2017 Ducati SuperSport Is The Best Of Both Worlds

6684 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by steeve, Dec 11, 2016

SuperSport 939 News

Discussion Starter · Oct 21, 2016

Sportbikes look amazing, there’s no denying that and they can tear it up on the track. But owners dread riding their sportbikes outside of the track, in the real world there are stop lights, pot holes, and general traffic that can take a toll on your wrists and back after a while.

There are more street friendly bikes like the Ninja 650 with better rider ergonomics, but in exchange for more comfort these bikes lose out in power. Ducati has an answer for this conundrum in the form of the new 2017 SuperSport and SuperSport S. They aimed to provide sportbike riders with a well-rounded bike that’s primarily aimed at the street.

Sitting inside a tubular steel trellis frame is the 937 cc Testastretta motor borrowed from the Hypermotard 939. Tuned to push out power in the lower rev ranges, Cycle World claims that 80% of the SuperSport’s 71.3 pound-feet of torque is accessible at a low 3,000 rpm. Ducati has also gone for longer final drive gear ratios.

For a more relaxed riding position, the footpeg position has been changed and it will be sporting high set clip ons. Nobody wants to have the wind beating against them at highway speeds so the SuperSport will come with a moveable windscreen where riders can adjust the height within 50 mm.

To make those less than perfect roads more bearable, Ducati has added a fully adjustable 41 mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock to the SuperSport. Unfortunately, it’ll only come in one color, two-tone Ducati Red and Saturn Grey. The SuperSport S will have two color options, Ducati Red and Star White Silk. Also, the sportier model will get a standard fully adjustable 48 mm Ohlins fork and fully adjustable Ohlins rear shock, color coordinated rear seat cowl, and auto up/down shift.

If you want even more comfort, buyers can get the Touring Pack which comes with a larger windscreen, heated grips, and semi-rigid side panniers. Or maybe the Sport Pack is more to your taste with its carbon front mud guard, carbon fuel tank cover, articulated racing lever kit, and billet aluminum covers.

We’re expecting to see the SuperSport go for $12,995 and $14,795 for the S model next year in April.

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Snyped

· #2 · Oct 22, 2016

I really want to see how people will find this compared to the 959. I've heard a few people with the 959 trying to achieve a more comfortable ride, especially on the longer rides, and this seems to be more optimized for comfort. Maybe we'll see some switch overs ?

DucMan

· #3 · Nov 8, 2016

Snyped said:
I really want to see how people will find this compared to the 959. I've heard a few people with the 959 trying to achieve a more comfortable ride, especially on the longer rides, and this seems to be more optimized for comfort. Maybe we'll see some switch overs ?

For starters its behind the 959 in performance so that right away will be a big turn off for some people and looking at price, you can find a used 959 right now which means a lot especially for someone that wants to add aftermarket parts and accessories. Perks of getting a 959 is plenty.

John

· #4 · Nov 9, 2016 (Edited)

DucMan said:
For starters its behind the 959 in performance so that right away will be a big turn off for some people and looking at price, you can find a used 959 right now which means a lot especially for someone that wants to add aftermarket parts and accessories. Perks of getting a 959 is plenty.

But if people want a panigali they would buy a panigali. I don't want a panigali. And what measure of performance are your referring to? Peak HP, so what? My current ride is probably 90hp?? and I can generally knock a typical panigali rider of through the twisties without to much difficulty. Sure he might be able to drive out of the corner faster when it starts to open out. That's after he's been holding me up big-time going into it and through the corner. Actually very frustrating.

A Suzuki SV650 makes what stock, 75?? HP. Try staying with a really good rider on one through the twisties that has no more than the suspension sorted. Don't fall for big peak HP numbers. Pure marking con when it comes to the road. 'Rideability' will always outperform peak HP, both track and road.

Handling, comfort, good looks, adequate performance, reliability, character ..... do all that and I'll buy it. Mostly all very subjective qualities you'll never see on a spec sheet.

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steeve

· #5 · Dec 4, 2016

Same here, at my age, I've been riding motorbikes for 54 years, I just cant ride a sports bike. Pegs too high, bars too low and usually the seat is too hight too. The power is not intimidating either. Although a bit more would be nice.

The SS has a good riding position for me, more like a sport tourer. There's a lot of people like me. I think it's going to be a huge hit.
.
In the UK we have an annual motorcycle show at the National Exhibition centre in Birmingham, most of those that go have grey hair (or no hair). Perhaps the reason sportsbike sales are in the doldrums?

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rz33v4

· #6 · Dec 5, 2016

steeve said:
Same here, at my age, I've been riding motorbikes for 54 years, I just cant ride a sports bike. Pegs too high, bars too low and usually the seat is too hight too. The power is not intimidating either. Although a bit more would be nice.

The SS has a good riding position for me, more like a sport tourer. There's a lot of people like me. I think it's going to be a huge hit.
.
In the UK we have an annual motorcycle show at the National Exhibition centre in Birmingham, most of those that go have grey hair (or no hair). Perhaps the reason sportsbike sales are in the doldrums?

Sports motorcycles are a lot like two seat sports cars - fun and sexy, but impractical. That would be the reason for poor sport bike sales. A long distance ride is like getting dental work done - uncomfortable at best.

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DucMan

· #7 · Dec 6, 2016

rz33v4 said:
Sports motorcycles are a lot like two seat sports cars - fun and sexy, but impractical. That would be the reason for poor sport bike sales. A long distance ride is like getting dental work done - uncomfortable at best.

It will be interesting to see how those numbers are in different markets but being in the city i have noticed more more higher end sport bikes showing up.

rz33v4

· #8 · Dec 7, 2016

DucMan said:
It will be interesting to see how those numbers are in different markets but being in the city i have noticed more more higher end sport bikes showing up.

Sport bikes are great for posing in the city, but not as much fun to actually go somewhere, unless that somewhere is a race track or curvy roads.

1lifeliveit

· #9 · Dec 8, 2016

Something I've noticed in the Australian website is that the base version still seems to retain the red underbelly like the S version.

When the original base version was shown, it had a grey underbelly. I wonder if it is just a mistake (although the forks are silver and the rear shock is clearly different from the ohlins one- which means its not just a picture of the S version) OR ducati is going to sell the base version with red underbelly?

klev

· #10 · Dec 8, 2016

1lifeliveit said:
Something I've noticed in the Australian website is that the base version still seems to retain the red underbelly like the S version.

When the original base version was shown, it had a grey underbelly. I wonder if it is just a mistake (although the forks are silver and the rear shock is clearly different from the ohlins one- which means its not just a picture of the S version) OR ducati is going to sell the base version with red underbelly?

It was changed to all red by Ducati.

Ducati have secretly changed the SuperSport without telling anyone. - Motofire

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1lifeliveit

· #11 · Dec 8, 2016

klev said:
It was changed to all red by Ducati.

Ducati have secretly changed the SuperSport without telling anyone. - Motofire

Great! They must have received a lot of negative feedback over the grey. Wasn't a fan of it myself.

Snyped

· #12 · Dec 8, 2016

Definitely happy they got rid of the black underbelly. The full red makes it look mounds better. More of a finished product.

klev

· #13 · Dec 9, 2016

I agree! I didnt like it either...gave it cheap look

rz33v4

· #14 · Dec 9, 2016

klev said:
I agree! I didnt like it either...gave it cheap look

Ducati does listen to the feedback from their customers!

DucMan

· #15 · Dec 9, 2016

rz33v4 said:
Ducati does listen to the feedback from their customers!

They have us by the balls, they know no matter what they do we'll still buy in. Where else would you go?

Of course there will be a small amount of potential Ducati owners that are open to going with another brand but it's not common. Most are happy enough with that Ducati brings to market.

steeve

· #16 · Dec 11, 2016

From what I've seen the Superport will be attracting many new customers to the marque.
Like me......

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