Has anyone ridden a Panigale? Impressions?

[usrodeo4]

Was just chatting with my salesman about the recall (FYI he said in America the dealers would be getting the parts packages in a couple weeks and the letters would then follow) and asked him how the Panigale looked...he said beautiful of course and told me they had a demo and if I could EVER get any time off work to drop over (It's a 90 min drive for me) and he'd let me take it for a buzz...having never ridden a Ducati...and the Panigale is crazy beautiful, I'm looking forward to taking him up on his offer...in a few weeks when I get a weekend off.

So has anyone ridden one? What did you think?? Compared to our scooters?

[MD-Dave]

They are very different rides. The power delivery is in the lower revs on the Panigale, versus the BMW. While the ergonomics are better for my body size, the BMW is better for me for longer rides. The Panigale runs hot. The heat from it detracts from the riding enjoyment. It may be better in leathers but in jeans, it is pretty uncomfortable. I have not taken it on the track yet, so some of my impressions may change when I do, but on street riding, it feels lighter and easier to flick. It really falls over easily into a corner. Almost surprisingly so. The BMW is a smoother ride too. Especially down low in the revs. The Panigale will buck a bit around 4-5k but strangely is ok lower and higher. I would expect it to smooth out higher, but it does smooth out in the lower range too. The Panigale sounds like a nasty machine, which I personally like. It feels and sounds like a race bike. It is twitchy and a little "rough" but I think that is part of the soul of a Ducati, barely tamed power. The BMW is more refined and clinical. I think, at this point, I will have better lap times on the BMW than I could on the Panigale. That is because of my skill level, not the bike. The BMW makes you a better rider and Ducati dares you to be better.


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[usrodeo4]

Thanks for the feedback...quite the stable you have there dude...

[MD-Dave]

Originally Posted by usrodeo4

Thanks for the feedback...quite the stable you have there dude...

Thanks. I have a very understanding wife.


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[FlamingLips]

Originally Posted by MD-Dave

... That is because of my skill level, not the bike. The BMW makes you a better rider and Ducati dares you to be better.

Intrigued by this statement, could you elaborate?

[MD-Dave]

Originally Posted by FlamingLips

Intrigued by this statement, could you elaborate?

I think the S1000RR is easier to ride fast, at my skill level, than the Panigale. I just started doing track days last summer. I have ridden cruisers and touring bikes for over 20 years but performance riding is a new world for me. If I was a better rider I think I may be faster on the Panigale, simply because it suits my riding style better. I love the feel of my Diavel coming out of a corner and having all that power available down low. The Panigale is closer to that. The power delivery on the Panigale is a bit more violent though. You need to be a bit more careful with your right wrist or you end up getting out of shape or pulling an unwanted wheelie. On the Beemer, you can crack the throttle and not worry as much since the power band is higher in the rev range.

I hope that was clearer. I do want to repeat though, I love both of them. They are just very different bikes.


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[RM4Two]

Originally Posted by MD-Dave

They are very different rides. The power delivery is in the lower revs on the Panigale, versus the BMW. While the ergonomics are better for my body size, the BMW is better for me for longer rides. The Panigale runs hot. The heat from it detracts from the riding enjoyment. It may be better in leathers but in jeans, it is pretty uncomfortable. I have not taken it on the track yet, so some of my impressions may change when I do, but on street riding, it feels lighter and easier to flick. It really falls over easily into a corner. Almost surprisingly so. The BMW is a smoother ride too. Especially down low in the revs. The Panigale will buck a bit around 4-5k but strangely is ok lower and higher. I would expect it to smooth out higher, but it does smooth out in the lower range too. The Panigale sounds like a nasty machine, which I personally like. It feels and sounds like a race bike. It is twitchy and a little "rough" but I think that is part of the soul of a Ducati, barely tamed power. The BMW is more refined and clinical. I think, at this point, I will have better lap times on the BMW than I could on the Panigale. That is because of my skill level, not the bike. The BMW makes you a better rider and Ducati dares you to be better.


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Haven ridden both and owning 1 (1199) this is the best unbiased opinion I've read on several forums. My only corrections would be 1) "The Panigale will buck a bit around 4-5k but strangely is ok lower and higher." My base with Termi slip-ons doesn't have this problem. I suspect it's because the Termis come with a custom fuel map? However, others have reported poor throttle response (surging) lower in the rpm range so.....? 2) "The BMW makes you a better rider and Ducati dares you to be better." I disagree. The S1k is a smoother bike no doubt but I think that's the nature of IL4's compared to twins? IMO, the 1199 is very confidence inspiring and simply falls into corners. No fuss or protesting, it just does where you point it.

[sbs]

I had the Panigale Tricolore on order. One of my friends owns the local Ducati/Triumph/MV Augusta dealership.

I was handed the keys to the Panigale S model and had it for an hour.

Lots of heat; not very good in traffic; I played with the suspension a LOT, but couldn't get the rear to be compliant enough; the front end felt vague and had a lack of feedback; the power is just not there.. if it is 195 HP, then the BMW S1000r is 215.. admittedly, I have a full Akrapovic and PCV with custom map, but still..

VERY, VERY disappointing in terms of power and has terrible midrange; it DOES change direction quite well, but the front end feel negates that benefit a bit.

Looks AMAZING! LOVE the dash!! Good brakes, but not as good as the BMW. ROCK HARD seat. The shock is in such a position that I repeatedly snagged my boot on it.

I canceled my order the next day, after wrestling with my decision. It came down to a question: Do I want to pay $30,000 for a Motorcycle that does nothing better than my present bike and quite a lot worse than it? The power was the real shocker for me.. just not in the BMW's league.. not even close.. The handling just wasn't right as far as I am concerned. The best handling bike I have ever ridden is my Triumph Daytona 675R model, but the BMW is really very close.. the Panigale just felt a bit "dead" or "flat"... lack of feedback.

Cheers.

[RM4Two]

Originally Posted by sbs

Lots of heat; not very good in traffic

Agreed. This certainly isn't a selling point for the bike,however it's no worse than the 1198 or 998. But for new owners this can be a problem.

Originally Posted by sbs

I played with the suspension a LOT, but couldn't get the rear to be compliant enough; the front end felt vague and had a lack of feedback;

Not trying to convince anyone of anything but I would suspect that the suspension was in the flat position; which is really for track use. I would suspect that if it was in the Progressive position (which is for the street) you "might" have felt differently. Over on the Ducati forum it's been discussed quite a bit, but we aren't sure why Ducati decided to ship the 1199 in the flat position by default?

[sbs]

Originally Posted by RM4Two

Agreed. This certainly isn't a selling point for the bike,however it's no worse than the 1198 or 998. But for new owners this can be a problem.



Not trying to convince anyone of anything but I would suspect that the suspension was in the flat position; which is really for track use. I would suspect that if it was in the Progressive position (which is for the street) you "might" have felt differently. Over on the Ducati forum it's been discussed quite a bit, but we aren't sure why Ducati decided to ship the 1199 in the flat position by default?

I tried almost every possible combination of suspension settings, but the rear end just felt as if it was valved incorrectly. The front was fine in terms of compliance and damping, but had an unsettling vagueness to it that left me wondering what the front end was doing. I am a front end rider, so I tend to ride the Bike depending on what the front is doing.

Before buying the BMW, I went to the local dealer convinced I was going to buy the Aprilia RSV-4.. but the BMW won me over... If it came to the Aprilia vs. the Panigale, I would chose the Panigale, but the S1000RR just works so well for me that I couldn't justify the Panigale.

I wish Triumph would get their act together and take the 675R and stuff a decent 180 HP triple in it... now THAT would be spectacular. I kid you not, the 675R is just amazing, just heads and shoulders above the stock 675.. best handling Motorcycle I have ever ridden and that includes ALL of the major brands.