Great to be able to watch such an insightful owner's report on my bike's better looked after body double, Stace. Mine's now done 23,000km, and apart from the brake fluid looking like Cola just a month after a refresh, there has only been the mirror vibes to contend with. You mentioned how the engine braking feels different in Sports mode. Like the Panigale 899 I used to own, the SS-S has EBC - Engine Braking Control with three settings. Unlike the Pani, you can't adjust it and save one of the three settings in a riding mode folder. The Supersport gets an EBC setting locked in to each mode instead. This is the reason the EBC is less aggressive in Sport, and more assertive in Touring. The less aggressive setting allows better hard braking control at a track day, while tourers often value engine braking as a way of slowing the bike with less disturbance to a pillion. Can't tell you what it does in Rain because I never go there... BTW, I can confirm that riding a Supersport in your seventies is like being able to drink from the fountain of youth at this age. Enjoy letting Boe take you there.
😁 Thanks Paul. That was great to learn what you say about the engine braking, and yeah I like it in Sport to more actively use the real brakes. You've inspired me that I still have another 2 decades at least to enjoy motorcycling 🤞
These days I use a quad lock wireless charger, with a stem mount inside the LHS bar. There is another video on the channel about that. For the review video, that is just a standard quad lock mount on the same stem mount inside the bar.
thanks.. as I have been really wanting a 950 super sports S.. but am apprehensive about going to a Ducati... due to so many things you have to consider... especially after riding Suzuki's for quite a few years.. without hardly any issues.. so I am weary.. thanks. gerry
It's always a good indication the reviewer loves their bike when they have given it a name. I own an RSV4 that I love (haven't named it, though) but it's just too much for the road and the ergos do wear you out so I have been thinking about swapping it for the 950S. (Also, I am a huge sucker for single-sided swingarms.) Appreciate the honest review. 👍
Thank you 😊. Yeah if you wantvto ride all day, still having some sporty fun, the SS is the bike. It will keep up with anything on the street, constrained only by the rider!!
Thanks for your video! Going to buy same model next summer, I prefer an old ( yours ) model for the front lights design instead in a new one. One question I would like to ask I the rear tire. Is a standard size or not? Thanks and good luck your beautiful white unicorn 🦄
What’s your height? planning to get one but i am horizontally challenged.😂 what is it compared to a monster in terms of handling and performance and handling?
I'm 164cm but I have 3 other friends riding SuperSports that are all bit shorter than me, one is probably 160cm and she got her suspension lowered. We all wear boots with a thicker sole too, and the lowered seat this bike can have. The only thing we are all careful about is backing the bike out of a car park when there is gravel on the ground, to be extra careful not to slip. But you get used to that. If you can get the ball of one foot down at traffic lights etc... you'll find a way to get used to it. I haven't ridden a Monster so not sure but I hear that the handling is better... different geometry I think. Not sure if any Monster got the Ohlins either...? The engine is the same as in the 937cc Monster though.
1st, I'm also in love THIS bike! 2nd, just by fairings, engine (939) & year. It's definitely a Unicorn, but beautiful on the street. There is soooo much to love about this frame & motor! Other than heat & other small individual niggles- solved over time & ususually over budget. What a gem!
Great video, thank you. I am part way through doing my licence in the UK and with a month to go before my final test found the most beautiful red Supersport 939, the base model. I've loved it for a long time and when i found a one owner, cherished version at a great price I couldn't say no! I am a little nervous with it being my first big bike, but a little self control I'm sure all will be well. I have never been this excited about anything in my whole life!
I understand your excitement, I always feel I came to this too late and wish I discovered it sooner. You'll love the bike. Just try it in urban mode to keep the throttle response and power limited until you fund a groove. It would have been too much for my first bike, and I would never recommend it as a first bike. Just be deliberate, calm and ease your way to get to know it and sharpen your road skills.
I'm wishing I had done this 20 yrs ago, but it's never too late! I will put my sensible hat on while I learn how she rides and build up the fun! Thanks
Rainy here in the UK so can't get out on my SSS. Went for a ride with you in Oz instead, thanks Stace. Agree 100%, totally love mine, the Italians build soul into their bikes, that's the difference. They're not perfect, but then your best friends aren't either. Nothing like a few hours spent cleaning and polishing, music on, sorted.
I enjoyed watching this video. Any new updates since you posted this - bike and you still doing ok? The bike is beautiful and the little mods you've made are perfect. Looked hard at Japanese for the reliability - but why is everything styling-wise so very Transformer like? I never imagined holding on to a Ducati for as long as you intend to (10+ years), but your long-term plan is encouragement to me. Looking to get a red Supersport 2024 and keep it as well;
I'm still fully in love with my 939, riding it heaps, and the only new issue was a faulty temperature sensor, which is rare and I was just unlucky. But I replaced it myself quite easily. The plan remains to never sell this bike.
I bought one before Christmas, nice bike, stonking great engine, planning to ride to Sicily (and back) in a couple of months from the UK. Didn't change my shirt just my youtube account.@@staceonwheels
I was 71 when I traded my SuperSport S for a Multistrada 1260 S three years ago. I did many 5 day trips with 500 mi days on the SuperSport. I may have kept it if it had cruise control. I can't imagine why they would put cruise control on a 950 Multistrada and not on the SuperSport. The SuperSport was the most beautiful motorcycle I have ever owned. In comparison I thought the MS was ugly. It took me a long time to like the MS so much that I didn't fret about how it was not as beautiful as the SS. Both the MS and SS have averaged close to 50 mpg. I was probably the first SS owner to get the Desmo Service. I have also had the Desmo service on my 2020 MS.
I dread the day I won't be riding mine any more but I hope that's many many years away still. It's great to hear from someone who loves this bike like I do, and that you got so much pleasure from it. I don't care about the cruise control as I rarely ride long straight lines, but sounds like you cover more miles than I do in a day! Thanks for sharing your story, wushing you many more years enjoying you Multistrada.
@mwtraining4310 yep, it's still on my list, but not likely until the current clutch cable starts to fray like the original one did... I'm spending too much $$$ on my 848 track bike ATM!!! And Boe is being sensational, and I'm just enjoying him.
Good review, thanks. Agree with pretty much everything. Have to say that the mirrors are complete pants and I would have expected better. In my almost 40 years of Ducati ownership, I can't think of worse ones - although you don't have to do the chicken dance to get a rear view. The engine isn't quite as soulful as the one on the 999, nor is it as powerful. I assume that that is down to emissions restrictions now, although the 999 already has a sizeable cat. Bearing in mind that my 999 was bought in 2006, I think I would be expecting more progress in the engine department in over 15 years. Very comfy though and as I have the paniers, I will be expecting some fun long trips on it. I took the 999 from Switzerland to the very north of Scotland, so you can tour pretty much anything if you feel like it.
I haven't ridden any other real Ducati so cannot say the engine disappoints me at all. On the track I realise how much it doesn't have versus a litre bike but everywhere else it's more than I can use at this stage of my abilities. But I reckon you'll live it for touring 😁
The algorithm sent me here 'cos I like this particular bike lol, enjoyed your video, liked your real world view so cheers You can google "how to pronounce" on google and hear for yourself how to say Puig, but phonetically British is pwig, US is pweeg and Catalan is different again so best hear for yourself, thanks again 🙂
Thanks for this well-rounded and lived-in review! I've owned mine since summer 2020 and I've lived it over my other bikes ever since (I've got about 4 bikes). Many recognizable points. :-)
I bought my motorcycle used 2 days ago and made a trip of 500 km. She has only 7000 km. I noticed that some moments, especially in fifth gear, it would give a false neutral (the gear would not engage). Is there any clutch adjustment? The former owner said that the clutch pedal has already hit and is slightly bent, is it possible that the Quickshifter has been damaged?
If you are getting the false neutral only wnen you use the quickshifter, then that is a common issue with them. Otherwise, if you have the 939, it has a cable clutch so you can adjust this at the clutch lever.
Hello Stace, thanks for the review. it is great job. I own the same bike, and i love it. I am in Montréal, and i got a recall here for the rear brake issue. it was fixed, no charge. it was my only problem with the bike. I am not sure where you live since you ride on the wrong side of the road ;) , but a recall may be available where you are. you probably didn't get it because you bought it second hand. Have fun! cheers!
fantastic review . Thanks for that. I had experience of riding 125s was afraid of supersport being potentially too agresive but more and more I think i could handle it
Thanks, Stace, I really enjoyed your great review. I've had a 2018 SuperSport S for a couple of weeks now and just love it. You've already said it all - great handling, smooth and plenty of power, and a beautiful piece of art. I'm from just north of Brisbane, and will have to do a ride to the Bunya Mtns one of these days - it all looked very lovely.
You have a beautiful country to make great use of a SuperSport... I'm sure you'll love it. We have 12 months of riding a year here, so I always feel sorry for those of you that have to put your bikes into hybernation for the winter!
That is a passionate owners review. I did look at the Supersport but went with the 950 Multistrada instead. It doesn't look as nice but the wider handlebars and centre stand swung it for me. The engine performance is utterly usable, and that's what makes it fun to ride, at high RPM the engine noise/exhaust note is addictive, and for touring in the mountains the torque and power is just where I need it. On a side note there is a UK Ducati 1200 Multistrada owner and has just done 100,000km and like yourself has put his experiences on RU-vid, similar likes and dislikes, and the engine has had no issues! Keep on enjoying your motorcycling.
Great review and some really good anecdotal information. I'm in the southeastern US. I started riding dirt bikes and then progressed to sport bikes. I moved on to cruisers as I got up in years, and now I live in an area with a lot of twisties! I wanted to get back to my sport riding beginnings. The Ducati SSS in Star White Silk was irresistable! I am set to pick up my new 2020 SSS in 2 days! I love the shape of your frame sliders! Would you share the brand name and where you got them? Thanks!
If you enjoy your new SSS half as much as I do, you'll be set! It's very comfy. The frame sliders are by Ducabike, and they also make bar risers for our bike in case you need some help to transition from a cruiser to a sportier forward lean 😀. You should have a distributor for Ducabike somewhere in the US for sure.
Thank you so much for this video, i’m planning to buy a 939 or a 950 soon so i was looking for videos like this, it’s precise and rich of content. Love your bike ✌️
Thanks for watching! The phone mount is a Quadlock with the stem mount which fits perfectly in the inner bar end. Some add the vibration dampener but I've had no problem without it.
Thanks, very well done review. I have the same bike as your friend, a base 2018 SS with touring kit. and a lot of what you said applied to my experience of owning one for coming up to 3 years plus some things I didn't know. "Bellissima" only has about half the milage that Boe has and Ive only had had the exhaust valve and the sidestand bolt issues you mentio (the losse sidestand bolts were noticed during an annual service, so luckily before it caused me a drop). Glad to know Boe's still going strong at 40K. I had nver ridden a ducati until after pruchasing this one but loved the look of it and the price was right. I like a lot of bikes, have owned quite a few over the decades, a couple of them more poerful than the SS, and have swapped bikes with riding friends, but the SS sure hits a sweet spot for me too.
Great to hear your story! And that was so lucky about tge side stand bolt... I know checking it is on the service list, but I check mine at almost every wash! Thanks for commenting.
Excellent review, I’m riding a Multi at the moment due to being nearly 60, as I can’t do full on sports bikes anymore I really fancy a Supersport so will have to book a test ride soon, nice to hear about someone keeping the same bike for more than 5 minutes and tweaking it to suit you even more, cheers
Im 66 and thinking on one for a 4th or 5th bike. Im also on a 1200 Multi. I have modified the exhaust flapper on the Multi by just removing the screwed on plate inside the pipe. The screws are tack welded in place so you just need to get your dremmel grinder out and buzz them off. The reason for most failures is that the valve flapper gets stuck in position and causes failures due to temperature contraction and expansion. By leaving the valve actuator in place the shaft rotates freely with out binding and no resistance so it doesnt fail plus no codes, no cost.
Based on a look at your rear (tire that is), you should be running a different tire. You are not using the edge of the rossi tire so you are really wasting money / tire tread per mile for your riding style. You should run Pilot Road 6 or 5 would serve you much better for the way and miles you ride. You will not suffer any traction loss or feel in the canyons or cruising down the road or in a panache stop. You will love those tires.
Thanks but I am keeping these tyres and working my way up to using more of them. But chicken strips for street riding are not really a judge of wrong tyre... I rarely see bikes with any kind of tyre that don't have some of the edge unused. Pilot Road included.
Thank you for this! I already own a Supersport and absolutely adore it. What I have been struggling with is whether or not those outrageously priced sliders would truly protect the bike's fairing structure in case of a low speed fall (in case of a high speed fall with my old dry bones, I'd have bigger problems to worry about than a busted fairing). Your unfortunate experience doing a tight U-turn showed me that the brand you bought would. I mean at close to 50% of the fairing cost, you'd want to know they actually work some of the times!
They work... and look good too I reckon. No more drops yet, thank goodness, but I have had him on the track a couple of times and the sliders give me a bit of peace of mind.
I have owned my Supersport S for nearly 6 years, added a Termignoni end can and mapped also bought the OEM panniers. This bike is great for riding all day and just a nice amount of power. Only niggles are I currently have a faulty fuel sensor and stock chain is not great and mirrors are useless. Haven't personally had any false neutrals and the heat from the engine is usually a blessing in the UK. Love my Supersport she's definitely a keeper. Cheers Stace.
I love how you still love your SS after 6 years. I plan on keeping mine for a long time too. We had a little ride today and I still think how awesome he is. The more I ride, the more he feels like an extension of me.
It has an RK gold chain now, only 1000km on it so far so hoping it doesn't break o-rings like the two DID gold chains I've had on it. I'll probably do a video about it but it needs a lot more time/kms for a true comparison. What are you going to try?
Pretty sure you can change the engine braking through the settings menu in the newer models. Did you do anything special on mounting your quad lock to the clip on? Your videos are helpful 😊
There's no engine braking setting on this bike, just ride modes that change a combo of ABS, traction control and tgrottle response. The urban ride mode also limits horsepower. For the 950, the settings might be different.
Really helpful video. Been considering replacing my old CBR600F with one of these. Main thing stopping me is likelihood of theft of a nice looking bike in London. Surprised at some of the niggles. Maybe I'm just used to an old bomb proof Honda. 40,000 is a decent stint though so would expect some issues.
The niggles are annoying to some people, but for me they are no big deal and easy to live with. I love working on my bikes anyway, so fixing quirks is part of the fun. So depends on who you are! Theft wise, that's hard to know but there are plenty of UK SS owners in the ducatisupersport939.net forum you could as about this.
None of issues you described would put me off. Right now I'd quite like that under seat heating! Sadly bike theft in London is terrible. My main defence is parking next to nicer bikes when I'm at work - that a chain and a disc lock. @@staceonwheels
In truth, no I don't. The bike takes experience and practice to ride smoothly at slower speeds, and get used to the grabby clutch and sensitive throttle. And even though you can ride it in urban mode to limit the power from 110hp down to about 75hp, it is an expensive fix if you drop it. My first road bike was a Scrambler and I deliberately practiced riding technique and road strategy until I felt the little scrambler was too easy and not powrrful enough. But I still practice constantly with the SuperSport and haven't found its limits yet.
And how did you go continuing to learn with the SS? I really would not have wanted it until I had the 10,000km and lots of techique practice under my belt with my Scrambler.
Stace what a fantastic, honest, level headed review. No fuss no drama.. Currently looking at a 2017 Supersport with 13k miles but seeing you with near 40k is great. Thankyou!!
Awesome, thank you! And now it has over 50000km... only one issue since, ssxexplained in my latest SuperSport Touring video, the temp sensor went. But that's not a very common issue for this bike. Enjoy yours!
I decided to subscribe to hear more about your SS bike. Its on my list of bikes to pick up. I also ride a Multistrada (yes i am tall), do you think the SS is too small for a 6’ guy? What about the clip ons, are they too low or forward?
Some tall guys have said it feels a bit small but at 6' I know of others who love it. The clip ons are already raised vs a true sport bike, but others had added more risers for comfort. I love it the way it is, and have no back or wrist issues even after riding all day. Test ride is the only way to know, of course.
I’m 6’1” and have had my 2017 from new. I fitted 12mm bar risers and the higher comfort saddle and find the bike really comfortable, but on a couple of LONG days have had a bit of knee discomfort but wrists and shoulders have been fine!
I hear mixed reviews about pillion comfort. For touring, it seems they aren't comfortable enough but for a shorter blat, they seem fine. I've never sat on the back, so can't speak from personal experience. You can go to ducatisupersport939.net and easily search for pillion info there. It's a brilliantly informative forum.
My supersports servo got stuck in the closed position and didn't throw any codes. Ran fine up until 8k fell on its face so fast felt restricted in the ecu like a limiter almost like the A2. Owners beware!!
That's the first time I've heard about it getting stuck closed, sorry to hear that. Much worse than getting stuck open. Perhaps you had bad corrosion in there... I thought the spring kept it open by default.
I agree with 100%. I fell in love the the Supersport (not S) because of the colour. Mine is grey with red wheels and it looks awesome, to such an extent I was getting my helmet on at a petrol station and this guy said "Ducati?" Yeah, he said it was a really nice looking bike and then said that he had been on a thrashing ride with Carl Fogarty around London!! Wow. My plan is to keep this one, and I will go for the gold chain I think because it will look great on my bike also :)
I nearly got the grey too, yeah it's a unique colour combo. But it was the white I first fell in love with andcglad I got that one. I always wonder how motorcycle racers would ride around the streets...
@staceonwheels need the silencer covers? My exhaust servo got stick closed for the past 3k miles no reports on stuck closed only open and never threw a code so my cat is clogged and coming out so no need for them.
@@Theshark203 yeah stuck closed is a new one to me too. I am thinking of getting used (perfect condition) silencer covers... are you selling? You can email me at staceonwheels@gmail.com
First, this is a great, really great review. Thank you for taking the time to make it. It has solidified my understanding of the bike and it’s qualities. The reason you appear to get better gas mileage since you changed the front sprocket is because when you modify the circumference any vehicle’s wheels or drivetrain sprockets or gears you fool the vehicle’s computer into thinking it is getting worse or better economy depending on if you increased or decrease the length of the drivetrain. If you replaced the front sprocket with one that had one additional tooth you would see a corresponding decrease in fuel economy.
Thanks for your kind words, and for watching 😁. I understand the point you're making, but don't reckon it applies to my experience. Doing the tyre set up (TSU instruction in the owners manual) recalibrates for a change in tyres or gearing. In addition, I changed the front sprocket about 2 years before my experiment with running the bike at higher RPM, and the change in fuel economy only happened after the RPM experiment, not the change in front sprocket. I still stand by my claim that higher RPM gives better fuel economy!
If higher RPM gave better fuel economy, Ducati seriously f'd up the fuel map, or something else. Higher RPM should get worse economy due to more internal friction.@@staceonwheels
Doesn’t seem like that’s really much that’s gone wrong with it… I didn’t hear anything about having to get your valves adjusted, service internals and cost…etc
You're right - I could have talked about servicing. I've kept the bike up to date with all the scheduled services, including the desmo valve service, at 30,000km, and the timing belts were changed then too, as is typical I believe. No unexpected issues popped up at all in any of the services.
