End of an Era
Ducati’s 1299 Panigale R Final Edition marks the end of a scintillating V-twin era as the company moves towards a V4 future
FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, DUCATI’S powerful and racy V-twins — or L-twins, as Ducati call it — have dominated the World Superbike Championship, winning 17 titles since the inception of WSBK. Raymond Roche, Doug Polen, Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss, Carlos Checa, and Chaz Davies — all have put an entertaining show for the world on motorcycles that was based on the company’s roadgoing line-up. And it is this very line-up of superbikes that has won hearts and championships, helping the Italian firm create its modern identity based on the V-twin engines.
Now, however, Ducati have decided to end their association with high-powered V-twins owing to strong competition from the Japanese in-line fours. Just about a month ago, Claudio Domenicalli, CEO, Ducati, announced that the company was working on a V4 engine that would be seen in the firm’s next superbike and would also compete in World Superbike in 2019. Nevertheless, Ducati’s way of bidding adieu to the famous L-twin engine is indeed a remarkable one.
Enter the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition, the last of its kind. This new Panigale R, in the beautiful tri-colour paint job, is the epitome of the brilliant technology and engineering that we have come to appreciate in the Panigale series. Because the Final Edition uses the best components from various variants of the
Panigale to create what possibly could become a collectors’ item.
The V-twin engine of the Final Edition is derived from the awesome and jawdropping 1299 Superleggera. With the same displacement, the Superquadro L-twin makes 209 PS at 11,000 rpm and 142 Nm at 9,000 rpm. A lightened crank, tungsten balancing pads, larger intake and exhaust valves, Superleggera’s clutch, optimised intake for each cylinder, and soul-stirring Akrapovic exhaust system make the Final Edition’s engine quite a potent one.
Another technical marvel, the die-cast aluminium monocoque structure, comes straight from the R variant. Suspension bits are all top-notch with Öhlins 43-mm NIX 30 upside down (USD) forks at the front and a TTX36 monoshock at the rear. There is an Öhlins adjustable steering damper as well. Braking is taken care of by brilliant Brembo M50 monobloc calipers. Ducati have also employed lightweight, three-spoke, forged alloy wheels that are shod with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP rubber. You also get all the safety and rider aids such as Ducati’s traction control, ABS, engine braking, data logging, wheelie control, and a quick-shifter.
The best part of the Final Edition is that there is no limitation to the number of units on sale, which, incidentally, is great news for anyone prepared to shell out a whopping Rs 59.18 lakh. The price is steep but then this is a special motorcycle.