I test rode a 1299 yesterday. All the little niggling things that are wrong on the 1199 seem to have been put right on the 1299. It makes much more sense as a road bike.
In no world I live in does a 200bhp machine make ANY sense as a road bike. Unhappy at anything <100mph and just asking for time in prison. I can't work out where people ride 200bhp machines and have fun on roads... maybe I need to live somewhere else LOL
The 1299 is happier to bimble about if you want it too, the 1199 isn't. You do make a good point though. Bikes aren't sensible buys on many levels though anyway.
I'm being a bit harsh and cynical I admit, sorry. But I've ridden loads of big bikes as most on here have and IMO they just don't make sense, especially sportsbikes... I can get to roads where 100mph is perfectly easy, the first that comes to mind is the A4 to Hungerford/Chippenham, but really, who wants to ride the A4, it's nice enough, but crap views, loads of cars, police, junctions etc... makes it just a nightmare. I have been a convert over the years to smaller capacity bikes, most of my recent road bikes have been 660 singles, mostly a Yamaha XT660X, I've now got a KTM 390 Duke, I was out at the weekend with a 1299 Panigale, a Superduke R and I had an absolute blast on the Thame/Long Crendon/ Ducati Aylesbury roads that plenty on here will know, I was pinned on the throttle stop LOTS, throwing it into bends and trying to hang onto the bigger bikes, gear gear gear, pinned pinned pinned... brakes... repeat... It was a complete howl.... But also it has the ability to go slower and sit behind/with traffic should you want to just cruise... Best part is, I've still not seen 3 figures on the speedo... that to me means I'm less likely to be seeing the wrong side of a Police Officer
Have to agree, I keep looking at the 1199 as a replacement for my 848 but I can't see it being as much fun on the road.
I haven't ridden the 1299 despite many offers from my local dealer. The reason is I might prefer it to my 1199 and the dealers know this as well as I do hence their continuous offers. The way I see it is that from what I've heard the 1299 is a more refined version of the 1199, but for me to swap my 1199S for a new 1299S is going to cost me around 7k and that's before I start with the Termi/Akrapovic exhausts and all the other dangly bits, non of which are transferable for the old bike. So for me the main question has to be is it worth the extra 7k+ over what I have? The answer: No, well I hope so!. Plus I think we're only a couple of years away from a complete new model to replace the 1299. So if I put 7k down to swap my 1199 now in a couple of years I will need another 7k to swap the 1299 for the new bike, so I think I'll hang fire and save my money - I think!!:Wacky:
What I hate is bikes where all the power is in the top end, so your basically goaded to do stupid things. This new 1299 is torquey and light, surely what you want in a fun road bike. Plus its one of the best looking bikes out today.
Well after riding around 750 miles on the SL, I took out a 1299S. Its very sudate by comparison, they're probably is a difference between the 11 & 1299 but didn't have it long enough to get to know it. While they are all very good bikes the base & S models are probably more road biaised. THe 15R & SL are litterally track tools. HAven't ridden an 899 but am told they're very good allrounder. In the end of the day, you spend your monies and make your choice. We're all different, it'd be boring if we were all the same so simply enjoy what you ride irrespective of whatever it is.
I think your wrong about the 1199, mine quite happily idles through traffic at 30 in 2nd or 3rd gear and does not complain, it is not snatchy on the throttle and doesnt cough and splutter its guts every few seconds
The big difference is the bigger bikes can do that cruising rather than hammering, and sometimes thats what is wanted. In fact, by many, that is what is wanted, not hammering up and down the gearbox and always searching for the perfect gear for that overtake and using momentum as the main overtake method. On the big stuff roll off, wait, nail it past Small bike = monster fun when you want it, pita when you just want to cover miles
Panigales don't 'cruise' they're ravenous pitbulls trying to kill their owners every time you start the bike.
move to north yorkshire weeksy, i will show you the way, i have a clean licence, and average 50mph on my steamed up dash
Go stick a data logger on. Tenner says 90% plus go over 7k less than 10% of the time and use full throttle even less. It's just a less comfortable cruiser for most
Youve got em all wrong, the bars are wide, think of them as horns, now you take said horns, and ring the bleeding life out of em, and when you wanna steady her, you squeeze with your thighs, and squeeze the left lever with all your might. You may need your left spurs to kick it up or down depending on your required progress. You need to show it your the rancher
I was really thinking in terms of the heat issues rather than the low speed nature of the engine. I was told by someone who knows about these things that the heat problem has been lessened by changing the engine mapping. I wonder if an 1199 can be mapped to do the same?
