REVOLUTION IN RED

Ducati’s original Panigale model remains one of a kind.

In 2012 we all got very excited indeed. And rightly so. Ducati were about to release an all-new superbike and considering just how impressive the outgoing 1198 was, the newest entry to the Bologna sportsbike stable was certain to be a thoroughbred. And when it arrived the 1199 Panigale certainly didn’t disappoint as Ducati had pushed the boundaries of not only the V-twin engine, but also modern chassis technology and electronic rider assists. A revolution in red was ready to be unleashed…

The 1199 Panigale moved Ducati in a fresh direction in a few aspects of its design. First of all, and most noticeably for Ducati purists, the all-new Superquadro engine lacked Ducati’s traditional cam belts, instead using cam chains. This move helped Ducati not only extend the desmo service intervals to an impressive (and money saving) 15,000-miles, but also allowed the engine to make more power. Thankfully it was still a 90° V-twin (for now) but with a huge 112mm bore and ultra-short 60.8mm stroke, it was knocking on the door of a V-twin motor’s ultimate limits and only had a finite amount of expansion before a radical departure was required. And we all know what happened next.

On the chassis front, the Panigale also turned its back on years of tradition and instead of a steel trellis an aluminium monocoque incorporates the headstock and airbox while the motor, which is a stressed member of the chassis, supports the swingarm pivot point and subframe. Claimed by Ducati to save 5kg in weight over a trellis, while also centralising the bike’s mass better for improved agility and improved stiffness, it was a radical solution. If not one that had proven overly successful on the race track in MotoGP…

However, while engineering advancements were all well and good, with BMW pushing the importance of electronic assists with their S1000RR, Ducati also needed to up their game in terms of technology. And boy did they do that!

Boasting traction control, ABS, engine braking control, a quickshifter, data analyser, rider modes and a TFT dash, the Panigale was right up there with the BMW. And the S model even added Öhlins electronically adjustable suspension, which while not semi-active did alter its damping according to which of the three rider modes was selected. It’s fair to say the Panigale was a Ducati sportsbike like no other – which is exactly how it rode.

Back in 2012 the 1199 Panigale S fried Fast Bikes’ brains. Bringing so much technology, obscene amounts of power and a staggeringly agile chassis to the table, the Ducati was one of the very few bikes to score a perfect 10/10 in not only our launch report, but also the first comparison test when we got one back in the UK. It was, quite simply, amazing. And even six years on it remains hugely impressive, despite being overshadowed slightly by the 1299 and also the new V4.

If you are used to older Ducati models, initially the 1199 feels a bit weird. It’s short, stiff and very, very small. Not only that, even with a stock exhaust it’s bloody loud and with a Termi bordering on offensive. In fact it’s so loud, even with an OE can you will struggle to get it on some trackdays. But get rolling and it starts to become more familiar.

Where the 1198’s sheer grunt was a touch intimidating, thanks not only to the electronics but also the new engine the Panigale is far more relaxed in its power delivery. Happy to ride around low in the rev range with minimal stuttering, the Panigale feels far more refined than the raw 1198 at low speed while still packing one hell of a punch whenever revs rise.

Hit 8000rpm and the Panigale goes bat shit. The motor’s whole character changes and it just slips into warp speed as you slam gears home using the excellent quickshifter. This is a bike that loves to be nailed everywhere and where the Brembo brakes and Öhlins suspension can feel a little unforgiving in their action on the road, get the Panigale on track and it all makes perfect sense.

A smooth track, hot day and sticky tyres and it doesn’t get much better than an 1199 Panigale S. Commit to corners like your life depends on it and the Panigale just gets better and better, lapping up all the abuse you can give it and demanding more as the electronic assist all

play their part in helping only your lap times tumble, not the bike itself! This really is a race refugee for the road, although sadly for the Panigale it is also the only model of Ducati’s superbike dynasty to never win a WSB championship.

With a price tag that is still very salty, and now superseded by the V4, it is hard to justify buying such an expensive motorcycle as the 1199 Panigale. But this is a very special machine and that counts for a lot. Rawer and more engaging than the 1299 due to its less sophisticated electronics, the 1199 Panigale is brimming with Ducati’s determination to win on track while also looking drop-dead gorgeous in a way that only an Italian sportsbike can. To be honest, the term ‘special’ doesn’t really do an 1199 Panigale justice – it's a little bit more than special; maybe bellissimo is more appropriate…

The Panigale was an exciting prospect.

Pick a line, any line.

Nice arse. The standard Panigale swaps the S model’s electronically adjustable Öhlins for fully-adjustable Marzocchi forks and a Sachs shock, runs cast wheels instead of Marchesini forged ones and has the option of ABS where on the S it is standard fitment. The S also has LED lights all-round where the stock model doesn’t. Ducati’s data analyser (DDA) is an optional extra on the stock and S where it is standard on the top- of-the range Tricolore S. Power, electronic assists and chassis are identical on the S and base model. The Panigale has been subject to a surprising number of recalls with the rear brake pad material coming loose, the exhaust butterfly cable support needing replacement, the Öhlins steering damper’s bearing replaced, the front master cylinder having issues, the swingarm shafts needing checking for correct tightness and the shock’s piston rod working loose. Ensure all have been completed as they are all potentially fairly serious safety issues.

Poetry in motion.

The 1199 Panigale will always be a very special machine.