The Ducati Superleggera V4 Centenario is not just another motorcycle in the range of the Italian firm. It is the icing on the cake and, as such, it has top-level technical solutions, and suppliers such as Brembo or Öhlins that apply technology that we are used to seeing in MotoGP in the model.
And that’s where the difference is. Because beyond the usual marketing discourse, in this Ducati what Brembo provides is not a slight adaptation of what is seen in competition, but rather solutions that until now had not reached a production motorcycle.
The clearest example is in the front discs. They are the new Hyction in ceramic carbon, a material that until now had been practically reserved for the world of hypercars. Here it is used with a very specific objective: to maintain braking performance even when the system works under load for a long time.
Each disc is 340mm in diameter and 8mm thick, with 132 ventilation holes to help dissipate heat. Although what is relevant is the weight reduction of 450 grams per disc, which in addition to lightening the assembly, obviously reduces the inertia compared to a conventional steel system.
The caliper also plays an important role in this racing technology applied to the general public. The Brembo GP4-HY is machined from a single block of aluminum, and inside it incorporates a mechanism derived from competition that allows increasing braking force without the need to apply more pressure on the lever. It also has ventilation teeth that cool the brakes, especially in high intensity conditions, such as track use.
Added to this are details that cannot be seen with the naked eye: pistons of different diameters, a system that limits the residual torque that brakes the wheel even if the brake is not being applied and a spring that retracts the pads when the lever is released to improve response. Even the compound of the pads has been adapted to the operation of these discs.
On the rear axle, the approach follows the same line. Floating disc with and replacement of the steel bushings with aluminum ones to continue reducing weight.
Brembo, in this case with its Öhlins brand, is also present in the suspensions
The innovations from Brembo do not stop this time in the brakes section. This Superleggera is also the first to feature the Öhlins NPX 25/30 Carbon pressurized fork. It must be remembered that the Swedish brand is now part of the Brembo group.
The outer bottles are made of carbon fiber, which reduces mass compared to other configurations. In addition, the pressurized system helps avoid cavitation and maintains more constant behavior under demanding braking.
The set is completed with an Öhlins TTX36 GP LW shock absorber that incorporates solutions derived from MotoGP, such as specific valves and a lightened spring. The goal is to improve the absorption of small irregularities and maintain control when the pace increases.
In the end, what you see in this Superleggera is a set that not only seeks to equip exclusive components, but also to make them work, reduce inertia and improve response in real conditions of demanding use. And that is where that reference to MotoGP stops being a mere commercial argument and begins to be a reality.
