Ducati will unveil a super-light carbon-fiber Superbike at this year’s EICMA – the 1408 Superleggera
The outstanding power it’s not the main asset a top superbike can have. It’s not such a big deal for a skilled engineer to build 200 hp+ engine. Everyone does it nowadays. Besides “power” the boldest word in the superbike scene is "weight".
Ducati will reveal its new Superleggera on 7th November. Called “Project 1408,” it has a microsite which invites the VIP customers to see the bike before the public reveal. “Some of them” leaked a couple of print-screen details regarding the new lightweight super-machine. Let’s have a look.
So, the new 1408 will have carbon fiber headstock and airbox, carbon fiber swingarm, and carbon fiber wheels. These new parts should be able to take the new Superleggera below the 150kg (330 lbs) dry weight mark (the Panigale S Anniversario weights 164 kg).
Moreover, it is rumored that 1408 Superleggera will have more power than the 205 hp Panigale. With a WSBK-style tuning, the engine could reach the 220 hp mark.
Carbon fiber – the next big thing in Superbike
It’s not just Ducati who is planning to build a carbon-fibre frame superbike. BMW announced a high-tech carbon-fibre chassis a couple of months ago. BMW also bought a carbon-fibre manufacturing company to develop and manufacture on its own the chassis components for its superbikes and innovative cars. The technology was already used for the i3 and i8 models.
“There may well be a number of bikes where carbon-fibre technology can be introduced. We have seen this technology on our cars and these are at a top level. I think this would be the same for bike”, said Karl Viktor Schaller, BMW’s head of R&D in an MCN Interview.
