Ducati 1299 Panigale unveiled at EICMA
New flagship motorcycles seem the order of the day with Kawasaki and Yamaha talking about the H2 and R1, respectively. Not one to be left behind, Italian manufacturer Ducati has unveiled its revised flagship bike, the 1299 Panigale. As expected, the new 1299 Panigale gets more power, a larger engine, tweaked brakes and suspensions, and a slight redesign. The superbike will be available in base and S trims, with the S getting 4Nm more and Ohlins Smart EC, an ‘event-based control system for the suspension’.
For the 1299, Ducati has taken the 1199 Panigale’s engine, and rebored to 1285cc. This in-line four-pot engine now makes 205bhp and 145Nm of peak torque.
A new electronics package comes with the 2015 model, so cornering ABS and Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) will be offered. The quick shift system available earlier has been tweaked to now work during down-shifting as well. The Italian bike maker also claims that the Engine Brake Control (EBC) has been optimised by an automatic calibration system, allowing for easy changes in tyre size and final drive ratio.
An array of electronic aids (in addition to the ones in the brake and suspension set up) offer a new riding experience as the damping and compression in the front forks increases to boost stability during braking for a corner. Mid-corner, the lean-angle sensors detect the bike’s angle, releasing the damping to improve control. The new ABS can be tweaked for both corner entry and manipulation mid-corner. During exits, the rear suspension stiffens to provide more grip and wheelie control — borrowed from the Superleggera — lets you dial in the right amount of lift, similar to what’s on offer from the BMW S1000 RR.
Chassis set-up has been altered too — a new steering head angle and 4mm lower fork pivot increase agility and rear traction compared to the 1199, according to Ducati.
Design has been revised with a wider nose fairing, larger screen and a new tail piece divided into two sections. The 1299 also gets with a new seat, which the manufacturer claims is more comfortable.
Many were divided on how Ducati’s newest superbike will be able to participate in the World Superbike Championship as its cubic capacity exceeds the chapionship’s norms. Ducati’s solution is to offer the new 1299 Panigale R with the same old 1,198cc motor, complete with a tungsten-balanced crankshaft and having more or less the same output. It also comes equipped with a full Akropovič titanium exhaust, Ohlins springs, Ducati’s data acquisition system, and tips the scales at 184kg wet.
