1199 Panigale S as first motorcycle

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Lots of opinions out here and that's what you asked for. If you have little to no street riding experience, no dirt bike experience, I can't imagine starting on this beast.

I've been riding for 35 years and this is the most confidence inspiring fastest thing I've ever been on. You can get in way too deep way too fast. It is a gorgeous machine that most mortals can't even come close to harnessing, myself included... I love it, I love testing my limits, but I wouldn't ever recommend it to a beginner.

As others have said, start with something smaller, a supermoto, 600cc, a dual-purpose bike or better yet go trail riding. Get some experience. Then buy a superbike and live to enjoy it.
 
If you don't even know how to ride and planning on learning on a 1199
Then forget about it . Even if you are carefully riding, people don't see motorcycle Well and there is always a danger of manveuring such a responsive bike in a traffic one wrong twist of the wrist and you will taste asphalt.

On the other hand if you know how to ride a bike properly and haven't bought a bike yet then it could be manageable. You will need to gradually connect more and more with the bike and always be carefull and don't try to be a show off !!
 
I say "No". Be sensible and buy a used 250, 300 or 500 and get used to riding a motorcycle first for at least a couple of seasons. There's more to riding fast on the highway. You got to learn hand and foot coordination especially riding in the city/burbs. Riding the Panigale in wet mode won't keep you out of trouble, your riding skills will and you're going to need every bit of it.
 
any mode on the Pani can kill you ten times over... but so can a 848..

it does sound a bit like :" can i use a gatlin as my first ever gun"...
 
desmodromic system said:
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
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I agree with him the most.

Nobody knows yourself better than you.
 
Gt6Racer said:
I've been riding for 35 years and this is the most confidence inspiring fastest thing I've ever been on.
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This is the essence of the problem. It IS confidence inspiring. For someone with experience it makes for a great riding experience. For someone with little to no experience, it makes for a dangerous one.
 
Yes it would be better to find a nice light bike, with traction control, abs, and top of the line brakes, suspension, and tires that makes a bit of noise. If you could get something with around, say 120 hp, that would be perfect as a first bike. ;)
 
2013RedSabs said:
Yes it would be better to find a nice light bike, with traction control, abs, and top of the line brakes, suspension, and tires that makes a bit of noise. If you could get something with around, say 120 hp, that would be perfect as a first bike. ;)
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:D.. 1199 is not a learner bike....no matter what you say...:p
 
i think you should buy it!! so you know how it feels during a crash, after you crash and the rest of the unpaid, unwanted expenses that go alone with owning ducati after totaling a brand new one!! have a nice day
 
one thing going against it is the fact that it turns pritty wide so maneouvring is not an easy thing to do.. it's easy to get it wrong and drop it.. the superbike positioning doesn't help either... and panic stops will need the ABS on ... :)
 
desmodromic system said:
my first bike is a 134hp 848 and I did fine. but I crashed it twice and spent money on replacing the levers .
Click to expand...

That's an important note - as a beginner you will most likely dump it. I started on a 60hp Ninja back in 1991 - if i dumped it the cost wouldn't have killed me.

As an example, my brother dumped my wife's 848 at about 10mph... after he goosed it on a cold tire.. $6,000 later the bike was back to "new"

weigh your cost options, sure you can ease off the throttle, but it's more about your abilities while you're learning
 
Stw said:
:D.. 1199 is not a learner bike....no matter what you say...:p
Click to expand...

I was gassing up my 1098s one day and some guy comes over to me.. looking at the Duc.. and just says "you've been riding a long time.."

Yeppers!
 
A very long time sport rider from work didn't make it out of his drive-way with his NEW Ninja when he forgot that the tires were cold and weren't scrubbed in yet. As soon as he turned, down he went.

So out of curiosity, what seems like a reasonable number of miles to ride before a drop gets written off as ".... happens", rather than blame it on the new guy? One season, two, more?
 
I don't know whether you're a troll or not, but in case you aren't. Yes you can do it, but it's a mistake. The marketing for these things is intoxicating, but you should really take a step back and think about it. Any bike can kill you including a 125cc, you may think you know how you'll react in certain situations, but the fact is you don't know. You can make mistakes in throttle control and braking on a 250 that you can't make on this bike. The chances of a bad outcome are exponentially higher. You'll be a better rider on something with less tq and hp. And when you finally out ride it, move up.
 
2013RedSabs said:
So out of curiosity, what seems like a reasonable number of miles to ride before a drop gets written off as ".... happens", rather than blame it on the new guy? One season, two, more?
Click to expand...

sure, .... happens all the time, people make mistakes and we can't compensate for everyone else - not possible

but that's why i factored in repair costs - I highly recommend taking any state offered Motorcycle Safety class, get a season under your belt, get used to being in traffic and on a bike VS in a car

It's just my 2cents, not a rule
 
My 2012 1199S is my first bike. I did take the saftey course first before I rode the Ducati. I ride just about everyday weather permitting. Took me till after the first service to really get used to it and open it up. I'm still learning everyday on this bike and wouldn't have it any other way. If something is going to happen it will, doesn't matter if its a 250, 600 or a 1199. You just have to be more attentive to the traffic around you. Just my 2 cents.
 
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