Hi all, I bought a Panigale 1299s in January this year. Without boring the hell out of you all, I will say that the bike is amazing on an open road, but hellish on anything start/stop or slow traffic. I realised that I just never use it and end up using my trusty speed triple instead on pretty much 95% of occasions. To cut a long story short, I don't want two bikes in the garage so after chatting to my dealer, he has agreed to do a part exchange for me on the 1299s which would pretty much go along the lines of 1299s + £1250k = new 1200r + termis + tail tidy + r&g crash protectors I will then sell the speed triple privately and use the monster as an every day bike rather than something too precious to use like the current 1299s. My only concerns are: 1. Will riding the monster 1200r in traffic/slow traffic be easier? 2. I'm 5ft8 and currently the 1299s feels fine to me with regards to height. Is there any other short arses here on a 1200r who could give your experience with regards to handling the bike at standstill? i.e pulling back, maneuvering with engine off etc? Tip toeing? On the speed triple, I have to tip toe and the bike feels top heavy sometimes. Hence, I sometimes scare myself when losing grip with my foot if on a little gravel or loose tarmac when pulling the pike back while sitting on it. I'm going to get a test ride on one tomorrow but would appreciate any thoughs from anyone here who has maybe done a similar move?
Hi shy boy, I've done similar swooped my 1299 standard for the r because after being knocked off 2 years ago I cannot take weight on my shoulder anymore the r is a great fun bike easy to ride slow and great fun on the B roads .If I'm honest the only place I could be faster on the panini would be round a track then there would not be a lot in it! As for heightism cannot help you as I am 6ft but the r does sit higher than the s model , as for the deal they are shopping the your panini for the monster as the 1200 would be for the termis so if that's a good deal would be up to you? All I can say is I do not regret it and I have got my bike mojo back also my other half still has here 1299 panni and I can keep up on most roads apart from long/ straights in fact I think the monster has more low down torce here's mine cheers.
Hey Shyboy +1 on what Pav says above. I'm 5'10" with 29" leg. I can flatfoot (1 leg at a time) with no problems. The Monster is a heavy bike, but only when pushing it backwards up a slope :grin:. The power is never ending, and the torque will push your eyeballs through the back of your head You won't regret it
Thanks guys. Can you comment on setting off the lights please? Does it really need hard revving or is it quite smooth off the line?
Its a smooth as a smooth thing off from the lights - however it has one of those clutch's that is either on of off. So once you master the biting point its simples!....thought I throw in a pic of mine too :grin:
order placed today. Black 1200r with termis. pickup Friday just in time for my b'day...maybe earlier. Heard a demo one with termis with no baffles in. Lovely sound but I go to the gym quite early in the morning so don't think its fair on the neighbours. Do they sound ok with baffles in? I'm just looking for a little more depth/bass really from standard. cant wait.
Never actually had the baffles in mine, so can't really comment - but I think its still a 'neighbour waker' with them in. Oh, and don't forget the pics when you get the bike
Picked her up just now. below is based on 30 miles from the delaer back to the office on the a41. 1. Very nimble. Feels very flickable. 2. Gorgeous 3. Sounds amazing - It has termis installed. I asked for the baffles to be kept in but they forgot and took it out. I tried to be sensible! Sorry neighbours. 4. Feels incredibly comfortable to ride. Unlike the 1299s which it replaces. Neck pain is already starting to abate. 5. Much easier to set off the lights. The 1299s was a nightmare. 6. Just Waaaaaay more convenient/comfortable in traffic. I will no longer dread slow flowing traffic or town riding like I did with the 1299s. 7. Not much heat at all compared to the 1299s. Cons 1. Throttle response seemed much sharper with the 1299s. Its almost like there is slightly too much play on the throttle. pictures and other things I notice later
Good choice. I sold my 1299 for the same reasons and now ride a HM939SP. Haven't thought about the 1299 since.
My 1200S was really quite snatchy for the first few hundred miles. It's either smoothed out or I'm used to it now!
I've got one whilst my 1299 is in for some more warranty jobs. I'm going to do a proper write up tonight on my site and ask if I can borrow it off Manchester again to do a video. Here are some general notes on it from my 75 miles this morning. As much as I HATE to admit it. It’s simply a better road bike than any of the current superbikes. It goes slow and is comfortable. It goes fast and is comfortable. Then it goes really, really fucking fast and is still comfortable. My 1299 suspension is generally, really good but there’s a sections of road around here with some bad surfaces and will always rattle my bones. It will do on any superbike. Even on the electronic suspended S1000RR and the 1299S I rode over it. I purposely rode over it this morning. The Ohlins on the Monster just glid (is this a word? Glided) over it and soaked it all up. The Ohlins on this 1200R is a level above the 1200S/Stripe. I wrote the 1200S was so comfy but this is another level. In fact the whole bike has taken everything to the next level. Usually you add more power and something else suffers like chassis or suspension. Somehow they have made it all better on this. Extra ground clearance helps. No bother with big feet hitting mountings. It’s a totally different experience to riding a super bike, but altogether on the road, one that I think I prefer. It’s the best road bike I’ve ridden and probably the perfect and best Monster ever built. Once you stick a quickshifter on it you will be laughing. The only downside is the price. It's really hard mentally to be ok with paying nearly £16k for a naked. I would definitely wait for a free exhaust offer and beg for money off. The fuelling is sublime and the stock exhausts look good in black i think. I would just like them louder for commuting.
Just a quick update. Up to 330 miles and the bike is lovely. Really liking it so much more then 1299s. Just riding it around to get the miles late evenings and absolutely loving it. Sound track with the termis is perfect. I don't think I'll ever get bored of it. Just need to stop trying to talk to people while the engine is running. Pointless. Gearbox is definitely getting better. Actually got it into neutral the last few times and 2nd to first is becoming a real possibility! Only issue is the fact that you need to turn the throttle quite a lot before it revs properly. It's not free play as it does cause the rpm to increase in the first few degrees of turn but just nt enough before it starts to pick up. Will mention it when it does its 600 mile service.
