Ducati’s Superleggera V4 is the roadgoing equivalent of the maker's MotoGP Panigale V4. The carbon fiber and exotic metal combine to make a “leggera,” meaning “light” in Italian. The superlight, one-liter (998cc) bike weighs in at just a hair over 335 pounds, something unheard of in this size bike.
The lightweight version of Ducati’s Desmosedici Stradale R engine is the building block with which Tamiya starts construction. The detail and easy assembly of this incredible engine are second to none. All paint callouts reference Tamiya colors. The inclusion of the airbox and a cooling tube finish it off exquisitely.
The chassis comprises only four pieces, and the powerplant is mounted to this backbone with four small screws.
The single-sided swing arm assembles from four parts with a polycap bushing to hold the rear wheel and allow it to spin. The five-spoke wheels wear Pirelli-branded tires, and the rear uses a screw as an axle—not unusual for Tamiya kits. The swingarm attaches to the engine’s rear with two more screws. Take care to position all the parts correctly before tightening the whole assembly.
At this point, a seven-piece rear-tire stand props the bike up during assembly.
When assembled and painted with heat discoloration, the 12-part titanium exhaust system looks the part. The chassis has plenty of added detail, including the gear selector, pegs, rear brake pedal assembly, and kickstand. The detailed cooling system attaches to the front of the frame and engine.
The wheel, tire, and front brake assembly are mounted to the front fork before it is laced through a passage in the chassis and held in place with clamps tightened by a screw. Hose and control details, along with the battery box, are the next step before the bodywork begins.
I painted all of the body panels Tamiya Pure Red (No. TS-86) and added the decals before attaching the parts to the frame. The decals on this kit are slightly thicker than other Tamiya bike kits I have built before. They required quite a bit of setting solution and heat to conform to some of the more intricate body shapes. Overall, most of them laid down without too much fuss. However, take it slow and make sure to get the markings down.
After spraying a couple of coats of Nason SelectClear 497-00 2K urethane clear coat onto the body panels and letting it cure, I added them to the frame. Something interfered with the fit of the front fairing to the side panel, and I haven’t figured out the root of the problem. This caused a fit issue, but I couldn’t rectify it without fully disassembling the bike.
The upper and lower side wings use pins and rare earth magnets to allow you to access the screws to remove bodywork to reveal details beneath. The rear license plate frame and directional lights assembly, along with the mirrors, round out this incredibly powerful and beautiful replica of a motorcycle that Ducati is limiting to a run of 500.
Like many Tamiya kits, the 1/12 scale Ducati Superleggera V4 challenges you, but it’s worth the effort. I can’t recommend it to a novice, but it is not outside the abilities of an experienced builder with patience and a methodical approach. My one hiccup is minor, and I’ll update this review if I locate the source of the issue.