Ducati’s Project 1408, the lightweight 1299 Superleggera, was already leaked ahead of its EICMA debut and the motorcycle almost made us review our bank balance and property value. While the complete details of the motorcycle weren’t available back then, the Italian marque has released all the information along with detailed technical specifications, official images and a video of the motorcycle in action post the 2016 EICMA unveil in Milan.
What is the the 1299 Superleggera?
The Superleggera, which literally translates to Super Light, is the first ever factory bike to be equipped with a carbon fibre frame, swingarm, subframe and wheels. The 1299 Superleggera is a gem of engineering, technology and performance. It’s super lightweight, it’s frighteningly powerful and stunningly beautiful. The fairing – also made of carbon fibre – is another key element which gives the motorcycle such light weight, tipping the scale at 156 kg (dry) and 167 kg (kerb).
That’s it with the light weight part. Here’s what rests underneath that carbon fibre skin. The 1299 Superleggera gets the highest-performing version of the Superquadro. Thanks to its 215 hp, the desmodromic engine on the 1299 Superleggera is the most powerful factory twin-cylinder ever built. lightweight body and that serious fire power gives the motorcycle a Herculean power-to-weight ratio.
Making sure you stay fit as a fiddle for the next ride is the new electronics package which uses a 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU) to manage the incomparable array of electronic controls. This system has allowed the engineers at Ducati to improve the Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO) presented on the 1299 Panigale S Anniversario thanks to the introduction of Ducati Slide Control (DSC), which ensures even higher out-of-the-corner performance. The 1299 Superleggera is also the first ever Ducati Superbike to be equipped with Ducati Power Launch (DPL) and also features the Engine Brake Control (EBC) seen on previous versions.
The explosive performance is also kept under under control with a newly calibrated Bosch Cornering ABS system that ensures matchless braking in complete safety. The production of the 1299 Superleggera will be limited to only 500 units. Together with the motorcycle, purchasers get a track kit which includes a complete Akrapovič titanium racing exhaust, a racing screen, plate holder removal kit, kickstand removal kit, machined-from-solid mirror replacement plugs, front and rear paddock stands and a bike cover.
Checkout this engineering marvel shred some rubber around the track in the video below:
https://youtu.be/gq-1HyJdgq4
Meet the Ducati 1299 Superleggera at a glance:
Frame
- Carbon fibre monocoque
- Carbon fibre single-sided swingarm
- Carbon fibre wheels with aluminium hubs
- Carbon fibre rear subframe
- Aluminium tank
- Carbon fibre fairing
- Multi-adjustable Öhlins FL936 upside down 43 mm fork
- Multi-adjustable Öhlins TTX36 shock absorber with titanium spring
- Brembo MCS 19.21 radial front pump
- Brembo TT29OP1 brake pads with increased friction coefficient
- ID number on top yoke: 1/500
Engine
- Superquadro engine with 215 hp at 11,000 rpm and 14.9 kgm at 9,000 rpm
- 2-segment pistons with a diameter of 116 mm to boost the compression ratio and aluminium cylinder liners to reduce weight
- Lighter crankshaft with tungsten balancing pads
- Titanium con rods
- Sand-cast crankcase
- Increased-diameter titanium intake and exhaust valves
- Cylinder head with specially developed intake and exhaust ducts
- Camshafts with increased lift
- Complete all-titanium Akrapovič exhaust with high-mount dual silencer*
Electronics
- 6D Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) by Bosch
- Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO)
- Ducati Slide Control (DSC)
- Ducati Wheelie Control EVO (DWC EVO)
- Engine Brake Control (EBC)
- Bosch Cornering ABS
- Ducati Power Launch (DPL)
- Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) up/down
- Dedicated switchgear controls to adjust DTC, DSC, DWC and EBC during on-track use ad DPL activation
- Ducati Data Analyser + (DDA+)
- Lithium-ion battery
Race Kit
- Complete titanium Akrapovič racing exhaust with high dual silencer*
- Bike cover
- Front and rear paddock stand
- Plate holder removal kit
- Racing screen
- Kickstand removal kit
- Machined-from solid mirror replacement plugs
*Country specific
Check out the complete specifications of the the new, limited edition Ducati 1299 Superleggera.
| Engine | |
| Engine | Superquadro: L-twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled |
| Displacement | 1,285 cc |
| Bore X Stroke | 116 x 60.8 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 13.0:1 |
| Power | 158.1 kW (215 hp) @ 11,000 rpm |
| Torque | 146.5 Nm (108.0 lb-ft) @ 9,000 rpm |
| Fuel Injection | Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system. Twin injectors per cylinder. Full Ride-by-Wire elliptical throttle bodies with aerodynamic valve and optimized trumpets |
| Exhaust | 2-1-2 system, primary tubes in titanium. Twin titanium mufflers. 2 lambda probes and 2 catalytic converters |
| Transmission | |
| Gearbox | 6 speed with Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) up/down |
| Primary Drive | Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.77:1 |
| Ratio | 1=37/15
2=30/16 3=27/18 4=25/20 5=24/22 6=23/24 |
| Final Drive | Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 39 |
| Clutch | Hydraulically controlled slipper/self-servo wet multiplate clutch |
| Chassis | |
| Frame | Monocoque in carbon fiber |
| Front Suspension | Fully adjustable 43mm USD Öhlins FL 936 fork with TiN treatment, billet fork bottoms and lightweight stress-optimized outer tubes, lightweight springs |
| Front Wheel | 10-spoke carbon fiber 3.50″ x 17″ |
| Front Tyre | Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP 120/70 ZR17 |
| Rear Suspension | Fully adjustable single Öhlins TTX36 shock with titanium spring, adjustable linkage between progressive/flat. Carbon fiber single-sided swingarm |
| Rear Wheel | 10 spokes carbon fiber 6.00” x 17” |
| Rear Tyre | Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP 200/55 ZR17 |
| Wheel Travel (Front/Rear) | 120 mm (4.7 in) – 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Front Brake | 2 x 330 mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc Evo M50 4-piston callipers with Cornering ABS, Brembo MCS 19-21 adjustable-ratio front brake master cylinder, remote lever adjuster |
| Rear Brake | 245 mm disc, 2-piston calliper with Cornering ABS |
| Instrumentation | Colour TFT display |
| Dimensions and Weights | |
| Dry Weight | 156 kg (343.9 lb) * |
| Kerb Weight | 167 kg (368.2 lb) * |
| Seat Height | 830 mm (32.48 in) |
| Wheelbase | 1.456 mm (57.32 in) |
| Rake | 24° |
| Front Wheel Trail | 98 mm (3.86 in) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 17 l – 4.5 gallon (US) |
| Number of Seats | Single seat |
| Equipment | |
| Standard Equipment | Riding Modes, Power Modes, ABS cornering, DTC, DWC, DSC, DPL, DQS u/d, EBC, DDA+ w/GPS module, Fully RbW. Rapid setting DTC, DWC, DSC, EBC |
| Additional equipment | Track Kit: Titanium racing exhaust, racing windshield, machined mirror block-off plates, license plate mount removal plug, side-stand removal kit, front and rear paddock stands, paddock bike cover |
| Warranty | |
| Warranty (months) | 24 months unlimited mileage |
| Maintenance (km/months) | 12,000 km (7,500 mi) / 12 months |
| Valve clearance adjustment (km) | 24,000 km (15,000 mi) – street use |
| Emissions | |
| Standard | Euro 4* |
