Ducati Supersport 950S

[arcticGT]

Having passed my test last summer at the age of 41 - I went straight out and bought a Street triple 765R - great bike and whilst I haven’t done loads of miles on it, I love the handling and the performance has been exciting without being overwhelming (tho admittedly I’m riding nowhere near what the bikes capable of).

The one thing that bugs me is the exposure to the elements, 70+ is a real chore and I want to do some touring this year/next. NC500 or into Europe, Supersport has caught my eye as something that may be more comfortable for touring whilst retaining a sporty feel. Is 110HP enough or will I outgrow that quickly do the masses think?

[IpcmcI]

I had a Supersport S for a summer when they first came out. Excellent bike, very docile and forgiving but with enough power without being threatening. If you’ve just started, it won’t scare you

It’s also surprisingly comfy over a long day compared to something like a Panigale, though for touring luggage options are restrictive from memory.

However, after saying all the above, for me it fell between 2 stools; not exciting enough for a midweek blast, not enough room to tour any great distances on. I ended up buying a Tuono and a secondhand tourer

Oh yes, and like the Panigale, the mirrors are st!

Shame it’s not easy to get test rides at the moment

[ash reynolds]

VFR800 would be my choice. Any muppet can fire a 160bhp bike down the road in a straight line but a good rider will get one with half the power round a bend much quicker. 110bhp is plenty, get some advanced training if you haven't already.

Edited by ash reynolds on Saturday 13th February 21:36

[JimbobVFR]

Could you get a better screen to fit for the touring part, you could even take it off when not on tour.

[Jazoli]

ash reynolds said:

Any muppet can fire a 160bhp bike down the road in a straight line but a good rider will get one with half the power round a bend much quicker.

I don’t know why people spout crap like this, I take corners at similar speeds whether I'm on a versys 650, R1, fazer thou or a Z900RS, why you think a bike with half the power of anything is going to be quicker I don't know??

A quick rider is quick on any bike, your statement makes zero sense to me

[Jag_NE]

Jazoli said:

ash reynolds said:

Any muppet can fire a 160bhp bike down the road in a straight line but a good rider will get one with half the power round a bend much quicker.

I don’t know why people spout crap like this, I take corners at similar speeds whether I'm on a versys 650, R1, fazer thou or a Z900RS, why you think a bike with half the power of anything is going to be quicker I don't know??

A quick rider is quick on any bike, your statement makes zero sense to me

I think he means a quick rider on a lesser will be faster than a bad rider on a fast bike.

[GreaseNipple]

Put Daytona fairings on your Street triple?

[arcticGT]

GreaseNipple said:

Put Daytona fairings on your Street triple?

Is that possible?

[rodericb]

You might have some clearance issues with the handlebars. The Daytona has the handlebars down much lower - under the top triple clamp if I remember correctly. The Street Triple handlebars are mounted on top of the triple clamp and rise upwards. To around the same height as the mirrors on a Daytona. To get some relief from wind blast you could put one of those little windscreens on.

[Bob_Defly]

Jazoli said:

ash reynolds said:

Any muppet can fire a 160bhp bike down the road in a straight line but a good rider will get one with half the power round a bend much quicker.

I don’t know why people spout crap like this, I take corners at similar speeds whether I'm on a versys 650, R1, fazer thou or a Z900RS, why you think a bike with half the power of anything is going to be quicker I don't know??

A quick rider is quick on any bike, your statement makes zero sense to me

I think he's referring to the OP's question. He's literally just passed his test and is asking if 110bhp will be enough. The best answer is just get better at riding first, it's not the bike.

[GreaseNipple]

arcticGT said:

Is that possible?

The cup racers do it, the street triple is an updated Daytona

[arcticGT]

Bob_Defly said:

I think he's referring to the OP's question. He's literally just passed his test and is asking if 110bhp will be enough. The best answer is just get better at riding first, it's not the bike.

Couldn’t agree more, I’ve a lot to learn - which will come with experience. Truth is I’m not really enjoying the naked experience. Tootling about in a Mesh jacket in the summer was fantastic - 70+ on Scottish motorways not so much so.

110HP is less than my current bike, hence I’m wondering if I’ll regret it a year or so down the line. More I think about it, it’s likely to be plenty.

Edited by arcticGT on Sunday 14th February 18:26

[S2r]

Mine runs about 80hp and it's more than enough to keep up with the faster stuff at relatively sensible speeds on the twisty stuff and it will happily sit at 70ish

V Twins deliver their power in a completely different way and once you get the feel for them, there's nothing like it.

[arcticGT]

After a 2Hr ride in a 950 I decided it wasn’t worth 15K (to me anyway), loved the bike though. Ample power and found the riding position spot on.

Picking up a late 2017 939 supersport today - 7K less than a new one.

[Cylon2007]

I have a 765 RS (2017) and have toured on it no problem, the only real change is to add a Powerbroze Screen, it' make a huge difference to he windblast. I've done 600 mile days and 2000 miles in a week with no real issues.

OK to be fair if you wind it up to 120plus the wind blast becomes a bit tiring but if you are touring you won't (I would hope) hold anything like that level of speed for any diffference.

With the screen I can happily sit at 80 -90 for a full tank of juice.

[Haigha]

arcticGT said:

Couldn’t agree more, I’ve a lot to learn - which will come with experience. Truth is I’m not really enjoying the naked experience. Tootling about in a Mesh jacket in the summer was fantastic - 70+ on Scottish motorways not so much so.

110HP is less than my current bike, hence I’m wondering if I’ll regret it a year or so down the line. More I think about it, it’s likely to be plenty.

Edited by arcticGT on Sunday 14th February 18:26

Unless you're giving the RS a lot of stick then you're probably not using the 120 odd bhp it claims anyway.
Really revvy engine for a naked, I rode it when it came out and thought the engine should have been in a Daytona. The lesser R was a better naked most of the time. RS cracking bike though.
Point I’m making is 110 is fine in the right bike where power and torque make it all useable.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the Supersport. I even rode it again to check two years later but the same. Stuck between sports and tour, with an engine too lazy for sports and sit up and beg clip ons, yet not quite right for the comfy riding either

[hiccy18]

arcticGT said:

After a 2Hr ride in a 950 I decided it wasn’t worth 15K (to me anyway), loved the bike though. Ample power and found the riding position spot on.

Picking up a late 2017 939 supersport today - 7K less than a new one.

You didn't hang about, didn't they just open this week?

Nice looking bike, hope you enjoy it.

[arcticGT]

hiccy18 said:

You didn't hang about, didn't they just open this week?

Nice looking bike, hope you enjoy it.

Thanks - the trumpet was in for a service a couple of weeks back, so I managed to get the 950 as a “courtesy bike” rather than demo that wasn’t allowed.

This appeared for sale a couple of days later so put a deposit on it over the phone.

[arcticGT]

Haigha said:

Unless you're giving the RS a lot of stick then you're probably not using the 120 odd bhp it claims anyway.
Really revvy engine for a naked, I rode it when it came out and thought the engine should have been in a Daytona. The lesser R was a better naked most of the time. RS cracking bike though.
Point I’m making is 110 is fine in the right bike where power and torque make it all useable.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the Supersport. I even rode it again to check two years later but the same. Stuck between sports and tour, with an engine too lazy for sports and sit up and beg clip ons, yet not quite right for the comfy riding either

I suspect for a more experienced rider your right, my plan is to keep this a year till I’ve got some NCB and look at something more sports focused then. I could’ve gone straight to a 959 but the insurance cost for the limited miles I do didn’t make sense. Would like a White V2 in a years time.

[moto_traxport]

arcticGT said:

After a 2Hr ride in a 950 I decided it wasn’t worth 15K (to me anyway), loved the bike though. Ample power and found the riding position spot on.

Picking up a late 2017 939 supersport today - 7K less than a new one.

Congrats. I tested a 939 when they first came out and found it lovely but it too failed the value for money test. Now they’re down to £8k I fancy another tootle on one.

I trackday my R1 but find it a bit uninvolving at the speeds I currently ride on the road. In fact I bought a £1k SV650 to test the theory - this is mostly fast enough but a bit of a low rent ownership experience which a sexy Ducat on Öhlins would provide.

Would have to be a glossy red one though, not sure about the Matt white one though!