So, just to understand - you get a Panigale S/R with: 1. Magnesium front subframe/airbox (cost not sure) 2. Mag wheels (cost £3.5k for Genesis Marchesini forged mag) 3. Different forks (FG03 Desmosedici forks were about a £3.5k add-on for 1098 range) 4. Carbon fairings (to put in the garage amongst all the others you don't use whilst your bike lives in £500 track fairings!) 5. A few additional mag engine casings 6. Different rear subframe? Different swingarm? 7. I am sure some of the engine components will be slightly modified S/R versions 8. Brakes etc all look like OEM or Brembo SBK upgrades (plus £2k max), same rotors etc... Am I missing something? How does that add up to almost two 1199R's? Do you think you still get a set of the worlds worst, most slippery useless OEM rearsets?!?! Hopefully at least some unobtainium ones come in the box.... I am just waiting for them to sort out the electronics package (snatchy, inconsistent hair trigger throttle, throttle/engine control etc) and the handling (chassis) on mine...... any progress there would be good...... I am sure it will look fab, and be as light as a feather, but looks like a lot of coin for a blinged up R....? The Desmo was a completely different beast - completely original, completely unique, GP-bike architecture. Will wait until I see one, but not convinced on the basis of the piccies..... Hopefully the new owners and depositors will be happy - and hopefully those pictures don't do it justice.
Yup, Asphalt & Rubber have posted all the pics and videos from the (invite only) teaser site! Pics: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/ducati-1199-panigale-r-superleggera-photo-leak/ Videos: More Video Goodness of the Ducati Superleggera
It's going to look great, of that there is no doubt. However, for this kind of money you could take a used 1098R, spend 10k on it and end up with a prettier and much better bike. Or, buy a use Desmo and have 20k left.
So.... what happened to Ducati making changes to the bike in order to be more competitive in WSBK? It doesn't look like that's going to happen is it? many have talked about the fact that the bore and stroke is restricting power output and it's lost torque but I don't see any change here? I can't see where they are going with this bike. I could if they had never made the 'R' and this one was £30k but not when there is an 'R' in the range also. I'm confused... I don't know what they are doing!!
As an alternative interpretation, I just wonder if this is a 'run out special' variant of the panhandle rather than a homologation special. It's fairly common practice in the car world to sell the final model variant as a blinged up limited edition special (eg Porsche GT3 RS 4.0). It's usually done in part to limit the potential discounting needed to move the last few once a new model has been announced and protect the margins. I know Ducati haven't announced a new model..........yet, but given the Panigale's poor results combined with the new money and influence of Audi, it's feasible that they could kill off the Pani and bring in something completely new for the 2015 WSBK season....or maybe even sooner. Just a thought......
Interesting re a "run out" bike theory... But how could you in effect bin the Panigale ? What message would that send out ? OR If you are right about rewriting the Pani, we could end up with a trellis framed, double sided swinger v4 powered bike. You never know.
I got one (previously bought 998r and 999r but didn't bother with the 1098r as had enough of being bent over on chopping them in etc)
I'd have gone to have a little look.....but abit short notice to sort time off work....& to be honest.....I'm thinking the same as you.......not that interested.....very expensive for what it is & not overly taken with the 1199.....don't like the under engine exhaust & the rear shock on the left of the bike doesn't do it for me!!
Got one too today, which made me smile. Had no idea. They clearly haven't read my feedback on the Panigale I already have! Still be nice to see what they come up with....... but I still want another v4 Desmo type bike. I wanted a Stoner 800cc v4..... once they susnsetted that MotoGP variant they could have easily done so on the back of the success of that bike.
