HIDDEN GEM

In our opinion, this Ducati allows one to use “supersport” and “practical” in the same sentence

- Joshua Varghese

The DUCATI SuperSport 950 S is among those motorcycles that are easily forgotten. Sadly, due to no fault of its own. Despite being the most accessible fully faired Ducati, it is simply overshadowed by its famous, more glamorous, more expensive, and performance-oriented Panigale siblings. A difference of just Rs 1.57 lakh between the SuperSport 950 S and Panigale V2 (955-cc) does not help its case either. That made us think: what defines those who prefer the SuperSport to the Panigale V2? To find out, we filled up the SuperSport 950 S' 16-litre fuel-tank and set out for a ride.

After the first few kilometres, the comfort offered by the undemanding riding position came to mind as a compelling reason to pick this motorcycle instead of the Panigales. Although it is SuperSport by name, its rider triangle is clearly that of a sport-tourer.

The wide, well-cushioned seat, low foot-pegs, and reasonably high clip-on handlebars make for a riding posture that is immediately more comfortable than any other faired Ducati motorcycle in the market today. In the real world, that translates into a longer time in the saddle as well as a longer distance with less inconvenience. For the Indian motorcyclist who enjoys a nice, long ride on the weekend over roads with varying levels of smoothness, this is immediately a more practical alternative to the demanding perch of an actual supersport. The seat is 810 millimetres off the ground but I would pick the taller seat option because it is better padded and, therefore, should prove more comfortable over long distances.