Ducati V4 Panigale Superleggera is coming
We’ve seen the spy shots of the bike but now leaked documents have confirmed the bike and many of its specs
DUCATI is working up a new superlight (and probably super-expensive) version of its V4 Panigale in the form of a V4 Superleggera.
The confirmation comes from type-approval documents unearthed by BikeWale, and help us to understand what this new halo bike of the Ducati range could look like.
Firstly, it’s reported that the machine will carry the same 998cc engine from the V4R, ditching the torquier, and slightly more enjoyable to ride, 1103cc unit from the standard V4 and V4S. In Superleggera trim, the new bike will produce a claimed 221bhp, an uplift of 3.6bhp over the standard V4R – although that machine can be stretched to 234bhp with the addition of the kit ECU and exhaust from Akrapovic. The chances of the new Superleg’ arriving with a similar box of BHP increasing tricks is very high.
As Superleggera is Italian for Superlight, it’s no surprise that the new machine will undercut the rest of the range by some margin. It’s possible that the carbon fairing, wheels, and other trinkets could result in a weight saving of around 11kg over the standard V4R’s 193kg kerb weight.
It’s also claimed that the new machine is slightly larger in all dimensions, including the wheelbase, than the rest of the Panigale V4 range. Hinting that it could possibly use different winglet designs and/or locations to the current machines.
Beneath the skin, the bike is likely to feature the same Öhlins NPX 25-30 USD fork set up and Öhlins TTX36 rear shock. Sadly, for fans of hot-baked woven composites, it’s unlikely the Superleggera will get a carbon fibre front-frame. Instead, it seems Ducati is chasing the weight saving from the un-sprung portion of the bike, something that can transform the bikes cornering prowess more than replacing the bike’s miniscule frame for a carbon item can.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
