Ducati SuperSport 950 (2021-on) Review | Owner & Expert Ratings

For 2021 the Ducati SuperSport gets a host of upgrades and '950' added to its name. The changes are subtle, but its new seat is comfier, albeit at the expense of feel in corners, its quickshifter lets you pop through the gears and the new colour dash adds a splash of pizazz but could do with being bigger.

It’s still quick, crackles through its exhaust and steers, stops and excites like a sportsbike, but it’s always friendly. The Ducati SuperSport is quite pricey for the performance on tap and some might crave more power, but like the similarly aimed Aprilia RS660 the Ducati is still an exciting road-going alternative to an obscenely cramped and powerful pure race rep.

The 2021 model replaces the 2017 Ducati SuperSport and is available in £12,295 standard and £13,895 'S' trim. The model test here is the latter.

2024 Ducati SuperSport 950 livery updates

Ducati have added new decals to the white livery found on their SuperSport 950 model for 2024. Featuring a red stripe that extends to along the side fairing and down to the front mudguard, the colour matches the red trellis frame peeking out under the front of the tank.

A thicker silver stripe follows the same direction running underneath the red line and features the 950S logo. The new colour scheme is almost identical to that found on the DesertX adventure model although orientated in a different direction.

Watch: Ducati SuperSport 950 video review

Michael Neeves takes the new 950 to task on UK roads to find out if the upgrades for 2021 change the game. Is the Ducati SuperSport now the saviour of sports bikes? Find out below...

Mixing comfort and sportiness was always the point of the SuperSport, like Ducati’s 90s SS models. You can ride for longer with fewer aches and pains thanks to the 2021 model’s new, more plushily padded seat – something you always dream of when riding a race rep a long way, but its squidgy-ness absorbs some cornering feel.

The general layout is unchanged from the original bike, which is good news because there’s still lots of leg room, even for taller riders and the bar position is sporty without crunching your wrists. Wind protection is decent on a long run, too and the screen is two-way height adjustable.

There’s no change to the SuperSport's trellis frame, single sided swingarm, geometry or 210kg kerb weight for 2021. The delicate clip-ons and new self-bleeding master cylinders scream race bike, but like its calm engine, the Ducati is set up for road handling.

It’s never on the edge of a tank slapper and doesn’t change direction using telepathy, but instead it’s stable, reassuring, neutral and easy to hustle cross country. Öhlins suspension on the S version is trademark supple, ground clearance is plentiful, Pirelli Diablo Rosso IIIs ooze grip and Brembo M432 calipers have the power to put you through the screen with the lightest touch.

Watch: Learning to ride on track on a Ducati SuperSport

MCN Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves lends his years of experience as a race and trackday instructor to teach new rider Gareth Evans the ropes of riding on a circuit for the first time.

Compared to the 2017 Ducati Supersport, the 2021 model has lost some oomph thanks to Euro5 exhaust and ECU tweaks. Power is down 5bhp to 108bhp @ 9000rpm and torque drops 2.3lb-ft to 69lb-ft @ 6500rpm. It's a proven lump and has also been used within the Multistrada 950, Hypermotard 950, Hypermotard 939 and new-for-2021 Monster.

That doesn’t matter because the Ducati has always been more about delivering sparkling road performance and it still does. The 937cc V-twin booms on the throttle, pops off it, has a great throttle and chunky power through the revs.

It’ll be quick enough for most and there’s also a 47bhp A2 licence version, but some might crave a little more performance and excitement. It returns 46mpg and desmo valve checks are set at generous 18,000-mile intervals.

Much like the original bike, the build quality is superb - backed up by by all the gushing owners’ reviews on our 2017 model review. The Ducati SuperSport won’t let you down.

There are lots of nice Ducati detailing touches too, like a milled ali top yoke and a repeat of the bike’s ‘face’ on the plastics surrounding the dash.

⏱️ Join @Neevesy33 for #60secondswith the 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 S. Read the full review: https://t.co/Mc45QfJTAH pic.twitter.com/tj2Cj6kMYe

— Motor Cycle News (@MCNnews) April 24, 2021

Aprilia’s RS660 is the closest to the Ducati SuperSport in spirit and it too is a 100-ish bhp sportsbike with great road handling, lots of tech and a sensible riding position. It’s also cheaper than the base SuperSport and with a kerb weight of just 183kg it’s lighter and more fun. Both are stylish and well built, but the Ducati just edges in the quality stakes.

You might also consider the less powerful but much cheaper Honda CBR650R which also has a less aggressive riding position than a traditional supersport. The Honda is less charismatic than the Ducati but is still a great bike in its own right. Check out 60 seconds with the 2021 Honda CBR650R below.

⏱️ Join @DanielJS46 for #60secondswith the 2021 Honda CBR650R. pic.twitter.com/BaoE4BUvLb

— Motor Cycle News (@MCNnews) April 27, 2021

The Yamaha R7 will also join the practical middleweight sportsbike category when it arrives in the UK later in 2021.

If you want a more aggressive riding experience without having to go all the way up to a 200bhp superbike, a Ducati Panigale V2 could be the answer. The "middleweight" Panigale makes 153bhp from its V-twin engine and has a more aggressive set-up than the SuperSport.

Watch our in-depth Ducati Panigale V2 review video below:

For 2021 the Ducati SuperSport 950 gets a new nose, LED headlights and daytime running lights share the Panigale V4 superbike’s scowl. The fairing has extra cooling vents and a more enclosed bellypan.

In S trim the SuperSport 950 isn’t far short of superbike money, but you get Öhlins suspension, a rear seat cowl and build quality is what you’d expect from a Ducati with luxurious fixtures, fittings and paint finishes (it comes in red or satin white).

Mirrors are new but still vibrate so much you have to pull the clutch for them to clear. New red wheel stickers resemble the duct tape club racers use on their wheel weights.