1199 Panigale S as first motorcycle

Hi. I was wondering whether a panigale might be my first bike. I believe this as the panigale has a map with 120hp so it would turn into the equivalent of a super sports bike and with a little throttle control it would be tameable; or would it...

I'd be all over it

my first bike is a 134hp 848 and I did fine. but I crashed it twice and spent money on replacing the levers . For sure you will do fine with a 120hp panigale but if you are a beginner, you will most definitely drop/crash it. and a minor crash may easily cost you 800-2000$. if you are willing to pay for it then go for it. however if I were you, I will try to get a pre owned 848. then sell it after a year of practice then get the 1199

Ducdreamer said:

Hi. I was wondering whether a panigale might be my first bike. I believe this as the panigale has a map with 120hp so it would turn into the equivalent of a super sports bike and with a little throttle control it would be tameable; or would it...

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Don't be stupid and do that. You will become a much better rider in the long run on a 600 or 848 to start. Take it to the track and learn how to really ride and make emergency decisions.

Buying the fastest bike out there as your first is not a good idea. They are not very forgiving and a much smaller margin of error.

Considering my first bike is a Panigale, and I got it just over a month ago. 900km in and I haven't dropped it yet or even had any 'oh ....' moments, I say why not? I kept mine in 120hp mode for about 300km... now it lives in 195lo mode, way more fun.

Horsepower, you don't need to use all of it all the time. That's why we have a throttle.

IMHO this bike is definitely and I mean definitely not for a beginner or average rider period. It has the power that we all love, it has a more comfortable seating position than most Super bikes, lighter than most 600 CC bike, better brakes than any stock bike that I have rode, best power to weight ratio, flicks like a 600CC, but it is a very difficult bike and demanding bike to ride. The reason is any mistakes in your lines whether on the track or in the streets the mistakes will be AMPLIFIED by its power/torque, twitchy throttle and it needs proper suspension set up to prevent upsetting the geometry of your bike while riding. The suspension set up for this bike is a difficult thing to do especially if this is your first bike. It will take a lot of time to dial it in and understand what your suspension is doing while turning, accelerating and braking. You could ride in 120hp wet mode but it still has a very twitchy throttle. It is NOT a tame bike what so ever. Even with all the gizmos like TC, EBC, wet mode it will bite you one day. The HP4 is more tame than this bike and its a beast.

Socal said:

Don't be stupid and do that. You will become a much better rider in the long run on a 600 or 848 to start. Take it to the track and learn how to really ride and make emergency decisions.

Buying the fastest bike out there as your first is not a good idea. They are not very forgiving and a much smaller margin of error.

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I couldn't of said it better then socal. He hit it on the nail! Now time to give you real life experience. First off I've been riding for 5 years and still I'm no pro neither have I scratch the surface of the power of some of these bikes I will tell you about. Listening carefully this write up will help. My first bike was my dream bike at the time it was a 2006 yamaha r6. The new sick body which was wayyyyyyyy ahead of its time, if you see today the s1000rr and panigale is somewhat designed similar being short and sharp looking. However even that was too powerful nonetheless I learned on that bike and I rode it for 4 months then the inevitable occurred and it was stolen. 4 months was enough time to learn and go through events on highways to attain minor experience but not enough time to do what I'm about to tell you next. I established credit 1 year went by and I ended up in Ducati looking at a SICK 1098 for a good deal used. So after pulling that trigger it was a different ball game, the bike was incredibly torquey untamable like having a lion as a pet dog. Street riding with traffic was torture it was hottt aggressive and it just want to goooooo. My mistake was not ready for a liter bike especially for the Street and not ready for this type of animal. So fast forward the 1198s and after that I get to the 848. MAN let me say I can smoke any ....... liter bike on the highway easyyyyyy and I did all the time.. This bike has the right amount of power the perfect torque the looks of mean everything so from then on did I get better and better and that should of been the second decision I made! The 848 deliver form andddd functionality. Easy to tame and you go through the gears unlike the liter bikes in nyc..... Now I ride a 1199r why? I loveeeeeee the ....... bike its the most beautiful machine in the world if I can't have a lambo or bugatti then I will have the bugatti of bikes I loveeeeeee the design the functions and everything but will I enjoy it like the 848 I regretfully will say no I will not.... Am I still happy with my decision? Absolutely. Did the 848 help me become a better rider? Yes more then I know. So I'm no racer I fell on love with the r and to completemy happiness iI'm searching for a clean r6 or 848 to track and become a better rider. I hope this helps

Do what you want, but be prepared to crash.

My first bike was a 999s
Second bike was a 1098s
Followed by the 1199s tri
Smart ? NO
Fun ? Yes !!
And i can tell the Panigale is a lot more safer than the 999 or 1098 with all those technical safeties like ABS, EBC, DTC
But keep in mind what N3RB said, 99% of al bikers crashed their first bike, it's a learning process wich off you can only hope it won't end under a white pillow.

ummm no. All you will end up doing is increasing the insurance of other panigale owners.

I know appearance wise its the best on the market but please start off with a 260 and learn how to ride.

quackquack said:

So fast forward the 1198s and after that I get to the 848. MAN let me say I can smoke any ....... liter bike on the highway easyyyyyy and I did all the time..

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I seriously question the accuracy of this statement.

Ducdreamer said:

Hi. I was wondering whether a panigale might be my first bike. I believe this as the panigale has a map with 120hp so it would turn into the equivalent of a super sports bike and with a little throttle control it would be tameable; or would it...

Click to expand...

I think its an easy bike to ride. Just be careful with the right wrist and stay at sensible limits till you get used to it.

RandallNYC said:

I seriously question the accuracy of this statement.

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Meaning he didn't have the testicles or skill set to keep the 1198 flat out and the 848 was just much easier to keep wide open without him worrying.

Justifire said:

99% of al bikers crashed their first bike, it's a learning process wich off you can only hope it won't end under a white pillow.

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It's a white sheet, and there's always that 1%.

Ducdreamer said:

Hi. I was wondering whether a panigale might be my first bike. I believe this as the panigale has a map with 120hp so it would turn into the equivalent of a super sports bike and with a little throttle control it would be tameable; or would it...

Click to expand...

It is a given that the faster the bike is the less time it will take to get into a potential off/crash, so ideally a gradual approach would be best. Either through electronic adjustments or by using smaller displacement bikes. Obviously a crash on any bike is bad especially with an expensive and rare bike like the Panigale.

Do you have any transferable skills that would apply to riding a Superbike? For example, were you an avid cyclist that rode extensively in traffic and at high speeds? Perhaps you have driven race or drag cars and can understand the power and potential that the Panigale offers?

If so, get some professional instruction, take it easy (i.e. use wet mode), wear the best gear you can afford and show some self-discipline on the roads. You will still have the occasional "moment" but as the miles pass you will grow into the bike. Try not to get over-confident once you have a couple of years of riding under your belt because over riding the conditions or a momentary lapse in concentration is all it takes for a bad ending to a Panigale love story.

Good luck.

Are you guys seriously suggesting the Panigale might work as a first bike for the original poster? Unbelievable. You WILL make mistakes learning. On this bike you will make them faster. The impact force of a crash increases exponentially with speed. Take the MSF course. Buy a used Nina 250. Go to some track schools. Maybe get a SV650 or something after a while. Telling this guy he will be alright because this was your first bike and you are alive is like telling someone cigarettes are good for your health because you've been smoking for years and don't have cancer. I've seen more sensible advice on the most squidly of forums.

My 1st bike was an R1. I never wrecked never dropped it. Many of my buddies with 600s did. Ever heard the saying "guns dont kill people"? The difference between a 1000cc and 600cc under 120mpr is very minimal. You probably dont want it as your first bike but will it be that bikes fault that something happens, probably not.

Ducdreamer said:

Hi. I was wondering whether a panigale might be my first bike. I believe this as the panigale has a map with 120hp so it would turn into the equivalent of a super sports bike and with a little throttle control it would be tameable; or would it...

Click to expand...

You'll be all right......I managed to survive 1098SFS as my first bike, had a blast for 23K+ miles on it, and have 6k+ on my Panigale.
It's all about what you've got between your ears.

No need to write a book here. The answer is no.

ttkarp said:

No need to write a book here. The answer is no.

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I agree....Any Superbike is not a suitable first bike...for any one.....

I say no as well. You want the 1199 as your first bike? I def suggest starting off on something smaller. Learn how to ride, get some experience. It's not about the power the panigale has, it's about everything to do with learning to ride in general.

Now if money is no object and you don't care about any potential mishaps on your brand new $20k bike go right ahead. My first bike was an 800lbs Harley Roadking. My friends thought I was insane. I had no idea what I was doing and jumped on this massive pig. I never dropped the bike, but looking back it was pretty foolish.