2017 Ducati SuperSport and SuperSport S Preview
Ducati introduced a new 937cc SuperSport, adding a new street-based sportbike to its roster to go alongside the more track-focused Panigale line. The SuperSport will be available in a base model for $12,995 and a higher-end S model for $14,795 which adds upgraded suspension and quickshifter. Ducati will also offer a choice of Sport or Touring packages.
2017 Ducati Supersport S Leaked
The SS is powered by Ducati’s 937cc Testastretta 11° engine claiming with 111 hp at 9000 rpm and 71.3 lb-ft. at 6500 rpm. According to Ducati, the engine reaches 80% of its maximum torque at just 3000 rpm, while still staying above 90% when it reaches its peak revs. The ECU allows for three selectable ride modes to suit varying conditions: Sport, Touring and Urban. Exhaust gases flow through a 2-1-2 system to a stacked silencer setup behind the right footpeg.
The crankcase and cylinder heads were modified so the Testastretta engine can be mounted to a new steel trellis frame as a load-bearing element. The liquid-cooling system and alternator cover were also modified to allow for a gear-position sensor. The six-speed gearbox is paired with a wet slipper clutch.
Ducati says the chassis is rigid yet light, keeping the total wet weight to a claimed 463 pounds. With a 24° rake, 3.68-inch trail and 58.2-inch wheelbase, Ducati says the Supersport is easy to handle in both urban streets and mountain hairpins.
At 31.8 inches, the SS’s seat is 0.78 inches lower than the Panigale’s, while the handlebar height and footpeg positioning make the ergonomics more comfortable than on the more performance-oriented superbikes. The plexiglass windscreen is adjustable between two settings to provide optimized wind protection.
The base model SuperSport’s suspension is comprised of a fully-adjustable 41mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs rear shock with adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. The S model swaps in a fully-adjustable 48mm TiN-treated fork and rear shock from Öhlins. Both versions are equipped with Brembo M4.32 radial-mount calipers with a Brembo PR18/19 front master cylinder.
The 17-inch wheels are wrapped in 120/70 ZR17 front and 180/55 ZR17 rear Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires with newer profiles and compounds inherited from the Diablo Supercorsa tires.
A three-mode Bosch ABS and eight-level traction control systems are offered as standard equipment while the SuperSport S comes with a quickshifter (available as an option for the base model).
Other standard features include LED daytime running lights, full LCD instruments, wheels with triple Y-shaped spokes and a waterproof underseat USB port. The SuperSport S also comes with a color-matched pillion seat cover.
The Sport accessory pack includes a carbon fiber front fender and fuel tank cover, articulated levers and billet aluminum front and rear brake reservoir covers. The Touring pack includes heated grips, semi-rigid panniers and a larger windscreen.
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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That dash looks like a unicorn bukkaked My Little Pony.
Bikes just get better and better as I get older and older...and poorer!