A century within the making, and nonetheless chasing the unimaginable – Ducati has by no means been one to treat typical limits. With the Superleggera V4 Centenario, the Italian marque isn’t simply nudging the boundaries of efficiency; it’s breaking them.
Packing a staggering 228 horsepower right into a featherweight package deal that dips to only 368 lb (167 kg) in track-ready trim, this isn’t merely one other halo superbike. It’s an announcement of engineering extra.
The Superleggera V4 Centenario comes as Ducati celebrates 100 years of relentless pursuit of pace. And powering the superbike is the Desmosedici Stradale R 1100, a brand-new engine from Ducati. It’s now 1,103cc versus 998cc, and that’s all the way down to an elevated stroke from 48.41 to 53.5 mm.
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That improve in displacement means the Centenario produces 228 hp at 14,500 RPM within the road-legal Euro 5+ configuration and 86.7 lb.ft (117.6 Nm) of torque at 10,500 RPM. Having personally cornered bikes that produce a fraction of this energy round racetracks, I’ve to confess, I’m a bit terrified by the Centenario.
That engine is now round 8 lb (3.6 kg) lighter than the Panigale V4’s 1,103cc motor. There’s intensive use of titanium bits, lighter fasteners, and revised inside elements that assist shed off some weight.
Need much more energy? Slip on the Akrapovič racing exhaust, and make the most of Ducati Corse Efficiency oil, and that output rises to 247 hp at 14,750 RPM and 93.1 lb.ft (126.3 Nm) of torque at 12,500 RPM. That’s bordering on correct racing motorbike territory, albeit with a license plate.
And that racing pedigree will get additional recognition in its gearbox. The Centenario employs the Ducati Racing Gearbox, during which the impartial sits beneath the primary gear relatively than in between first and second.
Ducati says that is to keep away from unintentional engagement of impartial over the last and most vital stage of braking. On the similar time, gear adjustments between first and second are stated to be sooner and smoother than ever earlier than.
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Every part, from the chassis, the body, swingarm, subframe, and wheels, is dripping in carbon fiber. The carbon entrance body alone is 17% lighter than the aluminum body on the Panigale V4.
And that is the world’s first road-legal bike to return with carbon-ceramic brake discs. That’s not carbon-coated or carbon-trying. That’s precise carbon-ceramics discs – akin to what you’d discover in MotoGP. Why? These are lighter, extra heat-resistant, and have much less inertia, which interprets to sharper turn-in and fewer effort to maneuver the factor.
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Carbon runs all the way in which to the suspension as nicely, which options an Öhlins NPX fork with carbon fiber sleeves on the entrance and a TTX36 GP shock on the again. After all, it comes with race-ready adjustability.
Every part, from the fairing to even the smallest elements, is created from carbon. That features the mudguard, tank cowl, radiator cowl, sprocket cowl, heel guards, handlebar splash guards, seat base, consumption duct, quantity plate holder, and rear seat cowl.
Aerodynamics was an enormous a part of this bike’s construct, too. Ducati’s Panigale V4 R, which is used to race within the Superbike World Championship, got here in clutch right here. The winglets and the nook sidepods that Ducati debuted in MotoGP in 2021 assist with the downforce, even at excessive lean angles. All of this, along with the Panigale’s already formidable aero package create a motorbike that’s able to tackle the observe as is, with none alterations.
After which there’s the electronics, which it’s clearly swamped with. Ducati now makes use of recent algorithms for extra correct administration in Ducati Traction administration (DTC) DVO, Wheelie Management (DWC) DVO, Slide Management (DSC), and Energy Launch (DPL) DVO. It additionally options Engine Brake Management DVO with the Dynamic Engine Brake (DEB) characteristic along with RaceBrake Management and Highway eCBS.
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The bike will are available a darkish pink livery with white stripes impressed by earlier fashions just like the 1949 Ducati 60 and the corporate’s first racebike, the 1955 Gran Sport “Marianna.” It should solely be produced in 500 items, with every bike that includes a plate signed by the technician who manually adjusted the Desmodromic camshaft timing. How about that?
Pricing has but to be introduced. However contemplating earlier Superleggera fashions, it must be nicely into six-digits.
A lot of this motorbike is about numbers. However right here’s the factor: Sooner or later, numbers cease that means something. Bikes like this aren’t constructed for use within the typical sense; they exist to remind us why we fell in love with bikes within the first place.
This Ducati doesn’t simply blur the road between street and race; it makes you query why that line exists in any respect. And actually, that’s the place the magic lies. As a result of regardless of how a lot carbon fiber you throw at it or how unique the metallurgy will get, the Centenario nonetheless boils all the way down to a really human expertise.
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It’s in regards to the braveness (or insanity) to twist the throttle on one thing this excessive, realizing full nicely it’s working at a degree most of us won’t ever really exploit. However that’s okay. Not each bike must make sense. Some simply have to make you are feeling like a greater rider than you in all probability are.
Supply: Ducati
