Ducati SuperSport Buyer's Guide

The Machine's Character

The SuperSport takes a 937 cc L-twin and points it at real roads rather than a lap time. Peak power is 110 hp at 9,000 rpm, but the number that shapes the bike is 71 lb-ft at 6,500, spread wide enough that you rarely need to chase the top of the tach. A steel trellis frame derived from the Monster 1200 carries adjustable suspension at both ends, 320 mm front discs and a slipper clutch. The electronics are the useful basics: Bosch ABS, traction control and Ducati Ride-by-Wire Power Modes. This is the Ducati sportbike for riders who ride to the corners, not just in them.

How it ages matters more here than any peak figure. The engine is unstressed at the revs you actually use, the suspension is adjustable at both ends so you can dial it in as tires and taste change, and the design still reads as expensive rather than dated. It suits a rider who covers twisty roads several times a month and wants a genuine Ducati without a wrist-wrecking commitment. The honest caveat is equipment: the rider aids are the sensible basics with no lean-sensitive layer behind them, and the up/down quick shift is a factory option rather than standard kit.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	110 hp (81 kW) @ 9,000 rpm
Torque	71 lb-ft (96 Nm) @ 6,500 rpm
Displacement	937 cc
Engine	L-twin
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Gearbox	6-speed
Final drive	Chain
Fork	Upside-down (USD)
Front brake	320 mm
Front tire	120/70-17
Rear tire	180/55-17
Wheelbase	58.2 in (1478 mm)
Seat height	31.9 in (810 mm)
Wet weight	463 lb (210 kg)
Fuel capacity	4.2 gal (16 L)

Equipment check

Chassis

Manually Adjustable Front Suspension Standard
Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension Standard
Steering Damper Optional

Connectivity

Smartphone Connectivity Optional

Drivetrain

Quickshifter Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up/Down Clutchless ridingFull throttle upshift Optional
Slipper Clutch Standard

Safety

ABS Bosch ABS Cornering brake safetyStronger consistent braking Standard
Traction Control Standard
Ride Modes Ducati Ride-by-Wire Power Modes Selectable ride modesRefined throttle response Standard

The Truth on the Street

This isn't my ride impression. It's what has come out of years of paddock talk, club nights, owner conversations, and the messages riders send me directly. For the SuperSport that chatter lines up unusually well: an easy bike to use hard, with complaints that stay small.

Where the praise keeps landing

The praise starts with the engine. Riders describe the delivery as smooth and linear with a strong middle, flexible enough for commuting and still willing when the road opens up. Close behind is the way it holds a line. Owners call it planted and nimble at once, and say that is what gives them confidence to push. Many also mention how relaxed the riding position stays over a long day. The brakes draw less comment but never a bad one: strong, with good feel at the lever.

The gripes that keep coming up

The recurring gripe comes from riders who have spent time on full superbikes. They find the top end modest and say the bike rewards carrying momentum over outright thrust. The rest is smaller. Some owners mention mirrors that blur at certain revs, a few report wrist ache after several hours, and others note the heat reaching their thighs in slow, warm traffic.

Known issues

Rear brake hose air ingress (recall)

brakes common Recall

Potential for air to enter the rear brake system, reducing braking effectiveness. Affects all 2017-2020 SuperSport models. Ducati issued recall SRV-RCL-21-006 (NHTSA 21V315) to replace rear brake hoses.
Gear lever interference recall (2018 base model)

drivetrain rare Recall

In 2018, base SuperSport models were recalled for interference between the gear lever and pivot pin, which could affect gear changes.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Ducati SuperSport pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Razor Line Precision

Braking-Zone Stability

Corner Exit Drive

Track-Ready Electronics

Speed Stability Envelope

Explosive Top-End Rush

Lean-Angle Freedom

Front-End Feedback

Pit-Lane Seriousness

This bike Class average

The shape of the Ducati SuperSport — numbers and character vs. the average Supersport

Head-to-head: Ducati SuperSport vs. its rivals

Power

110 hp This bike 118 hp Yamaha R6 RACE 119 hp Honda CBR600RR 100 hp Aprilia RS 660 125 hp Suzuki GSX-R 600

Torque

71 lb-ft This bike 46 lb-ft Yamaha R6 RACE 47 lb-ft Honda CBR600RR 49 lb-ft Aprilia RS 660 50 lb-ft Suzuki GSX-R 600

Displacement

937 cc This bike 599 cc Yamaha R6 RACE 599 cc Honda CBR600RR 659 cc Aprilia RS 660 599 cc Suzuki GSX-R 600

Wet weight

463 lb This bike 419 lb Yamaha R6 RACE 428 lb Honda CBR600RR 403 lb Aprilia RS 660 412 lb Suzuki GSX-R 600

Seat height

31.9 in This bike 33.5 in Yamaha R6 RACE 32.3 in Honda CBR600RR 32.3 in Aprilia RS 660 31.9 in Suzuki GSX-R 600

The Handshake Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the SuperSport is actually built for.

A scenic view of Angeles Crest Highway winding through rugged Southern California canyon terrain. Rocky mountainsides with golden earth tones frame the asphalt road with tight sweeping curves. Double yellow center line visible, sparse vegetation along the shoulders, clear blue sky with white clouds. Daylight, dry conditions. Iconic location for canyon-road enthusiasts. — Josh Sorenson / Pexels

Best motorcycle for Angeles Crest?

For Angeles Crest and home before lunch this fits well: drive out of slow corners, clearance to lean on, and a riding position you can still tolerate in LA traffic on the way there.

Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur

Best motorcycle for Tail of the Dragon?

Made for the Dragon and Cherohala: strong drive off tight corners, clear front-end feedback, and enough comfort to ride in from Atlanta or Knoxville and still enjoy the day.

Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway

Best motorcycle for Laguna Seca?

It will hold its own on a trackday, but it was built for the road first. If your weekends are all about lap times and setup changes, you will want more electronics than this trim offers.

Made for Barber Motorsports Park · WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Circuit of the Americas

Alternatives to the Ducati SuperSport

If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.

Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Ducati SuperSport. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.