Ducati Supersport 950 2022 — Specifications

Sometimes, it's easy to forget, given that the brand with the red bull is focused on chronometers and the speedy Panigale, but Ducati also excels at the art of civilized motorcycles. The Supersport 950 is living proof, or rather, rolling proof. It’s not a pure sportbike, nor a soft GT. It's a third way, a clever compromise that seeks to seduce those who want bite without ruining their backs, and exoticism without the brutality of a race machine. With a displayed price of around €14,400, it positions itself as a credible alternative to more classic sport touring bikes.

Its charm lies in its 937 cm3 L-twin cylinder engine, a powerplant that sings sweetly and powerfully. With 110 horsepower at 9000 rpm and 93 Nm of torque available from 6500 rpm, it doesn't seek to stun with numbers. The power is there, linear, usable, much more accessible than the excesses of a hypersportive. It’s the same engine as on the Monster, but here, it breathes better, more freely. The transmission is impeccable, the up and down shifter, standard equipment, makes gear changes a breeze, and the whole is framed by now-complete electronics, with cornering ABS and wheelie control, inherited from the Panigale V4. For younger license holders, there is even an A2 version, available new or used, which allows you to enjoy the mechanics in a restricted version.

The handling is in keeping with its character: precise without being nervous, reassuring without being soft. The steel trellis frame, a Ducati signature that is disappearing little by little elsewhere, offers good rigidity while filtering out bumps. The 43 mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock do a very good job, even if enthusiasts of fine adjustments will turn to the S version, equipped with Öhlins. With a weight of 210 kg fully fueled and a seat height of 810 mm, the Supersport 950 is an accessible motorcycle that doesn't intimidate you as soon as it leaves the garage. The Brembo braking system, with its M4.32 calipers, is of exemplary efficiency and progressiveness. It’s far from the radicality of a Panigale, but on a winding road, the difference in confidence and prolonged pleasure is colossal.

So, who is this Ducati Supersport 950 for? For the sporty touring rider who covers hundreds of kilometers without wanting to hold back in the curves. For the lover of beautiful mechanics who finds Japanese GTs a little bland. For those who want a Ducati for everyday use without the drawbacks of a radical sportbike. It’s a motorcycle with character, which fully embraces its heritage with its single-sided swingarm and a look inspired by the higher-end models. It doesn't claim to be the fastest, with a top speed approaching 240 km/h, but it probably aims to be the most enjoyable. In a world where everything goes too fast, the Supersport 950 reminds us that the pleasure of the road is also experienced at a human pace, with mechanical elegance that is unique to it. An opinion that will undoubtedly be shared by those who have taken the time for an in-depth test ride.