A first impression of the lightning fast Ducati 1199 Panigale, a bike that makes no bones it aims to usurp the supersports segment crown.
We’ve just stepped off the latest Ducati. . . and are itching to get on
again. Yes, our first impression of Ducati’s all-new flagship – the
1199 Panigale – after riding it at Abu Dhabi’s sprawling Yas Marina
racing facility is a lasting impression.
Named after the region that is Ducati home ground in Bologna, the
compact 1199 Panigale joins a select lot of the most seductive-looking
production motorcycles on the planet. The aggressive race track-bred
lines and fairing cloak a bike that pushes the envelope in terms of
technology, performance and handling. The 1199 rides on darkened, slim
spoke alloy rims. Twin silencer boxes exit the fairing belly sides,
keeping the motorcycle’s centre of gravity close to the deck. The rear
cylinder exhaust pipe coils under the split seat, while part of the
forward cylinder exhaust pipe peeps through a slit in the fairing. The
Panigale gets all-LED lighting, and Ducati-typical top-drawer grips,
switches and levers. And the functional mirrors allow decent rear view.
The 1199 Panigale does not use Ducati’s traditional trellis tubular
frame, instead deploying a monocoque chassis as on the factory’s MotoGP
bike. The engine bolts in as an integral, stressed member of the frame.
In the front, adjustable upside-down front forks run up to the
tastefully cut-out and machined steering clamp, from where the frame
reaches to the engine, a massive, alloy single-side swingarm and
near-horizontal rear suspension.
This bike is equipped with almost every conceivable electronic riding
aid, with state-of-the-art Riding Modes controlling the Ducati Traction
Control, DTC and ABS brakes. The sporty, full colour, digital
instruments are a central command centre, displaying all a rider needs
to know, including the latest-generation Ducati Data Analyzer system.
The revolutionary four-stroke, 1198cc, 90deg L-twin, liquid-cooled
engine named Superquadro is radically over-square: bore and stroke
measures 112mm x 60.8mm. Power output is an insane-on-a-motorcycle
195bhp delivered at 10750rpm, just under the 11500rpm rev limiter,
making this the world’s most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycle engine,
with 13.5kgm of peak torque at 9000rpm.
Large diameter titanium inlet valves are standard for the Desmodromic
valvetrain, pushed by Polymeric-Like Carbon (PLC) treated,
‘super-finished’ rocker arms.
The camshafts are powered by an unconventional chain and gear drive
arrangement. The oval throttle body is a massive 67.5mm, and
Ride-by-Wire throttle control is standard on this fuel-injected
motorcycle. Large diameter gears transmit the 1199’s prodigious power
and a wet-type, slipper clutch is standard.
Much of the Superquadro’s engine casing is lightweight magnesium alloy
cast. The sturdy, vacuum die-cast crankcases save weight, offering
consistent wall thickness. The Superquadro uses Nikasil-coated,
aluminium wet-liners inbuilt into its crankcase tops, allowing secure
fastening of the cylinder head directly to the crankcase.
We can confirm this Ducati provides a light clutch-feel at the lever.
The slipper clutch system functions perfectly, never allowing engine
deceleration to rob the motorcycle of any stability despite hammering
down the gearbox under hard braking. The six gears are well spaced, the
ratios tall enough to allow the powerful new engine to unleash its full
potential. The Panigale twin exhausts sound glorious when giving the
bike some whip, goading the rider to rev the bike high and hard. And
Ducati’s Riding Modes help deliver all the 1199’s mega power to the
tarmac, appropriately mapping the engine to suit individual riding
styles in every riding condition.
The 1199 is a blisteringly quick motorcycle that had us routinely
hurtling down the long straight at Yas Marina, effortlessly achieving
speeds of around 250kph, with loads of power in reserve! The front wheel
refused to stay firmly grounded in the first three gears, and it took a
good deal of concentration and expert throttle modulation to keep the
bike from lunging into power wheelies until post 200kph. There’s
fearsome performance on tap at all times, in every gear – this clearly
isn’t a bike for the fainthearted. The power band is wide, with cracking
throttle response, a seamless surge of brute force beginning from just
over idle, reaching all the way up to the limiter and never farther away
than a flick of the wrist. The 1199 blasts out of corners with gusto,
the L-twin making stressful demands from the rear tyre and putting its
traction control system to good use.
The lengthy single-side swingarm promotes forward weight distribution
on the bantamweight 1199. This along with the new frame, optimised
chassis geometry and top-drawer, ultra-sticky Pirelli rubber front and
rear allow Ducati’s latest superbike to out-handle all its predecessors
and match even its most seasoned Japanese rivals. The Panigale isn’t a
comfortable motorcycle to pilot, its riding position being outright
sporty with a track-perfect lean-forward-into-the-handlebars stance that
puts significant stress on the rider’s wrists and keeps as much rider
weight forward as possible. However, the steering damped, true clip-on
handlebars feel reassuringly wide, always a good thing on a powerful
motorcycle like this. You won’t believe this is a full-grown 1198cc
motorcycle considering the Panigale feels so amazingly light, provides
reassuring handling and amazes with its track manners.
The ABS brakes work like a treat, with radial-mounted calipers biting
into the twin 330mm discs in the front. A couple of fingers to squeeze
the front brake lever were adequate to effectively bring the Panigale
down from 200kph-plus speeds on our cautious laps on a wind swept Yas
Marina circuit.
Set for its Indian debut in a few months, the 1199 has little worthy
competition. There are very few chinks in this fiercely quick
motorcycle’s armour but even skilled riders could find it a struggle to
take this potent machine close to its full capabilities. Don’t expect
comfort though, and don’t buy a 1199 Panigale if massive doses of speed
aren’t quite your thing. This top-class supersports motorcycle makes a
perfect machine for Indian riders scouting for a supremely talented
track-day companion.
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