What's most shocking is that Ducati knew Euro 4 was coming and since products are developed over much longer time scales than each individual product release suggests I don't understand how the panigale platform was not designed at the outset with the capability to accommodate an aesthetically pleasing compliant exhaust at this stage of its product cycle. I can't believe that a company would simply forget, unfortunately that's what the end result looks like. That can't be the explanation. If this is a calculated design decision was it made at the outset in order to have at least a few years sales of the pure panigale design? Or might it mean that a replacement bike is nearing completion that is Euro 4/5/6 compliant and looks nice?
I agree it looks like a complete after thought. Surely an underseat system could have been designed to comply with the regs. Just wonder if they originally intended to 'cheat' the emissions like their 4 wheeled partners did only to ditch the plans when VW were caught out. Certainly looks like a quick fix which imo completely ruins the bike.
I never thought about that. That's one explanation. Were the early spy shots we've seen taken before of after the VW scandal came to light?
Don't forget there is a US version of the bike, the Euro 4 version is just a modified version of that. I would guess they thought they could comply to Euro 4 with the old design but had this a back-up. Time will tell if the 1299 will suffer the same fate, they have more time and a higher price target to play with.
That's a very interesting point. Panorama tested the VW and when it knew it was being tested (started from cold, as per test) it passed with flying colours. Then they tested it again (hot engine) and it failed miserably. Interestingly, they did the same thing with a Vauxhall and got the same result - a failure second time around. This leads you to suspect that test-cheating is endemic, not a one-off with one company. Once you have found the software fix for the tests, why wouldn't you extend it across all vehicles? Engineers must change companies too and bring the knowledge they have of test-cheating with them. Wouldn't surprise me if there has been some frantic back-pedalling of late.
Worth considering that development 'cycles' are often done in minimum 18month-2years advance so when defining the spec they may have not known the exact Euro 4 deadline date as it kept getting moved according to all sources, so this may be a bodge that's had to be pushed through in the final phase, tbh... I'm kinda used to them now, I don't like the front of the 959 and 1299 so I'm in a happy place! I remember Triumph talking about the latest Daytona and saying that when they committed to the new model, they couldn't turn back after the sports bike market had collapsed, they were too committed as it takes so long to redevelop. Ducati have made changes to internal workings to quieten the motor, these are all costs that have to be managed some how so maybe the exhaust couldn't eat up more Dev time and road test time
@gliddofglood I was going to make same point about inter-company knowledge transfer - no way this is restricted just to VW, they we're just unlucky to be caught first.
Well I would be amazed if the revision comes with similar cans as the 959. One, because I'm sure Ducati don't want to go through all of this again, they must be getting quite bored of people (quite rightly) commenting on the nasty looking cans. Secondly as pointed out above they have the time and a more expensive bike to play with, so perhaps the 'better' exhaust will cost the customer more. This does stink of an after-thought and the VW emissions shizz could be exactly why we've seen this rush job.
DEFINITELY I work in the Telco industry, and it's so interbred that u can guarantee VW aren't alone here, they have taken risks but will not be the only ones. Plus everyone says 'VW' so that's the brand getting a slating but it is really VAG as an overall brand that deserve the stick. I know people who are not looking at Seats and Skodas because they 'won't buy a VW now!' Hmm okay.....
A big company like Ducati/VW would have had a contingency plan in place for sure... I think that's what we're seeing here.
think I got to page 14 and stopped reading....it seems everyone thinks the same thing - they look shocking and shouldn't have even been considered for bolting to such a bike. The side exit twin akra's remind me of something out of chitty chitty bang bang....and if anyone had a read of my "bike reviews" thread it was just confirmed on the 44th teeth website.... "The exhaust doesn’t bother me. I’m all about the ride, and couldn’t really care less if it had phallic extrusions or syphilis." To me that screams of either "we don't want to upset Mr Ducati" or "We're writing false information" - well, maybe not false information but, youre definitely not on the same wavelength as others/the majority Well, I think youre on your own on that one Mr Fagan, judging by what's transpired on this thread... On the other side of the coin, and it was me looking at buying one....id have to be able to afford the underseat exhausts or no purchase. With the advent of the new emissions law I think im almost at the point where id now not consider a new bike. My limit would be a SD1290 or (what im still gunning for) a hyper 1100 evo sp....the hyper 959...sorry - not enough...
Yeah, things I've picked out from the 44 teeth article: 1) the bike definitely has more rear grip, I do feel that the 899 seems to have rear grip but can feel vague, I've come from a 675r with Ohlins so I was spoilt but I can't always feel the rear tyre that well. 2) the front wags a little more, something the 899 definitely doesn't do, according to previous reviews and I've never had it kick on the road. 3) the shotgun akra's look good but don't give the bike any more noise, so perhaps worth considering as you are paying maybe £1300 to get an improved look and 1.5kg weight saving. Overall I am stunned with the lean angle they were all getting in those pics, I know they were on supercorsa sc2 race rubber (well played Ducati) but even so, looks impressive. Oh, and watching a video of someone dumping 3 gears and dropping the clutch at the end of the straight on a Ducati twin scares me a little but just shows how brilliant the big twins are these days, right from the 1098 series on, it's just that normally u needed a fancy aftermarket clutch. 4) maybe Ducati need to look at different pad compounds, I would like more bite from mine even at road speeds
Interesting as I find my brakes fantastic, anymore and I'd probably end up going over the bars lol! I agree about the head waving, I've not noticed it ever on mine, I hear the 1199 suffer a lot from this though.. I really can't get along with the 1299/959 front end, it's the corner vents, they look plop! Wouldn't mind a slipper clutch however, although it's not really a problem for me currently.
It's giving me ideas for mine, would really like to get my shock re-valved over winter, new brake pads (I blame the ABS actually for slightly soft feeling at first pull of the lever) and shorten the gearing a touch, which also helps around town which it's already pretty good at. I can't see why Ducati made the gearing longer for the 959, surely it's lessened the impact of the increase in power? Unless they were trying to lengthen the 2nd/3rd gears to make it more flexible
Id say do it. Im a bit of a convert....a little bit of sidetracking...my rsv4 factory has/had the usual ohlins shock on there....I read a comment on a thread that while yes, its ohlins, it is still their base product. And ive read countless numbers of times where people have said "ive just bought x bike, what upgrades do you recommend?" and one of the usual answers is suspension. As luck would have it a lad on the af1 forum was selling a Nitron r3 race pro shock which I got for 430 quid - he was the same weight as me so the spring was perfect. I sold my ohlins for 350 so it set me back 80 quid, worth the punt imo. What a difference! amazing, in fact, so much so that I replaced the stock "shocking" shock on my zed 1000 with a nitron r3 as well. More than chuffed.
Yeah, I've done it on other Bikes, left the suspension alone on the Daytona because it was amazing out the box, the 899 is good at the front, but I think the back can be improved so for £175 spent at MCT I'm going to try that.
Strangely the thing I noticed most was (on the RSV4) that I didn't have a numb arse....usually I can got for about an hour on it and that's it, off for a bit but the day I first tried it I was on it for 2 hours...could have carried on but needed fuel...excellent!
*Off topic warning* comfysofa - What has happened to your avatar? Your previous one was my favourite out of everyone's on the forum :cry:
