[Bigwaves1]

Mine is not very good. I do ride hard most of the time.

 

[theresanothersteve]

So in the interest of science I took one for the team and ran a loop three times to see if there was any difference between the power modes and their fuel consumption.

To keep it simple I switched between touring, urban, and sport which I’ve left with default power mode, traction control, and ABS.

First run in touring mode, power mode medium. The 12.7 km loop took 11.5 minutes, averaged 66 kmh, and average fuel consumption was 5.2 L/100KM.

Next was urban mode, power mode low. The bike felt sluggish and seemed to vibrate more. It needed a fair twist of the grip. I actually didn’t enjoy it much and if I test rode the bike in that setup I probably wouldn’t have bought it. 12 minutes, average 64 kmh and 4.8 L/ 100KM.

Then sport mode, full power. The throttle response was markedly better, and it didn’t take much of a twist to get things happening. 11 minutes, average 69 kmh and 5.4 L/100KM.

Scientific? Hardly. And I had way too much fun in sport mode.

I was, however, suprised that there was a marked difference in fuel consumption in urban/ low power mode. It felt as if I had to ride it hard to get anywhere. Will I use low power mode? Not on your nelly...

 

[theresanothersteve]

I’ll also add the loop had no traffic lights and was in an anticlockwise direction so I didn’t have to give way to traffic making a turn (we drive and ride on the left). About half was rural/urban where I stuck pretty much to the speed limit. There was a section through a township where I stuck to the speed limit and another township with a community event and low speed limits (ANZAC day here in Oz), also adhered to. The rest was tight twisties and small straights.

It would also be interesting to try this in open country, where the throttle was open longer and higherrevs sustained for longer periods. <sigh\> maybe it does need a dyno test for a definitive answer.

 

[DucColin]

Agree. All are modifiable via the ECU, including power delivery.

I didn't realise that the power was changeable for different modes, (my mistake).

 

[Derek]

Been trying to find where I've seen the information about power modes (other than talking to people at the dealership). Thought it was on the Ducati web page, but they've changed it since I did my initial research into the bike.

Plenty of reviews from bike mags do have something on it. For example, Bike Review has this:
The three Ducati Riding Modes are Sport, Touring and Urban. Sport delivers the full 113hp with a direct RbW throttle response. DTC is set to 3, ABS 2, anti-lift minimum and DQS on (S). Touring gets full power, a more progressive throttle, DTC 4, ABS 3 and DQS on (S). While Urban is 75hp, progressive throttle, DTC 6, ABS 3, DQS off (S). Review: 2017 Ducati SuperSport - Bike Review

The service manager was adamant the power modes do not change the fuel mapping, which leads me to believe it (particularly in touring and sport) just sits between the twist grip and the throttle bodies. I'll guess urban does the same, but stops wide throttle openings (and maybe the ecu imposes a lower hard cut on revs, don't know, who uses urban mode?) to restrict power.

I'm sorely tempted to get out and run a loop three times to see if I can feel a difference, although a dyno test would be much better...

I have, somewhere, an article explaining how the different ride modes are achieved on the MTS and I would think that the Supersport uses the same methods. It is all done by the ECU and the ride by wire throttle. Remember that there is an electronic twistgrip, an ECU and a pair of throttle body motors between your hand and the throttle butterflies.

Sport mode gives full power and a fast twistgrip response.
Touring mode also gives full power but the twistgrip action is slower.
Urban mode also has a slow twistgrip action but power is reduced by restricting how far the throttle butterflies open.

So your service manager is correct that the power modes do not change the fuel mapping

 

[Ed K]

@theresanothersteve

Admiring your discipline and patience to the good cause of SS science!

 

[steeve]

I'm getting eight pints to the gallon.

 

[DucColin]

I'm getting eight pints to the gallon.

Your lucky, I only get four quarts........

 

[se7en]

Your lucky, I only get four quarts........

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: