Ducati 1199 Panigale – Preview

Ultimate performance, excellent technology, attractive personality, action-packed design: on track or on road, there’s nothing to beat the Ducati’s newly launched 1199 Panigale. Let’s now look at some features available with this red beauty. Ducati has launched three different models of 1199. The first one is 1199 Panigale.

1199 Panigale

This model is equipped with new aluminium front suspension forks and innovative mounting design at rear suspension unit. This version is also equipped with DTC, DQS, EBC and Power Mode combined into the Ducati Riding Modes. The 1199 Panigale is available in standard configuration with optional ABS.

1199 Panigale S

The 1199 Panigale S is equipped with damping controlled suspension, both on the front and on the rear. This model also equipped with adjustable steering damper. In addition, the model moves on super lightweight forged and machined wheels as used in Lamborghini’s cars, a carbon fibre front mudguard, full LED headlights and an “Aero kit”, which is an addition of wider fairing top-section. Other working systems are just like 1199 Panigale.

1199 Panigale S Tricolore

The 1199 Panigale S Tricolore version rejoice the arrival of the new generation Superbike, fitted with ABS as standard and sporting the proud Italian colours of red, white and green on the same bike.

The distinctive model carries the same equipment as the S version with the addition of the new generation DDA+ with special GPS lap time function as well as titanium racing muffler kit by Ducati Performance.

So now, let us look at to some extraordinary engineering features adopted by Ducati for 1199 Panigale.

Engine Based Frame Technology

The 1199 Panigale’s chassis represents a pioneering frame design in the history of bike industry. The frame designed for Panigale is unification of condensed and lightweight element. The Superquadro engine itself is main stress member of the frame, and forms an engine based frame design where engine itself acts as an integral part of frame and carries various load.

The engine based frame is directly attached to the cylinder heads of the Superquadro engine, obtruding the engine forward to assemble the steering system. This arrangement helps to generate more space for the airbox, which got sheltered and preserved under the lightweight aluminium fuel tank.

Suspensions

The electronic front suspensions used on Panigale is fully adjustable with respect to spring length and damping ratio. These suspension tuning can be made either by using the pre-programmed Riding Modes, or in independent mode, which allows riders to generate and use their own special combinations.

The rear suspension of the 1199 Panigale features a smart and convenient side-mounting instead of central monocross. This mounting helps to increase room for the rear cylinder head, which has been tilted more towards the rear to concentrate the mass. The exclusive positioning of rear suspension provides more free length of spring against pre-loading conditions and also helps to adjust seat elevation according to rider’s height.

Braking System

Ducati 1199 Panigale uses the four pistons callipers, two pistons on each side of the front disc. 330 mm diameter front discs allow quick heat rejection to attain stunning braking performance. The 1199 Panigale carries a very newest and for sport adjusted ABS to allow full combination with the three different programmed Riding Modes.

This ABS operates with the latest generation 9ME Bosch processor. When kept in Race mode, the system applies full ABS on the front wheel only. This allows the rider to have braking drift on the rear wheel during extreme riding conditions on race track. This ABS system also possesses a sophisticated and precise “Rear lift-up” sensor to measure the rear wheel lift. This sensor reads and feeds the lifting amount of rear wheel to the processor to avoid stoppie. Obviously this is done to avoid power loss as well as saving lap time.

Just like BMW’s DDC technology, this electronic combination of front and rear brakes, enables shorter braking distances by optimising brake force allotment between two wheels.

Wheel And Tyre

The 1199 Panigale comes loaded with newly designed 10-spoke wheels in 90 mm front rim width and 154 mm rear. All 1199 Panigale editions come with the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres. The front tyre has the same dimensions as other superbikes have which is 120/70 ZR17.

One extraordinary observable component on Panigale is its widest rear tyre ever used for any Ducati superbike. The designation for that widest rear tyre is 200/55 x ZR17. According to Ducati designers, this rear tyre is specially designed for accurate road holding and cornering. The rear widest tyre is to increases the contact patch area and vehicle speed at the time of turning to save the lap time consumed during racing.

Instrumentation Panel

One of the most attractive features of 1199 Panigale is its TFT (Thin Film Transistor) screen. Each and every reading is available on this screen while riding 1199 Panigale. These readings include speed, total distance travelled, lap time, gear indicator, temperatures, traction control modes, ABS modes, riding modes, quick shift ON/ OFF and engine braking ON/ OFF.

This panel can be used as a control panel to apply the appropriate settings in different systems like ABS, suspension, traction control etc when the 1199 Panigale is inactive. It is just like a touch screen computer working along with Bosch processor.

Ducati Traction Control (DTC)

The Ducati Traction Control (DTC) offers a choice of tractive effort output for the rider with which he wants to drive the Panigale. There are total eight different programmed contours are available for rider. Rider can choose any one according to his confidence level and experience. Rider can also change this traction control output during riding, no need to stop the enjoyment of Panigale.

Engine Brake Control (EBC)

We already have gone through this advanced feature available with Superquadro engine in its preview. The Engine Brake Control (EBC) system controls vehicle immovability under extreme riding conditions by balancing the torque applied to the rear wheel. EBC monitors throttle opening, gear selection and crankshaft speed rate and manages accurate throttle openings to balance the torque acting on the tyre.

Ducati Quick Shift (DQS)

This is the most favourable feature introduced by Ducati in Panigale for Moto GP drivers. The Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) system is small electronic system to let the rider to hold the throttle open when changing the gears. This helps to save very important fractions of a second in the chase of quicker lap times.

Reference: Ducati Official website

Regards,
Dhruv Panchal
Author – BikeAdvice.in