A new Ducati SuperSport is upon us...

"Alex Zapata" (alexzapata)
09/06/2016 at 14:26 • Filed to: None

Earlier today I was rummaging around the Ducati sub-Reddit and I saw something that completely impressed me.

The new 939 SuperSport:

So finally after years of begging from the SS fans, the legend is coming back.

I think it’s gorgeous and Ducati is claiming this is a Sportsbike for the road; meaning that it will have suspension that actually travels in a bump and apparently a riding position that won’t make you wanna kill yourself after 10 minutes.

It looks very similar to the Panigales, but if you notice, underneath the now-typical spot for the LED lights it has a hole that is filled with (I think) halogen lights, the ones up top are only for DRL; which is a change that cheapens it a bit but it also makes it different from the Panigale line-up.

Also the side exhaust is a nice addition to the design of the bike to a more traditional way of doing bikes.

This bike was apparently leaked sometime during World Ducati Week and I have yet to see an image of the back; the most beautiful and striking part of the Panigale in my opinion, so if it matches up to it’s bigger sibling is yet to be determined, but so far so good.

It will slot in under the 959 Panigale and is apparently the 13th project that was started in 2012, the others I suspect have been simpler and been much easier to make it to market: probably the Scrambler line-up, Enduro Multi, the Strada versions of the Hyper and Diavel, as well as the XDiavel I suspect are all projects started back then; but also rumored Scarmbler Enduro, air-cooled Monster and 939 Monster.

I am really looking forward to the next couple of years of Ducati and maybe a 939 Multistrada? Pretty please, Ducati? Who knows, but I think this is a good sign for those who are clamoring for a return of the STs.

DISCUSSION (24)

BobintheMtns > Alex Zapata
09/06/2016 at 14:55

I was hoping the new SS would more closely resemble the original— all retro looking, like they did the new scrambler... more than just being a scaled down panigale (visually at least)...

The originals from the 1990's were such lookers.....

Kinja'd!!!

But I’m sure they’ll still be dope AF.....

bob and john > Alex Zapata
09/06/2016 at 16:29

my take on it? whats the point?

its another SS...okay...you already have a almost liter sized SS, its the 959. why make a bike with only 20cc difference? its the same friggen bike. and dont say its a sports touring bike, because with a name like ‘supersports’ its not.

all I see is this thing stealing sales from the 959. and why would they want that?

nermal > bob and john
09/06/2016 at 16:58

It’s simple, really - If you were in charge of Ducati, would you rather a customer looks at a 959 first but then ends up with a 939, or an Aprilia or BMW instead?

nlzmo400r > bob and john
09/06/2016 at 17:41

I’m going to venture a guess that you’ve never ridden any modern Ducati to realize the difference between them.

The 939 (110-ish hp)engine is a very torquey/fun/street able engine with very linear characteristics. The 959 superquadro (150ish hp) engine is a bit of a turd below about 7500rpm and is really a screamer beyond that. The 939 makes a much better engine for the road - don’t let the displacements being so similar fool you.

Think of Fords Mustang V8s - 5.0Liter with ~420hp vs 5.2 with ~520hp and completely different characters. Similar story here.

bob and john > nlzmo400r
09/06/2016 at 17:49

Ive ridden them. Honestly? meh. with all of the talk and hype and crap that Ducati gets, I’m really not all that impressed.

Alex Zapata > bob and john
09/06/2016 at 18:11

This is not a new concept for the brand, th Supersport has been around before and is I think Ducatis longest running model, they used to be the top of the crop bike they made but in the 90s they started making what we now know as the Superbike range.

959s and 1299s are made for the track, no matter what your average stunta bro tells you, the SSs are known for having actual road manners, being a lot more manegable and enjoyable for longer periods of time; STs are similar but even more focused on road manners and long distance travel.

What you are saying is as if I compared your SV to a GSXR saying your bike is pointless because everyone buys the GSXR600; they are different animal.

It will probably steal sales from the 959 in the sense that people who didn’t have the option before, will now be able to buy a bike more suited to their riding instead of having to get a 959 and dealing with its style of riding.

Alex Zapata > nlzmo400r
09/06/2016 at 18:13

Agree 100% with you: Superbike engine =/= street engine, completely different bikes and I like this one, to me also knowing there will be a Monster with the same engine I see it as a better wind protected, slightly more agressive alternative to the Monster 939 that will come out by the end of the year.

Alex Zapata > BobintheMtns
09/06/2016 at 18:17

Actually the original SSs were from the 70s, but I get your point; though in the 90s the Superbike range already existed (the 888 or whatever came before it) so this was actually a sportsbike for the road even then.

The SS was always at the forefront of aero design, so the fact that they made a modern fairing style makes it true to the spirit of the range, and I bet you it will be dope as anything in the Duc range right now.

bob and john > Alex Zapata
09/06/2016 at 18:27

I kinda get what you mean about the SV and the GSXR, but they are MUCH more different then the 939 and the 959. Vtwin VS an inline as opposed to 2 Vtwins. SV is FAR cheaper then the GSX-R (which neither of these will be) and the suspension on the SV stinks. (hence why mine has GSX-R suspension on it.

So the SV and the GSX-R are MUCH MUCH further apart then these two bikes.

and hang on, the “supersport’ branded bike...is NOT the more sportiy of the two?!?!

so THIS is what happens when german buy italian brands. sooner or later their names dont make any sense either.

Alex Zapata > bob and john
09/06/2016 at 18:47

Well the 959 is the Superbike range and the 939 is officially gonna be called the Supersport (without the 939) so even in Japanese bike terms, supersport(think 600)

And yes the post-VW Ducati is making all-of-the-bikes; range evolved from:

Small Monster, big Monster, small Superbike, big Superbike, Hypermotard, Multistrada and Diavel

To:

Big Monster, Small Monster (there used to be a medium Monster), Scrambler (small-er Monster kinda), small Scrambler, small Hypermotard, Big Hypermotard, Hyperstrada (touring version), small Superbike, big Superbike, Big-ger Superbike, Multistrada, Multistrada Enduro, Diavel, Diavel Strada and XDiavel; and now Supersport.

BobintheMtns > Alex Zapata
09/06/2016 at 19:03

Yeah- after I posted I was thinking about the SS’s from the 70's too... But dammit, I want a retro version of the 90's SS’s!!! But yeah, I’m sure this thing will still be way too rad.

Stephenson Valve Gear > Alex Zapata
09/06/2016 at 20:26

On the Monster front... aren’t they still offering the 821 and 1200? At the risk of being pedantic, I think the 821 is a medium size... It’s darned near the size of the original “large” M900. They cut out the sub-700cc mini-monsters when they dumped the 696. OK, I’m through splitting hairs now; I’ll go back to my corner...

bob and john > Alex Zapata
09/06/2016 at 21:17

Er, small superbike? Did i miss the sub 700 panigale or something?

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > Alex Zapata
09/06/2016 at 21:51

TFW MV Agusta may be kill...

Alex Zapata > bob and john
09/07/2016 at 00:15

I mean relatively 959, 1199 and 1299.

Also I missed something else, the Scrambler Enduro.

Alex Zapata > Stephenson Valve Gear
09/07/2016 at 00:20

Well yes, completely, they discontinued the small one, the way my brain worked it out is that there use to be a small, medium and big bike and now there are only small(er) and big(ger) Monsters.

Though the new 939 is gonna slot in the middle of the current 1200 and the upcoming 800 aircooled (they’re bringin it back with the Scrambler engine, which is basically my bike’s engine).

Not pedantic, actually correct, my brain just worked it out ass backwards.

Alex Zapata > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/07/2016 at 00:23

Agusta is killing itself frankly, but I do belive there is little cross-shopping between Ducatis and Agustas since Agustas are just so much more expensive and more boutique-like brand and are a bit more old-school in terms of famous italian build quality and reliability, if you look at modern Ducatis they’re pretty much standard European quality now, and much much more mainstream market.

bob and john > Alex Zapata
09/07/2016 at 00:44

you sure? b/c canada doesnt have the 1199 anymore. I thought it was replaced by the 1299. so they only have 959 and the 1299

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > Alex Zapata
09/07/2016 at 09:13

Agusta was like the Pagani or Lamborghini of the bike world, wildly chaotic but beautiful in its own special way.

They were ding the right thing when they made the Brutale Dragster RR. ITS AWESOME

Alex Zapata > bob and john
09/07/2016 at 10:04

You can buy the 1199 R, they can’t replace it fully to meet homologation rules for Superbikes and Superstock series.

Alex Zapata > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/07/2016 at 10:06

All their current line up is amazing, I’m excited for the Turismo Veloce and that stuff, because you can use it in the real world, even if the reliability doesn’t support that.

My favorites are the Turismo, Dragster and the Rivale.

bob and john > Alex Zapata
09/07/2016 at 10:08

nope, we dont have it anymore. sites only lists 1299, 1299 S, 1299 anniversary

EDIT: nope, its there...hidden. in the site somewhere. PITA to find.

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > Alex Zapata
09/07/2016 at 11:43

The turismo looks like a Duc Hyperstrada had sex with a Tuono RSV4.

In other works, THE SEX

Alex Zapata > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/07/2016 at 11:48

THE Sex.

Also, the Rivale looks like a Hyper had sex with a Diavel and a Brutale at the same time and it’s amazing.