1199 Looking To Buy A 1199 Panigale

Ever ridden a big twin before? They are very different beasts from IL4s. Be prepared to be underwhelmed on the test ride, but persevere!

 

What matters is the transition from a super smooth and easy to ride inline 4 Honda to an Italian, raw v twin that will not be smooth, and not easy to ride 'normally'.

Big ducati's (and most of the smaller ones too to be honest) are quite hard work to cruise around on but very rewarding when being used for its purpose, 1199 on track or fast road riding etc.

I love my 1299, it's satisfying beyond all the jap bikes that I've had but it's also very raw and i only really get the most from it when I'm out for a proper ride. Cruising around on it leisurely isn't comfortable, and town or slow speed riding is a pain, an inline 4 is much better suited to that type of riding.

Overall you'll love the bike once you've owned it for some time and had a genuine chance to learn it.

As above, the test ride might leave you questioning if you want to do the deal, but after a good ride out you'll know you've make the right decision.

I guess the 1199 is like a wild night in the sack with a porn star, mind blowingly awesome but aggresive and needs taming.

 

I've ridden many a Fireblade.

The panigale's are very different. You'll find the blade much smoother and likely have more bottom end.

However the top end rush of the big 1199 will make you feel alive. It's much more special and has bags of character.

You'll need to rev it to understand

 

You don't need to worry about power especially up the top end... in terms of performance a 1199 will spank a blade. I don't have any trouble keeping with my father in law on his 14 plate Fireblade on my 899 and he can certainly ride.

Nothing really other than a well ridden s1000rr will trouble you, providing you can do the Duc justice which I'm sure you can.

 

after owning mainly jap 4s , Aprilia rsv1000 and after a good few years out I went back in with a 899 first. it was nothing like the old Aprilia twins as it was surprisingly smooth to ride with great handling and a linear power delivery, could say a bit to easy to ride fast and faster.went to a 1299 and its a beast of a bike as the 1199 is.power delivery is awesome and the vibes and sound it makes really makes the ride memorable. yea through traffic its difficult but move out of town into the sticks , will solve that problem haha. I didn't test ride my 1299 just got it and its a work of art apart from the non folding mirrors. if I was you if you love the way the 1199 looks and your not going to use it for commuting through endless streams of slow traffic you will get used to riding it and will love it. the negatives are out wayed by the positives and its what you call character.

 

I have owned my 1199 for just over a year now, it's the character of the bike that I like most, stunning looks and sounds awesome. The only thing I would change is the bottom end performance, it comes alive at about 7000rpm which is way over 70mph so everytime you want to feel the power of the Ducati you are into "loosing your licence mode".

 

I'd say you'll not get the most out of it on a test ride and so I'd keep that in mind. My experience of a CBR10000RR is that to have any fun on them requires 3 figure riding anyway. The Panigale can be more fun than IL4's at lower speed I find. When it's pushed out of corners it'll buck 'n weave & want to wheelie. Superb.

The handling of the Panigale is something else. Puts any 600 I've ridden to shame. I went from a stream of IL4's to KTM's RC8 & RC8R - themselves great handling bikes. I bought my 1199 without a test ride. I wouldn't touch an il4 sport bike any longer I don't think. Engine wise, to me at least, the 1199 isn't like a v twin or an il4. It's in a league of its own really. Learn to ride around the 7k step up in power & I'd hope you'll love it.

In comparison to il4's I found everything to be expensive. Accessories, tools, stands etc. a small price to pay really.

 

Ride the 1199 with purpose and feel the rush of power at 8,000rpm and you'll wonder why you didn't try it earlier. It ceratinly ain't no armchair riding. One of the best biking experiences I've ever had. I have the 1299 now but really do miss the power delivery of the 1199.

 

Ive had my 1199s for a couple of months now after 4-5 years without a bike, no test ride and only IL4's previously.

After getting to know it over a few rides it's now a keeper. The step in power is quite pronounced but it's pretty addictive. I'm going to investigate a 14T front sprocket for it though. both to help with the acceleration low end and also work around the only real annoyance which is the 30mph, 2nd gear exhaust flap issue. It's a pain in town.

I'm told (by a helpful ducati man) that cans and a remap / termis would solve it but the sprocket might be a cheaper alternative.

 

I used to own the same bike as you - 2012 CBR1000RR which I covered 19k miles on in as many months. Great bike, does everything, but I got bored of it and wanted something with electronics and looks to suit. Bought the 1199s new in 2013 and never looked back. What an amazing bike it is! Even now with over 17k miles and numerous track days I still get hugely excited opening the garage door each time I ride it.

Main difference is the bottom end of the 1199 (when stock) lacks compared to the blade, but that 2-stroke like powerband from 7k upwards is SO much fun! As is the handling - makes the blade feel like a bus in comparison. If you add a full system, air filter and custom mapping it's just an absolute animal with endless torque in the low and mid-rpm range plus monumental power up top! Also brings the ride ability back to a similar level as the blade - before mapping I couldn't take small roundabouts without slipping the clutch as it would surge and buck too much at small throttle openings.

Like others have said, the test ride may not impress you, but try to open it up (watch 2nd gear for power wheelies though - it's aggressive) to see what it's all about up the top where the power is.

 

I bought an 1199 last year after a stream of inline 4 litre bikes, although the last was an 09R1 that I had massively modified (still love that engine). I have a KTM 990SMR too. For me inline 4's are just boring on the road. My 2008 Blade lasted a year but it was just too bland. Brilliantly capable to the point of no enjoyment. I rode various versions of the S1000RR (HP4 included) and found the same thing. Sure they are fast, but that's it.

The 1199 is a difficult yoke to ride fast as it starts getting a bit lairy on bumps under full throttle and it just wants to point upwards when the power comes in but as a result it feels like you are going about 10 times faster than you are. Plus all modern sportsbikes are faster than anybody uses on the road - any 600 will keep up with a 1000 unless you are captain straight line squid so the performance aspect is pretty irrelevant for me nowadays. What the 1199 offers is a genuinely enjoyable ownership experience (even with the random faults/leaks etc) and it is something I'm happy to look at, own and just float about on feeling good. Plus the small size, low weight and excellent parts make it feel fantastic - especially if you don't provoke it too much

 

Interesting comment. I have a 2014 1199R track bike, and was chewing over whether to add an 1299 to it. But I've heard one or two people make similar comments to yours re the power delivery. Mine's explosive at 7k. Very explosive. And very, very, very addictive.

 

1199 will make you feel alive, blade will make you fall asleep

 

I had a 2008 Ten Kate CBR1000RR track bike, as raced in WSB Superstock. Lively but unruly, awful HRC tration control. Nice bike, pleasant, but it got tiring after 2 years. Especially when it kept spinning up.
Changed it to a 2010 S1000RR. Mad. Completely mad. 199bhp at the wheel, 85lbft torque. But great TC & electronics (well compared to my Blade). Insane, mind bending acceleration but a tad portly (I like light bikes that flick into corners) and actually pretty civilised. Went fast for 2 years. Got bored. Antispetic. Sold it.
Had a test ride of a base 1199 on the road. Great on open fast roads, really shit round town. Really shit. Slow traffic equals slipping clutch, so much heat. OMG. Jerky, snatchy. The bike hated it. But get on some fast roads and it makes sense (I have since learnt that you can make it more civlised in town by going up to a 41 on the rear sprocket, like the R). Decision made. I need an 1199 for the track!
Bought an 1199S. Lively, alive, light, great handling in the corners. Wow! Touch slow on the straights. Just a touch. But not like a twin. Remarkably similar to a Jap 4, but peaky like my old 2 strokes, but with it's own entirely different set of characteristics. I suppose like a Triple has. Not a traditional thumping twin, but not like an Jap 4 either. Low down drive but a frantic top end. Nice mix!
Revved the nuts off it and threw a con-rod (in defence of all 1199's it's an ex-race bike so who knows the engine history). Anyway, long story short, its now got an 1199 R engine (titanium internals) and a Superstock fat exhaust....192bhp at the wheel, 94lbft (70lbft at 4k rpm and linear all the way up to 94lbft at 11.5 rpm) and 184Kg with 7L of fuel
IT IS THE DOGS!
Light, quick steering, wheelies, crazy top end, lovely low drive and after all that, it looks sooooo beautiful. It makes me feel alive. I open that garage door evey day and look at it. None of my other bikes have EVER made me do that
Hope that helps with your decision.

 

All the reasons why I love my 1199S and have a new 1199R on the way I have an S1000RR which I'm supposed to be trading in but I'm very tempted to keep it as it's a very good road bike. Completely agree with the points above though; it's a complete weapon but for some reason it's quite difficult to love like the Ducatis.