Modern Ducati SL: The 1199 Panigale Superleggera

The search for speed and performance can be an obsession.  Something that consumes all focus and drives decisions about every aspect of the machine.  Much of the time this pursuit is limited to racing applications.  Teams spend untold amounts of money to go incrementally faster.  This purity of design is rarely seen on the streets.  With the Ducati Panigale line someone decided that the rules around production racing were severely limiting what was possible, so Ducati introduced the Superleggera.

Not bound to the homologation rules, Ducati was free to push the envelope.  The Panigale R was the homologation special, and gaining a reputation as an amazing performance machine.  Something that frankly few thought could be made better.  With the use of a magnesium frame, more carbon fiber and a few other choice parts the weight was reduced by 30 pounds when compared to the R.  That is an absolutely insane amount of weight to pull off of an already featherweight motorcycle.  Under 400 pounds fully fueled, the 205hp engine has no trouble firing the bike down the track at triple digit speeds.

While every other manufacture was focused on creating homologation special for the sole purpose of racing, Ducati was raising the bar by offering a motorcycle that did not need to conform to any rules.  Something on another level of focus and a class of it’s own.  Wonder what the other manufactures think of this Ducati Power move.

From the Seller’s eBay Listing:

For Auction a clear titled in hand 2014 DUCATI 1199 Panigale Superleggera #32 with only 1,527 miles in mint looking/running condition. Mainly used for Sunday rides in the canyons or meetup with friends for coffee. I purchased the bike from local Ducati dealer with 9miles on it early part of 2021. Your viewing arguably the most amazing piece of motorcycle art on the planet period. This is #32 of only 500 stamped if you are a real Ducati enthusiast, you can’t live without this machine.the most exclusive and extreme Ducati ever made with an unprecedented 200+ horsepower in homologated configuration and a 166Kg weight ready-to-ride without gas (.5kg less then a WSBK full racing trim) give it the best, by far, power to weight ratio of any homologated motorcycle. Racing Kit:Included with each 1199 Superleggera is a “track kit” to adapt the bike completely to closed-circuit use. The kit is composed of pieces which, when mounted, add to the bike an additional 5 horsepower for 205hp, and shed an additional 2.5Kg. It is the finishing touch, to unleash every last bit of the 1199 Superleggera’s incredible performance. Kit Composition: Akropovich full EVO Racing exhaust, Racing windshield, Machined mirror block-off plates, NRC License plate holder removal plug: Modifications and what comes with bike:*3M clear bra on, front fairing, tail, tank L+R, top fairings by knees.*EVO tech radiator guards top and bottom, installed when bike was new, paint and radiator guard are in mint condition. BlipBox Auto up and down quick shift, *CRG bar end mirrors- custom OE bar ends used* Ducati bus charger connection in tail,Ducati lithium charger, integrated rear lights, 2x keys and Ducati manuals, Ducati service manual for this bike on usb stick! Front Ducati OE stand rear Pitbull.

The Buy It Now price of $48,999 means this bike will be out of reach for some enthusiasts, but this was always going to be an exclusive offering.  The original MSRP was in the $65k range, and the current model has crossed the line into the six figure territory.  You are getting top tier performance and components for your money though, as well as a rare and desirable package.  The 1199 and 1299 were the end of the V Twin era for Ducati super bikes, so sure to be cemented as a current and future collectable.  Largely stock with the exception of a few tasteful and expensive add ons.