Ducati has officially unveiled the Superleggera V4, describing it as “the most powerful and technologically advanced motorcycle” that it has ever made.
Limited to just 500 individually numbered units, and based on the existing 999 cc Panigale V4 R, the bike is further claimed to be the world’s only street-legal motorcycle with the entire load-bearing structure of the chassis – frame, subframe, swingarm and wheels – made from carbon-fibre, achieving a 6.7 kg reduction in weight as a result.
With the addition of titanium and magnesium components, as well as others machined from solid aluminium, the Superleggera V4 has a total dry weight of 159 kg, which is 16 kg less than the regular Panigale V4.
Mounting the supplied ‘racing kit’ and switching the bike to its track configuration boosts power from 221 bhp to 231 bhp, drops the weight to 152.2 kg and raises the power-to-weight ratio from 1.39 bhp/kg to 1.52 bhp/kg.
With slick tyres added to the racing kit, Ducati claims the bike has lapped the Mugello circuit in 1:52:45, which less than two seconds from the lap time of the Panigale V4 R SBK, winner of the 2019 Italian Motorspeed Championship (CIV) with Michele Pirro.
Aerodynamic features such as the ‘biplane’ aerofoils – based on the Desmosedici GP16 MotoGP bike – also help to deliver a downforce of 50 kg at 168 mph, 20 kg more than that created by the aerofoils on the latest Panigale V4 and V4 R.
Other details include an Öhlins suspension system, with a pressurised fork and lighter machined aluminium fork bottoms, a titanium shock absorber spring and GP-derived valves.
The braking system, meanwhile, is the best that Brembo has to offer, with an MCS calliper featuring a remotely adjusted lever gap and Stylema R callipers.
Ducati says first deliveries of the Superleggera V4 are scheduled to start in June of this year.
