2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Ducati SuperSport S

We only had to sit on the Ducati SuperSport S to realise that Ducati is really onto something. Lo and behold, it’s comfy and inviting, rather than something you know is going to really test your mental and physical mettle over the next few hours.

Because that’s what you not only get on Ducati’s premium Panigale sportsbike, but on other brand's 1000cc-plus fare as well – and for a lot of people that simply isn’t a good fit.

Ducati has acknowledged that, and the SuperSport S has brought some real honesty and forward-thinking back into the rapid bike genre. That’s why it got the thumbs up as the winner of the Supersport category in the 2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards, and joined us on our big road test across the Snowy Mountains.

Price and equipment
In characteristic Ducati fashion, there’s a base and S version of the SuperSport. The up-spec $19,990 S has a bi-directional quickshifter and Ohlins suspension (instead of Marzocchi/Sachs), but that’s about where the extras end.

The family is powered by the same 937cc liquid-cooled Testastretta 11° V-twin as found in the Hypermotard, Hyperstrada and Multistrada 950, with three riding modes: Sport, Touring and Urban.

Brembo M4-32s brakes and Pirelli Diablo Rosso rubber are also standard fare, and there’s a TFT instrument display, an adjustable screen and a single-sided swingarm.

The wet weight is 210kg.

On the road
The SuperSport S still has those Ducati sporting genes running through its DNA, but such is the comfort level – thanks to the high-set clip-on bars and compliant seat – it’s probably more akin to a sportstourer than a hang-it-all-out sportsbike. No uncompromising ride positions here, and you get the feeling you’re being looked after rather than the other way around. It’s less of a pressure-cooker environment and we loved it.

The sportstouring comparison doesn't mean the SuperSport S is soft, however, because it isn’t. For road riding, the Testastretta engine is one of the best in the business with sharp throttle response, and the bike also handles with absolute conviction – super stable and a quick steerer all in one.

That’s why Ducati let journos loose on a race track at the Aussie launch – it knows the bike can also handle the extreme heat as well. But Bike of the Year was all about saner speeds, and the SuperSport S genuinely left us gob smacked with its ability to get the job done – and with a lovely aesthetic punch to complete the package.

For a start, the smooth engine is an all-day type of mill, and not a ‘grumpy’ one that has to be ridden with absolute conviction. Sure, it still has some of that Ducati-esque lumpiness at low revs, but you can still ride it in slow traffic without being on the clutch the whole time. It has a nice clutch, too: soft and a progressive engagement. No worries at all about commuting on the SuperSport S.

When you’re talking supersport numbers, 133hp and 97Nm certainly aren’t jaw-dropping figures, but the SuperSport S still makes extremely short work of corners. You just don’t have to rev the ginger off it to get it up to speed, which is a nice place to be. Maximum torque is 2500rpm below the power peak, which is a positive sign of the engine’s flexibility.

The bike remained in Sport mode for most of the trip, whether in fast or slow mode.

As brilliant as the engine is, there are some foibles. Finding neutral was difficult, and a few of us managed to hit false neutrals, particularly between fifth and sixth gear.

The quickshifter works well in traffic as well as on the open road. Push on hard and you’ll get a nice ‘pop’, reminiscent of Ducati world superbike rider Chaz Davies when he’s blasting down Gardner Straight at Phillip Island.

The average fuel consumption on test was 6.18lt/100km, and the bike has a 16-litre tank.

The tubular steel trellis frame and Ohlins suspension make for a potent combination. The Ohlins has got what it takes to handle the heat from those ripper brakes, and then maintain composure as the throttle is rolled on. And the suspension is supple as well, so not every road imperfection morphs into a jarring sensation.

The bike's slim, and it really steers well on all types of roads and conditions. Even bumpy roads, of which we saw a few!

Summing up
It’s the broad application and user-friendliness which really enamoured the SuperSport S to so many, over lots of miles.

But it’s not a bargain basement sportsbike – instead a practical powerhouse that just makes so much sense.

The SuperSport S still requires some commitment to get the best out of it – it wouldn’t have been selected as supersport Bike of the Year otherwise. But for the most part it’s about easily accessible enjoyment – this is one bike that lives up to its intended use.

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• The Verdict

SPECS: 2017 DUCATI SUPERSPORT S
ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled Testastretta 11°, eight-valve, Desmodromic L-twin
Capacity: 937cc
Bore x stroke: 94.0mm x 67.5mm
Compression ratio: 12,6± 0.5 :1
Engine management: Electronic fuel injection with 53mm throttle bodies, full ride-by-wire

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 113hp at 9000rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 96.7Nm at 6500rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet multiplate, mechanically operated

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular steel trellis frame
Front suspension: 48mm upside-down Ohlins fork, fully adjustable, 130mm travel
Rear suspension: Ohlins monoshock, fully adjustable, 144mm travel
Front brake: 320mm discs with Brembo M4-32 monobloc radial calipers, Bosch ABS
Rear brake: 245mm disc with twin-piston caliper, Bosch ABS
Wheels: Three-spoke light alloy
Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III – front 120/7-17, rear 180/55-17

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Rake: 24 degrees
Trail: 91mm
Claimed dry weight: 183kg
Claimed kerb weight: 210kg
Seat height: 810mm
Wheelbase: 1478mm
Fuel capacity: 16 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $19,990
Colour: Red
Test bike supplied by: Ducati Australia
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres