Ducati SuperSport Forum banner

MCN multi bike test..............

5047 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  DucColin
For those of you who don't know MotorCycle News is a UK weekly motorcycling newspaper. It's been around for almost sixty year that I know of.

It's generally highly regarded and it's tests can be pretty much relied on. We are all individuals and so personal choice will always come in. They do have a Supersport S on ling term test.

In this weeks issue they review four bikes, Ducati Supersport S, Ducati 959 Panigale, Honda VFR800F and the highly regarded Kawasaki Z1000SX.

They took them on ride in Northern Italy, having collected the Supersport from the factory in Bologna.

The article title was "One for the Road". I'm not going to go too far into the content, it may well be posted on their website in the future, I'm not sure.
The sub heading is "Is Ducati's new Supersport the ultimate all round sportsbike? We pitch it against class-leading rivals to find out."

What they did make great point of was the heavy rain during the Spanish test days made it impossible to get a feel for the bike both on and off track. This on road only review was conducted in what looks like stunning weather.

I'll copy the MCN Verdict form the author Michael Neeves.

"It needed dry roads and three rivals to show its brilliance, but the new Supersport has captured our hearts.

The Ducati is comfortable for long distances, but not quite up there with a more opulent sports tourer like a Z1000SX, but it's not far off and on the flipside is more sportier and more fun.

It's sort of like a VFR800 in terms of its riding position and the way it looks, but the Supersport S is lighter, faster, more agile and is crammed with technology.
And it's every bit as fast as a race replica on the road, but with a more supple ride, less weight on your wrists and easier-to-access performance.

Take the comfort of the Z1000SX and the riding position of the VFR800F, mix it all together and add a dash of Panigale and you end up with the new Supersport. It's the sportsbike we've been waiting for all along. Better still, you can have one for a snip over £100 per month."

The result of the test (review) was at number one, was the Supersport S, at number two was the ZX1000SX at number four was the Panigale 959 and last the Honda VFR800F

The review was very positive for the Supersport, the Panigale was too track focused and not a lot of fun on public roads, heavy on the wrists and the stiff suspension and chassis meant the bike hopped about quite a bit.

Hope you all find that of interest?

Steve
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 5
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
Cant wait to read it when in comes online...Hopefully its before I get my purchase, cos after that I probably wont bother :)
Cant wait to read it when in comes online...Hopefully its before I get my purchase, cos after that I probably wont bother :)
According to the article, there will be a video appearing at motorcyclenews.com - but it's not there yet!
Actually came across this yesterday by accident. BTW - on the track Panigale 959. On a public road Supersport.

  • Like
Reactions: 2
Actually came across this yesterday by accident. BTW - on the track Panigale 959. On a public road Supersport.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufW13P2I0nE
Pretty fair test, I rode the Panigale back to back 6 months ago and felt the SSS to be a real world motorcycle capable of most things and a keeper. I didn't consider the other two!
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Yeah, this was out a few months back. Good comparison, for sure. Personally, I still like the Kawi N1K quite a bit, too. I had an '11.
I met Micheal Neeves at Brands, a friend of mine was one of the instructors for the track day. Anyway Micheal was in the same garage as us, he was there on his long term test bike a BMW S1000R. He was such a nice bloke more than happy to chat about bikes, even said sorry, please excuse me, when he had to do some photos for the MCN. He was in the fast group and boy he could certainly ride.
I saw the video a while back, did consider the Z1000SX. Loads of power, comfortable, but it was a bit big and heavy for me, I made the right choice.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
...did consider the Z1000SX. Loads of power, comfortable, but it was a bit big and heavy for me, I made the right choice.
Agree on all points. However, on paper, it is the best bike that is in the same class as the SuperSport...on paper. The Italians add a little sump'n sump'n to their bikes that can't be written on paper. The elusive it factor!
  • Like
Reactions: 2
2
Yes the SX is a great bike and fantastic value for money, we did 25,000 Miles on it. This Christmas I traded in our 2016 SX for the SuperSport and can only say if you want character in your bike the SS for me is the one.

Greg

Attachments

See less See more
LOVE the all black SX (Ninja 1000)!!
LOVE the all black SX (Ninja 1000)!!
Another bike coming to the garage? I wouldn't mind giving the H2SX a go, I know it is heavy and would be to wide to filter like I can on the SS, but to feel that power on a bike that I wouldn't need a chiropractor after:grin2:
Another bike coming to the garage?
Not for me, lol. I owned an '11 N1K, and traded it for the Hyper. Still love the bike, though, and give it a lot of credit as it's earned it.
For those who are interested in some numbers.
Z1000SX weight 235kgs 142hp 82ft/Ibs torque 604hp per ton
VFR weight 242kgs 105hp 55ft/Ibs torque 434hp per ton
959 Panigale weight 200kgs 157hp 79ft/Ibs torque 785hp per ton
Supersport weight 210kgs 113hp 71ft/Ibs torque 538hp per ton
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Thanks for the power and dimension specs. Not to amplify any group think but it looks like we all chose well.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
For those who are interested in some numbers.
Z1000SX weight 235kgs 142hp 82ft/Ibs torque 604hp per ton
VFR weight 242kgs 105hp 55ft/Ibs torque 434hp per ton
959 Panigale weight 200kgs 157hp 79ft/Ibs torque 785hp per ton
Supersport weight 210kgs 113hp 71ft/Ibs torque 538hp per ton
Thanks for the comparo!! I've always contended that the N1K (Z1000SX for the Euro folk) was a beast!!
Thanks for the comparo!! I've always contended that the N1K (Z1000SX for the Euro folk) was a beast!!
It's only the weight of the SX that put me off. The engine has, what I consider the perfect amount of power for the road. If I was into loads of touring that bike would be top of my list, but for the riding I do the SS is very close to perfect. Another 20% more power (hp & torque) and it would be perfect. But the X factor makes up for that.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top