News: Ducati Superleggera V4 – It Gives You Wings

Late last year, Ducati hinted at a lighter and faster version of the V4R Panigale. Now, we get our first look at the Superleggera (super light) V4.

Starting with the frame, it is the world’s first road-legal full carbon fiber frame motorcycle. The 2020 BMW S1000RR HP4 also had a carbon fiber frame but that bike was not road-legal. The Ducati V4 Superleggera is 6.7 kg lighter than the Ducati V4R. This was achieved by the aforementioned carbon frame as well as carbon fiber subframe, carbon fiber swingarm, and carbon fiber wheels. In full “race form”, the bike weighs in at just 152 kg dry weight.

The V4 engine also received some minor weight savings thanks to extensive use of titanium bolts, lighter camshafts, gearshift drum, and a dry clutch with a carbon fiber cover. Power went up by 3 hp to 224 hp with the road-legal exhaust. But that number jumps to 234 hp if you have the Akrapovic track only race exhaust fitted to the bike.

The body work is now extensively made out of carbon fiber and features winglets that produce 50kg of downforce at 270 km/h. The winglets were designed after the 2016 MotoGP bike as the current 2020 MotoGP Ducati bike produces 20kg less of downforce due to rule restrictions. These wings will aid in keeping the front wheel down when accelerating out of a corner as will the 11mm increase in the swingarm.

Only 500 Ducati Superleggera V4’s will be made at a cost of over $100,000 USD. But you don’t just get the bike. You also get access to the World Superbike experience which includes a trip to Mugello to try the V4R, the Superleggera V4, and a World Superbike with tuition from expert Ducati riders such as Scott Redding and Chaz Davies.

Deliveries of the Ducati Superleggera V4 is set to begin in June 2020 and all 500 bikes will be made in the year.

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