1299 base model for Daily Commute?!

Chaotic said:

There are several qualities that go into making something a good street bike. Comfortable sitting position, neutral reach to the bars, good wind protection, good down low fueling, light clutch feel, good fuel economy, luggage space, compliant chassis and suspension, etc.......a Panigale has none of those.

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All of this is true.

The problem w/ evaluating a bike on the merits of its commuting ability is that eventually you'll come to the conclusion that you should buy a V-Strom.

You obviously want a Ducati / Pani so compromises will be made.

Slowdive2 said:

All of this is true.

The problem w/ evaluating a bike on the merits of its commuting ability is that eventually you'll come to the conclusion that you should buy a V-Strom.

You obviously want a Ducati / Pani so compromises will be made.

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This is definitely true. I didn't buy my 1299 because it was comfortable, or could help me carry .... with me. The ultimate reason I bought it is because I fell in love with the way it looks and I couldn't resist it lol.

In response to OP, a few things that can suck daily commuting the 1299. First is that if you don't have the comfort seat or thick gear your ... will warm up and you will be riding with swamp nuts ESPECIALLY if in stop and go traffic. On the highway my stays around 170-180° at that temp you don't really feel or notice it. Once you hit stop and go traffic my stays between 210-220° and you can definitely feel it through the seat and in your thighs. When stopped at a red light watch were you put your legs because the vents that the fans blow out of on the bottom will roast your ankles/calves. If you have a long commute the aggressive stance on the bike can and probably will take a toll on your shoulders and back (at least that's my experience). Another thing is, if you have any weakness in your wrist or your hand locks up from time to time, then buy gloves with the gel inserts to reduce vibration because it will take a toll on you.

With all that said, this is my personal experience from my bike I also live in Louisiana where it's around 70° on the low side to 110° on the hottest days pretty much year around except for maybe 2 months.

That feeling I have when I'm on the bike riding and come up on an open stretch or some empty turns justifies owning a Panigale and makes all that I stated above mean nothing lol. The ride and fun I have on my 1299S has become my addiction and I can't get enough of it.

Pretty much I wanted to give you an honest perspective of what to expect comfort wise with the bike. But the bike and experience make up for it. Honestly if you love the way it looks and enjoy riding one then bite the bullet and get one. Never rode anything else like it.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

RexD said:

I would like some experience based input on the base model 1299.

Here's my question: The base model is within my budget. The S is not. Some people mention how the S model is needed for commute since it means riding on uneven surface etc. Also, some say that the chassis is so stiff so that you need to make up for that in suspension. A problem which some say requires new suspension all together for riding on road and track. Is that your experience?

Would the base model be fine as a daily commuter on uneven roads or should I wait another year and save up for an S model?

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Depends what commute experience you are after.. some embrace discomfort for the sake of being on performance machine. Talking city traffic, '16R is certainly less comfy than s1000rr, but still FINE. Two things to specifically underline being in traffic on Panigale: 1. notorious heat - riding in leathers no problem (..for me, similar I would say to s1000rr) 2. surging - bike does not appreciate low rpm, need to constantly modulate badly stiff stock clutch, then it's ok.

When have you ever been able to say, "Commuting to work is fun!" ? With the 1299, I can't wait to get to work in the mornings!

Commuting is not ideal on a 1299, BUT you can easily solve those annoying points with a few upgrades.

-Surging below 45: I got Rapidbike Evo...better, but still tinkering

-Sharing the road with idiots: Maybe it's the Ducati red or the LED headlights, but I feel MUCH more visible on this bike than any I've ever owned. I seem to run into less sticky situations in the city.

-Roasted Nuts in Texas Heat: Added ceramic coated pipes, carbon subframe cover, race seat, carbon heat shield... What heat?

-Grips: Stock grips are always terrible. A $40 set of Progrips was one of the best purchases I made for the bike.

-Stock Mirrors Useless Due to Vibration: I upgraded to bar end mirrors from Kyle Racing. Perfect visibility with low profile now.

As ridiculous as it sounds, my 1299s has even helped spark business faster than ever being a natural lightning rod for attention and easy conversation starter. I could drive to work in my BMW suv, and no one gives a rats behind. The 1299s has intriguing character that gives the rider a unique appeal. I imagine it's the same with a Ferrari or Lambo, but I feel the Ducati doesn't carry the "he's a ...... bag" assumption that super cars tend to give off.

30k miles on mine. Ride every day in Vegas weather. The heck with all this "heat" and the "racing bike with lights" talk.

1- .... will vibrate loose

2- Do what you can maintenance wise yourself or else pay stupid money for simple tasks

3- Clutch is never consistent (on mine at least)

4- Mirrors suck

5- Throttle surge will be expensive to fix

6- More .... will break/vibrate loose

7- Tires will disappear if ridden properly

8- Aftermarket parts are expensive

9- More .... will need servicing

That being said I still own and will own a Panigale. Nothing comes close to the look and sound of this bike, which is enough for me to put up with all the nonsense. Performance wise I really don't care at this point.

Depends on what your body is willing or can be conditioned to handle.
Get the suspension set up for your metrics and you should be OK.
The race track is her favorite playground though.

I use mine for work and meetings most days. Won't have it any other way!

Go for it!!! I used my 1198 for daily commute and it was a blast.

No matter what kind of mood I wake up in, no matter how .....-y my day has been, when I hop on my 1299 for my commute to or from work, by the end of the ride I am always happy.

There's something about firing her up and knowing that however bad the traffic is, I won't be affected by it, knowing that I will hit my freeway on ramp and I can loft the front end giggling like a freaking 8 year old... The insane pull the bike has at any rpm..

I can't think of a single other vehicle that would make me smile as much and enjoy my commute as much as this 1299.

Chaotic said:

There are several qualities that go into making something a good street bike. Comfortable sitting position, neutral reach to the bars, good wind protection, good down low fueling, light clutch feel, good fuel economy, luggage space, compliant chassis and suspension, etc.......a Panigale has none of those.

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This is your opinion which you're entitled to.

My opinion is that the Panigale is a good commuter bike. Not the best for this task however for me, it's fine. I find it comfortable, has a good seating position, good wind protection, and equally important to me - the feel good factor. When I have a crap day at work, things disappear as soon as i'm on that bike. The mental attributes that this bike gives me are as important as the physical one's.

Again, this is my opinion.

749dark said:

This is your opinion which you're entitled to.

My opinion is that the Panigale is a good commuter bike. Not the best for this task however for me, it's fine. I find it comfortable, has a good seating position, good wind protection, and equally important to me - the feel good factor. When I have a crap day at work, things disappear as soon as i'm on that bike. The mental attributes that this bike gives me are as important as the physical one's.

Again, this is my opinion.

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The things I mentioned aren't opinions, those are facts.

Where the opinion part comes in is how much that matters to the individual. To some people things like wind protection, leg room, luggage capacity, fuel economy, low heat, etc are very important and the reason they shop for a good street bike. Some people are more concerned about riding a badass bike that looks cool, is fun, and turns heads.

Some people are willing to deal with all of its shortcomings because they love the Panigale. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. To each his own. But the Panigale is not designed as a commuter bike. Yes, you can use it as one, you can commute on anything, but compared to bikes actually designed to be street/commuter bikes, it sucks.

Of course there are better commuter bikes but the original question was is the S a better commuter...... answer is no...its no better...but no worse

Ox Man said:

Of course there are better commuter bikes but the original question was is the S a better commuter...... answer is no...its no better...but no worse

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To this point, the only likely commuting advantage the S has over the base is the LED lights which are very bright.

RexD said:

I would like some experience based input on the base model 1299.

Currently, I'm riding an XDiavel S but made the mistake of testing a Panigale 959 for a few days. Man, the Panigale is awesome. I rode it on twisty back roads, on the highway, in the city and sat in traffic. It was really great to be able to test all these different conditions after reading reviews about people saying how it has flaws in various departments. The biggest issue, I experienced which has been mentioned broadly, was the heat issue. But for me that's not a problem since I ride in leathers.

The 959 is great in my experience. However, I'd like a bit more power than what the 959 can provide. While the 959 has plenty of speed, I'd like some more 'oomph' - and I'm guessing the 1299 will do that.

Here's my question: The base model is within my budget. The S is not. Some people mention how the S model is needed for commute since it means riding on uneven surface etc. Also, some say that the chassis is so stiff so that you need to make up for that in suspension. A problem which some say requires new suspension all together for riding on road and track. Is that your experience?

Would the base model be fine as a daily commuter on uneven roads or should I wait another year and save up for an S model?

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Base model is still a fine bike if it runs right...

My suggestion would be for you to ride the exact bike your going to purchase first..
If you end up with on like mine and several others on this site the suspension will be the very least of your concerns.. IF the bike surges or has bad throttle response don't believe them if they tell you it just needs adjustment. Also, if during the test ride it stalls on you at any time... avoid it like the plague (unless you like a bike to die on you while crossing an intersection or in front of everyone when you are leaving a parking lot etc.)
It is really just luck of the draw...

Many people get good bikes that don't give them problems but if you get one like I ended up with that does run poorly while riding around town it will NOT BE FIXED correctly and you will always have the problem...... You will then just have to get used to it..
If you end up with a bad one just be prepared.. When you get online on this site and discuss it you will get the same smartass BS I get from everyone and they will tell you that "That is just the way they are" or "That is just how the Ducati twins run or is the "Ducati twin character" etc etc...

I assure you you will NOT be happy if you get one that doesn't run right from day one...

Also make sure it doesn't surge badly while cruising around town at 35 to 50 mph...
Don't purchase one unless they at least let you ride it down the street and back If you can, ride it for a while and if it dies on you even once don't purchase it..
Ducati factory reps will do NOTHING and they cannot fix it and will not even acknowledge it is a problem...
You can take the carbon canister off and that helps some but it never helped mine.. Good luck
Speedy

Ox Man said:

Of course there are better commuter bikes but the original question was is the S a better commuter...... answer is no...its no better...but no worse

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I responded to/answered the original question in my original reply.

I agree with you. The S won't be any better (or worse).

the 1299s panigale I ride is by far and away the most comfy sport bike I've ever owned. it has a perfect down low throttle response , with stock exhaust. It has a hydraulic clutch so what else can you ask for .
fuel economy is ok if you're staying off the redline.
any heat I've ever felt from this ducati was welcomed especially on cold days.
wind protection luggage and suspension can all be modified to make it a little better but It is obviously a sport bike so ...
some of the people on this forum are making it sound like you need a harley street glide just to ride 70 miles to work.
If it were that bad I wouldn't ride - ever .

I don't understand why we keep having these conversations? Why people make these threads ? Stop trying to get people on the internet to help justify why you buy this or that. All these bikes are over kill ,non are good for commuting and i doubt there is a person who has the skill to out ride one.
General conversation on the pros and cons is one thing. But trying to justify why you NEED a 1299S over 959 is ridiculous. Bottom line is ...it's your money buy what you want and be done with it.

Look at the guy who posted above me. He said it has great low end fueling and its comfy. You ask others and they will say the complete opposite so its all subjective anyway. Buy what YOU want and make your own decision .

speedy14 said:

Base model is still a fine bike if it runs right...

My suggestion would be for you to ride the exact bike your going to purchase first..
If you end up with on like mine and several others on this site the suspension will be the very least of your concerns.. IF the bike surges or has bad throttle response don't believe them if they tell you it just needs adjustment. Also, if during the test ride it stalls on you at any time... avoid it like the plague (unless you like a bike to die on you while crossing an intersection or in front of everyone when you are leaving a parking lot etc.)
It is really just luck of the draw...

Many people get good bikes that don't give them problems but if you get one like I ended up with that does run poorly while riding around town it will NOT BE FIXED correctly and you will always have the problem...... You will then just have to get used to it..
If you end up with a bad one just be prepared.. When you get online on this site and discuss it you will get the same smartass BS I get from everyone and they will tell you that "That is just the way they are" or "That is just how the Ducati twins run or is the "Ducati twin character" etc etc...

I assure you you will NOT be happy if you get one that doesn't run right from day one...

Also make sure it doesn't surge badly while cruising around town at 35 to 50 mph...
Don't purchase one unless they at least let you ride it down the street and back If you can, ride it for a while and if it dies on you even once don't purchase it..
Ducati factory reps will do NOTHING and they cannot fix it and will not even acknowledge it is a problem...
You can take the carbon canister off and that helps some but it never helped mine.. Good luck
Speedy

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did you get an air filter, exhaust and tune for that thing? it sounds like you are riding around on a stock bike and bitchng about the fueling.

BROsiah said:

I don't understand why we keep having these conversations? Why people make these threads ? Stop trying to get people on the internet to help justify why you buy this or that. All these bikes are over kill ,non are good for commuting and i doubt there is a person who has the skill to out ride one.
General conversation on the ros and cons is one thing. But trying to justify why you NEED a 1299S over 959 is ridiculous. Bottom line is ...it's your money buy what you want and be done with it.

Look at the guy who posted above me. He said it has great low end fueling and its comfy. You ask others and they will say the complete opposite so its all subjective anyway. Buy what YOU want and make your own decision .

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Couldn't agree more.

90% of the time when these threads come up (on any forum), people are looking for justification for the decision they have already made.

The Panigale sucks as a street bike when compared to bikes actually designed for the street. Yes, you can ride one on the street, you can ride anything on the street. But it still sucks.

You don't need and S for the street. And you don't need an S for track days. Id be willing to bet 99% of sportbike owners would run the exact same lap times on a base that they would on an S or R that they would on a base.

You don't need an R for racing (unless the org has CC limits). The 1299S had proven to be just as fast as the R (even faster/better in some cases). I have several Expert wins this year on my 1299S. The bike is more capable than any of us.

So in summation, nobody NEEDS a Panigale, any version of it, for anything. Anything somebody plans on using a Panigale for, there is something else out there better suited for it. This is one of those bikes that is bought just because you like it and think it is cool.

So at the end of the day, just get what you want. You can ride a base, S, or R on the street or track...but none of them are "needed" for the street or track.

cpettit said:

did you get an air filter, exhaust and tune for that thing? it sounds like you are riding around on a stock bike and bitchng about the fueling.

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Now you've gone and done it...