[ksanjee]

First impressions of the 1199 panigale - hmmmm not impressed with the looks..[performance looks to be kick-***]

Ducati Sito Ufficiale

While the 1098 front fairing resembled the T675 and CBR 600RR, the panigale has some traits of the original kawi 636...

Not impressed with the rear either..

Please bring back Bordi and Tamburini...

Krishna

[ksanjee]

Transition to wet clutch [bummer] but SSSA retained - I recall when 1098 was released, I was at Munroe Motors in SFO, CA [as soon as the first bike arrived on the west coast] measuring coordinates for adjustable rearsets and short offset triple clamps...wish I could do the same for the panigale..miss those days...

Krishna

[Randhawa]

Desmosedici RR still gets my vote but like the single sided swing arm and exhaust setup. Just 165Kg and 195bhp, 52F/48R weight distribution. Numbers seems promising.

[Sheel]

It is banned to post Pornography on forums.

Still clearing the drool & picking up my jaw.

Honestly I have found the MV's to be much more appealing. Though after 996, this somehow looks good

[Scorcher]

*Having a crisis, having a crisis, Ah..had a crisis*

Pornography indeed.

I though nothing ever could match the MV Agusta levels of perfection. Ducati just proved me wrong and boy, am I glad?

Pheww! What-A-Bike. Goes straight into my wishlist.

[ksanjee]

Look forward to seeing it in flesh.

The exhaust plumbing looks interesting with the bottom exit and cannister portraying a "Buell-ish" look? and the shock mount unconventional [and bold] for a modern day superbike that is supposed to inherit concepts from the highest levels of racing - MotoGP?

BUT if you look at the rocker mounting it is quite unique/complex/radical indeed - need to see it in person and hear comments from club racers.

This is interesting to me since I had designed a flatter rear shock rocker [similar to the unique specimen found on the 749r] for the 1098 series and ended up selling one of the two prototypes to a well known race shop in California. I never produced it in quantity however.

Krishna

[Randhawa]

Originally Posted by ksanjee

Look forward to seeing it in flesh.

The exhaust plumbing looks interesting with the bottom exit and cannister portraying a "Buell-ish" look? and the shock mount unconventional [and bold] for a modern day superbike that is supposed to inherit concepts from the highest levels of racing - MotoGP?

Krishna

I was thinking it does looks like something I have seen before, now you have mentioned it. It indeed looks a bit like a Buell as in the last picture.

[ksanjee]

Here we see yet another evolution of the VTwin desmoquattro:

From the basic Desmoquattro [4v/cyl Desmodromic actuation] pioneered in the late 80s 851 superbike] to Testastretta [narrow-head of the early 90s] to the new superquadro [ultra/super square]

Evolution is clearly not the right word here. Apart from the fact that it is an L-Twin that uses 4V/cyl with desmodromic actuation, there is very little in common with its predecessor.

851 to 888 to 916 to 996 could be classified as evolution - with bore/stroke increments and of course other changes in valve size etc. But the first real overhaul [for the lack of a better vernacular] came with the 996R that featured the testastretta motor - I used to have a side-by-side comparison of the two motors.

With the 1199 Panigale, it would be moot to have such a comparison given it was developed from the ground-up. A few interesting things - gear driven cams [not a new concept - RC30 and even VFRs had them back in the 80s - but new to Ducati], mechanism to release? compression while starting given the massive pistons, wet slipper clutch, ride by wire, constant vacuum crank case. The radiator looks massive.

Look forward to ride reports from testers/owners and to seeing (riding) it.

-Krishna

[suhaas307]

I'm not really a fan of two-wheels as much as four. But there is something about this new Ducati that makes me go seriously weak in the knees. The detailing is superb! Just look at that under-carriage exhaust so very neatly tucked-in, and streamlined to sit flush with the body-work. Reminds me of the famed late '90s Buells. Absolutely phenomenal!

[JVH]

With this, I would say the 1198 SP would be now a collector's item. If given a choice, I would prefer the 1198 SP than the Panigale. Why? It looks unlike a Ducati, I don't know why. Don't get me wrong, its beautiful in its own way and the specs are too good to believe.

Its amazing how Ducati comes with a compact yet powerful and stylish packages. There's no extra muscle, forget the fat

[ksanjee]

Hollywood debut with VIP guests [by invite only] - it does emobody the frameless MotoGP concept - hard to see it in pics - but with its skin off, it should look radical. With the GP12 going back to conventional chassis, this would be the most cutting edge when it comes to radical design!

Krishna

[Shivank]

Is it true that the Panigale recorded over 370 clicks on the Mugello straight?

I read it in Zig Wheels and since then I am just staggered!

No official confirmation on this by Ducati or any road-tests (are there any?), but still, 370 kph for a road-going bone-stock bike. If that's true, it will munch every MotoGP bike produced or raced in the world ever. Scarcely believable!

Also, as JVH pointed out, I would also prefer some other Ducati over this (848?).

It's a fantastic looker but I prefer RSV4 better. IMO, the Aprilia looks sharper and comes for cheaper money too. Just my honest views...

[ksanjee]

The Panigale embodies a frame-less chassis concept the very same ideology that has plagued the MotoGP machine - although GP11 emloyed liberal usage of CF and the result was an extremely rigid package which even Rossi has failed to tame. Stop-gap fixes like Alum brackets were ineffective.

And here we have the 2012 R1 featuring a frame with 37% more flex!

Hmmm .. eagerly awaiting test reports..

Krishna

[ksanjee]

Well looks like the Panigale is indeed a revolutionary stride in sport bikes [not just twins] -

Alan Cathcart's review -

Cycle News - February 23, 2012

180.2 kgs with 3 liters of petrol compared to 199.2 for RSV4 and 198.7 for S1000RR.

What plagued MotoGP should not affect the Panigale - unless you are racing with the same tires and close to that level.

It is packed with Electronic aids [at least 6 ECUs] - electronic adjustments for forks and shock, adjustable back torque with a slipper of course, traction control, ABS, ...

The L-Twin tilted back [looks like a true V-Twin], longer swing arm, shorter reach to handle bars, rev-happy twin with a super short stroke [low end torque lesser than the 1198 - but more usable motor to avoid lurid wheelies out of every turn]

Cathcart recorded 175-ish on the YasMarina straight but with Bayliss on-board close 186+ MPH? [could be more]

It is amazing that the boundary conditions for this project were just two:
Desmo + 90 Deg twin..

-Krishna

[PPS]

To be launched soon in India according to this report.

Ducati To Launch 1199 Panigale In India | MotorBeam - Indian Car Bike News & Reviews