VOLUME 57 ISSUE 30 JULY 28, 2020 P81
year when I accidently touched
the lever at speed), but the SL
system is almost perfect, offering
the right amount of ignition cut
without being too touchy.
Clicking fourth gear up the
hill towards the Corkscrew at
Laguna Seca, the number one
feature of the Superleggera
shined through. Using level one
wheelie control, one level down
from what I had on the V4 R, the
Superleggera simply floated the
front wheel and allowed me to
stay on the throttle longer. The
result was a much more com-
posed chassis, ready for brak-
ing, than the V4 R.
That was eye-opening be-
cause it proved what Ducati were
saying all along: more mechani-
cal downforce always trumps
electronic intervention.
After 10 laps, I'm back in
pitlane, consumed by the expe-
rience but ultra-thankful that I
didn't pitch a Superleggera into
the fence. This is an absolute
masterpiece of a superbike. For
the price, it better be good, but I
didn't think it would be that good.
Laguna Seca isn't the fastest
of tracks, so stretching the legs
of the motor wasn't really part of
the game that day, but it did al-
low Ducati to show off the wares
of its carbon chassis, which is so
far in front of even its own V4 S,
it's hard to believe they can both
be called superbikes.
If you're one of the lucky 500
who put down $100K for a 2020
Ducati Superleggera V4, I tip
my cap to you. You've chosen
well. CN
NPX25/30 pressurized fork with TiN
treatment. Billet fork bottoms, lightweight
springs, fully adjustable. 4.7 in. wheel travel
REAR SUSPENSION: ..............Fully adjustable
Ohlins TTX36 unit with GP valving and
titanium spring. Carbon-fiber single-sided
swingarm. 5.1 in. wheel travel.
FRONT BRAKE: ...............Dual 330 mm semi-
floating discs, MCS 19.21 master-cylinder,
radially-mounted Brembo Monobloc
Stylema R four-piston calipers with Bosch
Cornering ABS EVO
REAR BRAKE: .........245 mm disc, twin-piston
caliper with Bosch Cornering ABS EVO
FRONT TIRE: ..... Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP
120/70 ZR17
REAR TIRE: ........ Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP
200/60 ZR17
RAKE: .........................................................24.5°
WHEELBASE: .........................................58.3 in.
SEAT HEIGHT: .......................................32.9 in.
FUEL CAPACITY: ..................................4.23 gal
WEIGHT: ....................... 350 lb (dry, claimed),
335 lb with Racing Kit (dry, claimed).
MSRP: ................................................$100,000
