ducati’s MotoGP prototype, the Desmosedici GP20, around a racetrack! Now, whether you're sold on the bike or not, that's quite an incentive!
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