The Ducati SuperSport has made its debut at the Intermot 2016 motorcycle show in Cologne, Italy, reviving the moniker as a part of the company’s 90th anniversary celebration.
Though the Ducati SuperSport does resemble the 959 Panigale, the ergonomics are different. The SuperSport offers a relatively upright riding position to make it more comfortable for city use. Powering the SuperSport is the same 937cc Testastretta L-twin engine borrowed from the Hyperstrada family. However, Ducati has made changes to the intake and exhaust systems to improve low range torque and has added a longer final drive.
Even the electronics package has been carried over from the Hyperstrada, and includes three-level ABS, traction control, ride-by-wire throttle and three riding modes. The 16-litre fuel tank should also help the bike’s touring capabilities. Ducati has launched this bike in two versions - SuperSport and SuperSport S. While the former gets Marzocchi front forks and a Sachs monoshock, the SuperSport S gets Ohlins units.
Declining to classify it as a superbike or a sports tourer, Ducati is promoting the SuperSport as a ‘unique bike in its own right’. Despite this claim, it is pretty evident that the SuperSport will share the market space with other sports tourers like the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 and the Suzuki GSX-S1000F. Given the recent increase in demand for such versatile sportbikes in the Indian market, we can safely expect the Ducati SuperSport to be launched here a few months after it goes on sale globally.
