There are few bikes that have the same appeal and recognition as the Ducati 1199 Panigale or have marked such a defining moment in motorbike technology and history. When it was unveiled at the Milan Motorcycle Show in 2011 in three models – Base, S and Tricolore – it was instantly tipped as being one of the must buys of the year and, 3 years after its release, it is still going strong. Indeed, the recent surge in Ducati made bikes that have been bought in North America in 2012 was largely down to the success of the 1199 and it has been rewarded with some 30 accolades and rewards since it was introduced to the world. However, what makes the bike so special and so popular? Reducing The Weight The vast majority of enthusiasts, not just Ducati fans, will tell you that the 1199 marked a shift in Ducati’s history in terms of the kind of technology that was being used on their bikes and set the tone for the future. The Panigale can be seen to be somewhat of a watershed moment for the Italian firm and its historical significance cannot be stressed enough. Essentially Ducati ripped everything up and decided to go with something different for this model. Weighing around 414.5 pounds, the 1199 is over 20 pounds lighter than its previous incarnation the 1198. This was largely down to several things: new die cast aluminum monocoque frame that came with airbox integration, magnesium alloy front subframe, rear subframe and finally a single-sided swingarm. These features were all made significantly lighter than before and with lighter wheels and an overall weight reduction was achieved. One of the phrases that came to market the 1199 was the fact that is boasted the higher power to weight ratio of any production bike that was out at the time. For riders of the 1199 then this was something that was noticeable on their first outing; many commented that it was a much more manageable bike than previous models and bestowed a feeling of confidence over the rider. Its reduced weight further helped it to speed around the track of road without any problems. New Technology A good way of looking at the 1199 Panigale is to see it as a revolution as opposed to an evolution of biking technology. It brought in many new features to the biking world and helped to refine a lot of pre-existing ones too. At the time it was the most high-tech bike in existence that had been released; the twin-cylinder production engine also boasted to be the most powerful around. On top of this you also had Ducati’s Riding Mode which for many people really defined that the 1199 was all about: it brought a new riding experience to Ducati and succeeded in successfully integrating technology into a very manual intensive ride. .. the wind kicked up and brought along with it mists of sand, which formed a thick enough layer on the tarmac to create small rooster tails behind our test bikes as they blasted through the circuit. These are times when electronics systems like ABS and traction control prove their worth So what made up this Riding Mode? Well, for a start, you had a new generation of ABS n addition to Ducati’s own traction control technology. Electronic suspension which allowed riders to save their own preferences, Engine Brake Control which allowed the bike to remain stable and on course even during some of the hardest breaks, a quick shift that let you shift without having to use the clutch and Race By Wire (RbW) was also present on this model. Quite a lot to be crammed into one bike it must be said. However, it worked. There were different riding modes that the user could set which combined some if not all of the technologies listed above: Race Riding Mode which let the rider tap into the full 195hp on the track and reduced the amount of intervention that the likes of the traction control had. Sport Riding Mode increased the traction somewhat and made the RbW a lot smoother. Wet Riding Mode gave 120hp to the rider, had a big increase in intervention and optimised the whole system to deal with low grip. So the 1199 Pangale certainly packed a lot into one bike however most, if not all, of the technology was well received by those who purchased and rode it. While the argument of who had the most control, the rider or the bike, will continue to rage on just about every model for a while yet, the fact is that this offering from Ducati allowed pretty much as little or as much intervention and control as you wanted hence its popularity and acceptance of technology on the road. Riding The 1199 Compared to the 1198, the new Panigale was far less ‘intimidating’ and much more manageable on the track or on the road. Some users commented that it was incredibly sharp in its handling and others said that it could easily be thrown into a turn and keep a firm grip on any kind of tarmac. It obviously depends what mode you have the bike on in regards to how it rides but even with the ‘off the shelf’ settings it seemed to ride without much effort. Riding the 1199 in bad weather or unsuitable conditions really gave a good test as to how the bike would perform compared to previous models. As one reviewer stated: “.. the wind kicked up and brought along with it mists of sand, which formed a thick enough layer on the tarmac to create small rooster tails behind our test bikes as they blasted through the circuit. These are times when electronics systems like ABS and traction control prove their worth, offering a safety net that can make the difference between arcing gracefully through a turn and sliding off the track in an expensive red mess.As the weather worsened, the ride got more dramatic, especially towards the track’s straightaway, the longest in the Formula 1 circuit: there’s nothing quite accelerating out of a hard left turn, tucking as you blip through each gear, and holding the throttle until you reach an indicated 170 mph– all while fighting crosswinds that shift your bike several feet towards either side of the track … despite the worsening weather conditions, I could have lapped this bike for another several hours, so accommodating and thrilling were its track abilities.” One noticeable positive note was the improved TFT screen. Many bikes that utilize this TFT technology suffer from it becoming almost unreadable due to glare etc… and therefore pretty much useless however the 1199 came with an immunity to the glare that was suffered by many other models with everything from speed, tachometer and gears all neatly and prominently displayed. Comparing The 3 While the three models more or less have the same basic features, there are some differences between the three. The base and cheapest model has an aluminium Marzocchi 50mm fork fit that is fully adjustable. Indeed, this new version of the Marzocchi fork is the lightest around and combines well with the Sachs damper to further reduce that weight that we talked about earlier. The base model also has some difference between the other two namely a 10-spoke wheel set and lighting system that is makes use of partial LED light as opposed to being fully illuminated. The middle range ‘S’ model is pretty much the same as the base except for the fact that it can boast a full Ohlins suspension package and better LED lighting. In addition, if you purchase the S package then you also get a spare set of optional wider upper fairing winglets; while not exactly an upgrade or improvement on the base it adds a little extra for your money. Essentially the Tricolore is sold with everything in it. All the new technology is present here for all modes and all work together unlike certain bits and pieces working in the previous two models. While some of the features you may only find on the base of S models, the Tricolore has them all. Paying The Price So what kinds of prices can you expect to pay for the 1199 Panigale? Many people would argue that there are better priced options in the market: the Honda CBR100RR is around £12,000, the ZX-10R by Kawasaki comes in at £12,000 and Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 can be found for about £11,799. Bearing this in mind and you would be expected to shell out closer to £17,000. So, yes there are better priced similar models out there however do they come close to the performance that the 1199 offers? Indeed, the £17,000 only touches on the base model for the 1199 and the S model raises it up to about £21,000 and the R is increased again to nearer £27,000. There isn’t much that can come close to the Panigale when it comes to hardware, technology and performance hence why the price is inflated compared to what the market deems as similar models. The saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is one that is often overused and, in many cases just plain wrong, however it is not far off with the 1199 when compared to other models in its market. Placing the 1199 Panigale So, how can we sum up the 1199? It represented a shift in direction for Ducati and took the Italians into a new era of biking. Coming loaded with technology and other features obviously made it very attractive to many enthusiasts and consumers. Its vastly reduced weight as a result of some choice alterations in materials used gave it an edge on the track as well as the road. The likes of the RbW, ABS and electronic suspension further gave it an edge in the market and, at the time, it could proudly claim to be the most technologically advanced and laden bike out there. The fact that it came with 3 different riding modes further emphasized just how personal and customizable it could actually be. It received almost universal acclaim for its performance. While not overall successful on the track it certainly won many admirers for the way it handled on the road with the lightweight feel and control big bonuses. In fact, even with the amount of technology that was onboard the rider never feels out of control in the 1199 even when something like the traction control decides to kick in. Even in less than savoury conditions the 1199 seemed to handle well and this applied both on and off the track. While the 1199 is not the cheapest bike around the fact is that not much comes close to it in its category. While the Honda CBR100RR and the Kawasaki ZX-10R undoubtedly have their qualities, the fact is that the 1199 trumps them in pretty much all criteria sets. Why buy one? Well if you are after a performance based bike that performs as well on the track as it does on the road, comes loaded with all kinds of technology and can be found for a reasonable price considering what you are getting, then it is difficult to look past the 1199. It marked a defining moment not only for Ducati but for motorbike technology in general. Full Specifications: Engine: Liquid-cooled and fuel-injected 1,198cc L-twin Gearbox: Six-speed Clutch: Hydraulically actuated, self-servo slipper; includes electronic engine braking Final Drive: Chain Base Suspension: Fully adjustable 50mm Marzocchi with hard anodized aluminum lightweight slider (front), Fully adjustable Sachs with adjustable linkage (rear) S/Tricolore Suspension: Fully adjustable Öhlins NIX30 43mm with TiN with electronic compression and rebound damping adjustment (front), Fully adjustable Ohlins TTX36 unit with lectronic compression and rebound damping adjustment, adjustable linkage (rear) Front Brakes: Dual disc, 4-piston 330mm radially-mounted Brembo monobloc (ABS optional, adds 5.5 pounds) Rear Brakes: Single disc, 2-piston 245mm (ABS optional, adds 5.5 pounds) Electronics: Ducati Traction Control (DTS), Ducati Quick Shift (DQS), Electronic Brake Control (EBC), Riding Modes; Ducati Data Acquisition (DDA) optional on Base and S, standard on Tricolore Fuel Capacity: 4.5 gallons Seat Height: 32.48 inches Curb Weight: 414.5 pounds, 420 pounds for Tricolore Read the original post here.
