You’re Not Worthy: 2014 Ducati Superleggera for Sale

This weaponized Ducati Superleggera, resplendent in nuclear red paint that looks like it causes cancer to people standing near it is one of those bikes that lives up the hype. Many Ducati special editions have been a bit disappointing, unless you were looking for a living room decoration. All that carbon fiber added to the cost, but saved just a few pounds compared to bikes that weren’t all that light to begin with, and the upgraded suspension bits may have looked cool, but racers probably binned the original bits for even higher-spec parts before they hit the track, as the stock parts often looked better than they performed…

But the Superleggera went on a truly ruthless diet. Yeah, the usual fairing panels were replaced with carbon as you’d expect. But then basically everything on the bike that could be lightened or replaced with lighter parts, was lightened or replaced with lighter parts. The updates were comprehensive, and include magnesium airbox/headstock, magnesium engine cases, lightweight internals, and a carbon-fiber subframe.

The result was a bike that weighed in, full of gas and still wearing lights and mirrors, at under 400lbs. That’s nearly 70lbs less than the BMW S1000RR, one of very few bikes that could outperform the stock 1199.

And it’s a screamer, too: I’m still getting used to the idea of a 1200cc v-twin that revs to 12,500rpm. That was four-cylinder territory until this bike came along. Pankl rods, titanium valves, and other lightweight internals all add up to a bike that puts out almost 190hp at the wheel, well over 200hp at the crank.

This is, quite literally, a World Superbike that’s completely road legal. Well, it’s actually a few horses short, but it’s also lighter than a World Superbike…

From the original eBay listing: 2014 Ducati Superleggera for Sale

The 1199 Superleggera is the most exclusive and desirable Ducati ever made. Materialized in magnesium, carbon fiber, and titanium, it boasts the highest power-to-weight ratio of any production motorcycle in history and will be produced as a limited edition of only 500 units. Discover all the details and in-depth information in the sections dedicated to materials, technology and mechanics.

This bike is notable for being the lowest-priced Superleggera I’ve seen so far which, at $49,999.00 maybe isn’t saying all that much. This rock-bottom price might be because of the massive 2,500 miles this thing’s racked up since new… But it is nice to know these things are being ridden by some of their owners. I’ve even seen them on the road and in the canyons.

And ride them you should: after all, that’s perhaps the very coolest thing about modern motorcycles. We’re quickly heading towards Moto GP levels of performance on our streetbikes, and that would obviously be impossible for most riders to handle without some electronic aids to keep that killing power in check.

Oh? You say you’re so good you don’t need that stuff? Yes you do. And that safety net means that you folks who are convinced you’re better than this bike are that much less likely to high-side yourselves into Low Earth Orbit, and there might be a few of these left for me at some point.

This one’s actually a bike I’d love to own at some point, once the prices drop. If they drop: I’m hoping for an F4CC sort of precipitous drop in values over the next few years, but that might just be wishful thinking…

-tad