My test ride review of the Ducati 1299 Panigale S
Discussion
bass gt3 said:
So the dealer who let us test the R1 was back at the track and we managed to have a chat. Asked him why these others went so well and he admitted that the demo bike had been electronically neutered!!. Not sure what but he'd turned the systems down a lot. seems he didn't trust most of the clients he brought up from Durban!!
And on an aftermarket pipe they sound utterly sublime, very RSV4 ish. Trouble is the RSV4RR is available here much cheaper, something like 2000 pounds!!! That's a lot of groceries that can be added on....
And the R1 is getting as common as Dog s
t 
Didn't want to say anything when you posted your first impressions of the R1 as it would have come across as owner bias bullsAnd on an aftermarket pipe they sound utterly sublime, very RSV4 ish. Trouble is the RSV4RR is available here much cheaper, something like 2000 pounds!!! That's a lot of groceries that can be added on....
And the R1 is getting as common as Dog s
t Edited by bass gt3 on Monday 31st August 09:50
t but I found the R1 motor on another level compared to the V4 Factory (pre-RF) - that motor in an RF chassis would be something special 
legzr1 said:
If your idea of an inline4 is all smoothness then you're in for a shock when (if) you get a ride of the 2015 R1 - it feels a little rough and edgy with snappy throttle response and a pronounced surge at 6-7000 rpm but it's a (stiffly-suspended and damped) weapon.
Edited to add:
The 1299 is a lovely, lovely machine - was close to getting one myself instead of the R1 (the RSV4-RF was the other option) but limited supply locally and 'issues' with the Aprilia meant I went Jap with only a little regret.
Has to be the S though!! If you're in it for £17K may as well go the whole hog
Go standard and you'll only be pissed off when you pull up next to an S (luckily for me R1-Ms are pretty rare )
I'd be really interested to hear how the R1 is shaping up against your old RSV4 now that you've had it for a while, do they feel at all similar to ride?, I'd really love the new RSV4 RF but when I read about people having issues with them already and the fact it's £3k more expensive I'm really leaning towards the R1 instead.Edited to add:
The 1299 is a lovely, lovely machine - was close to getting one myself instead of the R1 (the RSV4-RF was the other option) but limited supply locally and 'issues' with the Aprilia meant I went Jap with only a little regret.
Has to be the S though!! If you're in it for £17K may as well go the whole hog
Go standard and you'll only be pissed off when you pull up next to an S (luckily for me R1-Ms are pretty rare
)Edited by legzr1 on Saturday 29th August 19:35
ccr32 said:
Obiwonkeyblokey said:
Also coming from the latest Blade, the Ducati certainly feels more special but initially I felt that it was easier to go faster on the Blade, but I think thats just down to getting used to a new bike.
I thought the exact same thing.yes it's not as easy doing under 40MPH on the Ducati and easier to do this on the blade but when the Panigale open's up it felt much quicker to get up to speed than my blade
I also went on Fowlers website and they did have sa request section for a test ride on the R1. So I filled and sent that away for a week friday. Wonder what the reply will be. I'm expecting no. but lets hope they have one to test
Walter Sobchak said:
I'd be really interested to hear how the R1 is shaping up against your old RSV4 now that you've had it for a while, do they feel at all similar to ride?, I'd really love the new RSV4 RF but when I read about people having issues with them already and the fact it's £3k more expensive I'm really leaning towards the R1 instead.
Apologies for taking the thread off topic (although it seems Remal is considering the R1 too so not too much off topic I guess).I had the Factory ABS model - ohlins, carbon and light wheels - lovely noise, lovely chassis, lovely build-quality and attention to detail.
I was never impressed with the engine though - way over-geared as standard but around as quick as an 08 Blade in real life.
I was even less impressed by the constant coolant leakages and warning lights on the dash - back to the dealers three times in the first six months with no real diagnosis - reset and go and fingers crossed seemed the way to deal with it apparently
But, that chassis!
Lots of annoying thins with it too - that polished top york looks lovely until you realise it reflects light on the already difficult to read clocks making it almost impossible to see your speedo or TC settings etc. Gaffer tape did the trick but looked s
t.Fuelling on the 2013> models was pretty crap below 6000 rpm - sorted with an ecu reflash but warranty void on a £17K bike already known for being a little fickle? Not for me, thanks.
R1.
After a few months on mine I wouldn't go back to the RSV4 (maybe an 1100 Tuono....).
Smoother pull lower down with a pronounced kick at around 7000rpm, a change in engine note (air box ?) then a lovely, long and searing top end with an easy to read TFT dash telling you what you need to know with a quick glance - I love the way it changes colour from grey when you're pootling/short-shifting (the QS works better than aprilias), goes green just as the mid changes to top end then orange when its really hauling - it all goes red when it's time for the next gear...
I '.slightly' prefer the Aprilia handling but I've always likes Ohlins (even the OE stuff) - the R1'gets a little choppy at times on rough roads where the RSV4 would take everything in its stride - the Aprilia always amazed me with its willingness to turn while still feeling planted on long sweepers.
The R1 is good (better than me) but the Aprilia is just nicer - never ridden one with the Sachs suspension so the base RR model might not manage the trick (the Sachs fitted to the BMW weren't in the same league as the Ohlins).
Brakes - I love Brembo, I want Brembo ! Nowt wrong with the R1 but they don't have that 'feel' I like - maybe a change of m/c will help.
The R1 just feels more accomplished with a far stronger engine in a really decent chassis without any reliability worries (whether imagined or not).
I'm not sure what dyno curves or bhp figures prove but what I know is this R1 jumps out of corners quicker than a 2014 ZX10 , 2010 Blade and a 2013 1199 - not played with a 1299 yet but I'm guessing they're going to be a little quicker.
legzr1 said:
I'm not sure what dyno curves or bhp figures prove but what I know is this R1 jumps out of corners quicker than a 2014 ZX10 , 2010 Blade and a 2013 1199 - not played with a 1299 yet but I'm guessing they're going to be a little quicker.
It can't out drag a 12 year old R1 out of corners though!On the 2015 there's also a bar on the right hand side of the clocks that shows how much brake pressure you're applying. (I tried it at standstill)
legzr1 said:
Walter Sobchak said:
I'd be really interested to hear how the R1 is shaping up against your old RSV4 now that you've had it for a while, do they feel at all similar to ride?, I'd really love the new RSV4 RF but when I read about people having issues with them already and the fact it's £3k more expensive I'm really leaning towards the R1 instead.
Apologies for taking the thread off topic (although it seems Remal is considering the R1 too so not too much off topic I guess).I had the Factory ABS model - ohlins, carbon and light wheels - lovely noise, lovely chassis, lovely build-quality and attention to detail.
I was never impressed with the engine though - way over-geared as standard but around as quick as an 08 Blade in real life.
I was even less impressed by the constant coolant leakages and warning lights on the dash - back to the dealers three times in the first six months with no real diagnosis - reset and go and fingers crossed seemed the way to deal with it apparently
But, that chassis!
Lots of annoying thins with it too - that polished top york looks lovely until you realise it reflects light on the already difficult to read clocks making it almost impossible to see your speedo or TC settings etc. Gaffer tape did the trick but looked s
t.Fuelling on the 2013> models was pretty crap below 6000 rpm - sorted with an ecu reflash but warranty void on a £17K bike already known for being a little fickle? Not for me, thanks.
R1.
After a few months on mine I wouldn't go back to the RSV4 (maybe an 1100 Tuono....).
Smoother pull lower down with a pronounced kick at around 7000rpm, a change in engine note (air box ?) then a lovely, long and searing top end with an easy to read TFT dash telling you what you need to know with a quick glance - I love the way it changes colour from grey when you're pootling/short-shifting (the QS works better than aprilias), goes green just as the mid changes to top end then orange when its really hauling - it all goes red when it's time for the next gear...
I '.slightly' prefer the Aprilia handling but I've always likes Ohlins (even the OE stuff) - the R1'gets a little choppy at times on rough roads where the RSV4 would take everything in its stride - the Aprilia always amazed me with its willingness to turn while still feeling planted on long sweepers.
The R1 is good (better than me) but the Aprilia is just nicer - never ridden one with the Sachs suspension so the base RR model might not manage the trick (the Sachs fitted to the BMW weren't in the same league as the Ohlins).
Brakes - I love Brembo, I want Brembo ! Nowt wrong with the R1 but they don't have that 'feel' I like - maybe a change of m/c will help.
The R1 just feels more accomplished with a far stronger engine in a really decent chassis without any reliability worries (whether imagined or not).
I'm not sure what dyno curves or bhp figures prove but what I know is this R1 jumps out of corners quicker than a 2014 ZX10 , 2010 Blade and a 2013 1199 - not played with a 1299 yet but I'm guessing they're going to be a little quicker.
I've even been buying a few bike mags again. mainly to see what peoples views on the 1299 and R1 is like
I would have a test ride on a H2 which I love the looks of and added Supercharger for the pub talk lol. But at 22k it's 4-6k out of my realistic budget. I could buy it but for me it's just to much money for a bike. Really looking at max 15-16k
RemaL said:
legzr1 said:
Walter Sobchak said:
I'd be really interested to hear how the R1 is shaping up against your old RSV4 now that you've had it for a while, do they feel at all similar to ride?, I'd really love the new RSV4 RF but when I read about people having issues with them already and the fact it's £3k more expensive I'm really leaning towards the R1 instead.
Apologies for taking the thread off topic (although it seems Remal is considering the R1 too so not too much off topic I guess).I had the Factory ABS model - ohlins, carbon and light wheels - lovely noise, lovely chassis, lovely build-quality and attention to detail.
I was never impressed with the engine though - way over-geared as standard but around as quick as an 08 Blade in real life.
I was even less impressed by the constant coolant leakages and warning lights on the dash - back to the dealers three times in the first six months with no real diagnosis - reset and go and fingers crossed seemed the way to deal with it apparently
But, that chassis!
Lots of annoying thins with it too - that polished top york looks lovely until you realise it reflects light on the already difficult to read clocks making it almost impossible to see your speedo or TC settings etc. Gaffer tape did the trick but looked s
t.Fuelling on the 2013> models was pretty crap below 6000 rpm - sorted with an ecu reflash but warranty void on a £17K bike already known for being a little fickle? Not for me, thanks.
R1.
After a few months on mine I wouldn't go back to the RSV4 (maybe an 1100 Tuono....).
Smoother pull lower down with a pronounced kick at around 7000rpm, a change in engine note (air box ?) then a lovely, long and searing top end with an easy to read TFT dash telling you what you need to know with a quick glance - I love the way it changes colour from grey when you're pootling/short-shifting (the QS works better than aprilias), goes green just as the mid changes to top end then orange when its really hauling - it all goes red when it's time for the next gear...
I '.slightly' prefer the Aprilia handling but I've always likes Ohlins (even the OE stuff) - the R1'gets a little choppy at times on rough roads where the RSV4 would take everything in its stride - the Aprilia always amazed me with its willingness to turn while still feeling planted on long sweepers.
The R1 is good (better than me) but the Aprilia is just nicer - never ridden one with the Sachs suspension so the base RR model might not manage the trick (the Sachs fitted to the BMW weren't in the same league as the Ohlins).
Brakes - I love Brembo, I want Brembo ! Nowt wrong with the R1 but they don't have that 'feel' I like - maybe a change of m/c will help.
The R1 just feels more accomplished with a far stronger engine in a really decent chassis without any reliability worries (whether imagined or not).
I'm not sure what dyno curves or bhp figures prove but what I know is this R1 jumps out of corners quicker than a 2014 ZX10 , 2010 Blade and a 2013 1199 - not played with a 1299 yet but I'm guessing they're going to be a little quicker.
I've even been buying a few bike mags again. mainly to see what peoples views on the 1299 and R1 is like
I would have a test ride on a H2 which I love the looks of and added Supercharger for the pub talk lol. But at 22k it's 4-6k out of my realistic budget. I could buy it but for me it's just to much money for a bike. Really looking at max 15-16k
All I can say is WOW!! and at 2k under the R1 here, it's no contest. I'll write a little piece but try one for yourself
legzr1 said:
bass gt3 said:
Just had a test on the new RSV4 RR.
All I can say is WOW!! and at 2k under the R1 here, it's no contest. I'll write a little piece but try one for yourself
Don't bother - anything you type will be dismissed by me as biased Aprilia love-in All I can say is WOW!! and at 2k under the R1 here, it's no contest. I'll write a little piece but try one for yourself
But I honestly wanted to not like it. But it is like night and day compared to my 2012. I've really had my head turned by the R1's at Phakisa last weekend and was starting to wind up the justification motor for going blue.
But if you haven't tried the RR, I'd say do it, regardless of whether you're in the market. You won't believe the difference to your '13
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