Like a lot of great manufacturers out there, Ducati was originally a manufacturer of radio components. After Italy's liberation in WWII, a local company collaborated with Ducati, as they needed a platform to mount their experimental Cucciolo (Italian for "puppy") engine. The resulting bike was similar to a Vespa, eventually adopting the name 55M and 65TL.
Fast forward to the present day, and Ducati is one of the most premiere manufacturers of motorcycles in the world, with a lot of badge prestige and a lot of racing pedigree. If that's your thing, and you need a sportbike that has a sprinkling of superbike in its DNA, the new 2022 Ducati SuperSport should be up your alley.
2022 Ducati SuperSport
- L-twin engine
- Fully adjustable suspension
- Quick shifter
- Make: Array
- Model: SuperSport
- Engine/Motor: 937cc V-twin
- Horsepower: 110 hp
- Torque: 69 lb-ft
- Drivetrain: Chain
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Looks fantastic
- Daily drivable
- Excellent low and mid-range power
- Small, fiddly instrument panel
- Manual suspension adjustment
- Relatively small fuel tank
Overview Of The 2022 SuperSport
The 2022 Ducati SuperSport is the latest generation of an underdog nameplate in the world of Ducati. The first use of the name SuperSport was in 1988, and that particular model lasted until 2007, with various changes and revisions throughout the way. Along with the SuperSport 1000 in the 2000s, in the late 2010s, Ducati offered the SuperSport 939, with the same engine as the awesome Hypermotard, but now, for the 2022 model year, the SuperSport is its own thing once again. Visually, the SuperSport bears a pretty close resemblance to Ducati's flagship, the Panigale, which we'd love to swing a leg over.
This is especially noticeable in the front-end styling and the headlights. The fairing is unmistakably Ducati, and you can tell that the designers paid a lot of attention to the way the SuperSport looks, as well as its intentional resemblance to the flagship. It definitely catches your eye, regardless if it's white or red. The 2022 SuperSport arrives in two different configurations, the 950 and the 950 S. It competes with the likes of the BMW F 900 R, which HotCars has reviewed, the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX, the Triumph Scrambler 1200, and a few others.
2022 SuperSport Powertrain And Drivetrain
The SuperSport's mission to be a midway point between a sportbike and superbike is evident in its powertrain. It uses a 937cc Testastretta (narrow head) L-twin engine, developing 110 hp and 69 lb-ft of torque. Both the 950 and the 950 S use the same powertrain. While most of Ducati's other models are all about the high revs and screaming, Ducati has geared the SuperSport more towards low-end and mid-range torque, which gives the whole powertrain a unique personality. A six-speed manual transmission with DQS (Ducati Quick Shift), and a whole bunch of other cool technology, as well as a chain drive take care of power delivery to the wheels. Brembo brakes are standard, and so are Ohlins (manually) adjustable dampers.
While the Panigale lineup could be a bit of a handful for some riders, Ducati designed the SuperSport to provide a more balanced package, for those who simply enjoy the experience of riding, rather than outright speed demons. 110 hp isn't a very small figure, considering the SuperSport weighs 463 lbs, but it still provides a solid experience, with the ability to do just a little bit of everything, even cruising if you ask it to.
2022 SuperSport Comfort And Quality
Right in the middle of the whole shebang, the SuperSport has a full color TFT display for the instruments and various other information systems. While the screen does display a fair amount of information, it's a little fiddly to adjust, as the switch gear on the handlebars and on the display itself is a little confusing. Otherwise, it's all Ducati business as usual. The SuperSport aims to be a little more comfortable than a superbike, which once again, is great for riders who enjoy a good cruise and don't want to travel at breakneck speeds. Ducati also offers a fitted luggage set for the SuperSport.
2022 SuperSport Prices
The 2022 SuperSport is available to order as of June 2022. It's a pretty affordable sportbike, and one of the cheapest ways you can get into Ducati ownership. The 950 starts at $14,195, and the 950 S starts at $16,395. While the 2022 Ducati SuperSport isn't for absolutely everyone, if you want superbike DNA with enough comfort and a tame enough powertrain that you can use it every day, this is a pretty good bet.