1299R FE Photo

Mutt1979 said:

Not liking the red wheels. The belly pan should really cover the cats. Looks like an anniversario with green slung at it.....

I still don't see the point of this bike. It's not a homologation special for WSBK. It's not as special as the SL. It's not limited like the anniversario. It's a bit of a ....... really?

It's limited to when the vast stock of Panigale parts starts to get low to minimum stock levels. The space will be filled with shiny new V4 parts.....

Click to expand...

I don't know Mutt? I think your half right here. The Italians have a very deep national pride and just might wanted to make one last big statement on the big racing twin before saying addio forever. If they didn't make the FE we would have forever wondered what it would have been like to have the 1299SL engine in a "R" model. Of course there might be a lot of left over parts involved too but I seriously doubt they had thousands of the very special and unique SL engine parts left over after making just 500 SL. Ohlins makes the suspension parts, so any left over suspension parts would be minimal. Manufacturing nowadays uses JIT (Just in time) supply and demand principles for parts. Other than stock manufactured for warranty backup and the 10 year from manufactured federal mandated crash repair parts, I really don't think that there are that many extra parts just laying around.

You might not be aware of this but It's been said that there are 5 legal race classes that the 1299 can race in the USA, including Superstock. No SBK or WSBK though... Plus don't forget there are lots of local track day racing org events were anyone can play...
Then there are twin sport bike lovers like myself... We just want the most badass twin on the planet.

I think there might be some excess inventory, but I really think they are doing this so they can slowly ramp up the V4 and feel out any the manufacturing quality issues before full blown production. (Remember the 2015 Yamaha R1 fiasco??) I also think it is to keep their trained workforce motivated and working during the switchover.

BMW did something like this in 2007 when their premier twin sport bike, the R1200S, was soon to be replaced by the S1000RR. So they let their engineers go crazy and built the ultimate BMW twin, the HP2 Sport. The HP2 sport was produced for just two years. It was considered Fugly by many back then ( including myself ) and did not sell well. Now it is in its own cult/classic status and will still fetch $15K-19K for a clean low mileage example. BTW- It originally sold for around $21-$22K.

Milepost said:

Dude ... when you make comments like "FAIL EDITION" or "If I WERE designing" or "we just put their design studio to shame" and "Design studio misstep" How else could one take it?

Those comments had nothing to do with doing photoshop versions and having fun....( I enjoy that too!) Those were SLAMS against the brand. Maybe it was unintentional and if it was then I really think you should step back and read your comments twice before hitting the submit button.

Yes, as I said earlier. I think that the paint scheme could have been done a little bit better. However, I am really glad that Ducati showed some respect to their Italian racing heritage by doing the tri-color, especially since this is the last of their Big Twin superbikes.

I'm getting one of these FE in fall and yes, those red wheels WILL be taken off the day I pick it up and then put back on the day it's sold. I think we all should be grateful that Ducati came out with this mash up of the "R" / SL so all those of us that couldn't afford the SL have now the opportunity to own what I believe will be the "ultimate" street legal/track day bike ever made.

Click to expand...

congrats on your purchase and as soon as you replace the wheels it will cease to be FAIL EDITIONE!

VAST said:

congrats on your purchase and as soon as you replace the wheels it will cease to be FAIL EDITIONE!

Click to expand...

I've already got a set of replacement wheels - matt black 1199 SL mag wheels! I'll make a special deal on the red ones just for you if you want them...

blah it's paint.

But an awful lot of these will be trackbikes so will get a different paint scheme either way.

I said it before you are paying $35-$40k for a bike similar to the SL I don't think it's a bad deal, however i don't think i would trade my R against one.

reganc said:

blah it's paint.

But an awful lot of these will be trackbikes so will get a different paint scheme either way.

I said it before you are paying $35-$40k for a bike similar to the SL I don't think it's a bad deal, however i don't think i would trade my R against one.

Click to expand...

that is what I was thinking.

$40K gets you a lightly used superleggera...

Looks awesome on wsb, if they just kept closer to that it would have been way better.

Its not a bad looking bike, but for me, not one I'd part £35k for. If you already own a 1299 (base, S or R) then I can't see the rationale for "upgrading" to this.

If someone was looking to get a slice of Ducati V-twin having never owned one, then I could understand buying this to feel a little bit more special, but frankly I'd rather wait for the V4. A bike that (hopefully) has been designed and engineered from the ground up, rather than the spare parts bin (however good).

I've got a deposit down on one of these but very much 50/50 on whether to buy it. The 1299SL engine is likely the best Twin Ducati will ever make and I would buy it for that alone. The body work would just get replaced with carbon fibre track fairings anyhow and you could probably match it to the wheels or use some different ones. The thing that really irritates me is that they have built what is the ultimate track bike bar the SL but it's got a restricting road exhaust which would cost thousands to replace with a race one. It might help with passing track noise limits though which would be very useful. It probably still sounds like thunder despite the cats mind!

I have seriously mixed feelings about the bike.

On one hand, I think that it's great awesome that it's an R spec and has an R spec chassis and suspension. I like the paint scheme although gold wheels would have been a no-brainer, in my opinion. I like that it will be numbered (even though, as I said before, it's not going to be limited) and I think that it's a fitting bike to end the V twin super bike era with.

All of that said, it's expensive. Judging by 1199SL prices, You will be able to get a sub 100 mile 1299SL for $45k in 2 to 3 years. Is a new one of these at $40 better than that? I won't even begin to speculate on where sub 100 mile FE bikes will be in two years.

I am not saying there's a right or wrong answer here but it's a lot to think about. I am thinking of ordering one but I have hesitation for all the reasons I just said. Plus it's not like I don't already have an SL, which I just about only use on empty mountain and valley roads because it's just insane. This would be another beast just like that and how many of those does one man need?

Besides, we all know that for that money, you can just buy a slightly used '15R, a set of carbon fairings and spend $2k on the coolest paint job you could imagine, drop another few k on the best from the DP parts catalogs, and you're still under the FE price. But it's not an FE. I think that in the end, this is the bike for the Ducati guy who doesn't already have a Panigale, or maybe he has the base, but has been thinking of adding an R or something and just hasn't done it yet.

I think for lots of us here who have an SL or an R that's properly dialed in, there's not really anything to gain here by adding one to what we already have. Still, I'm looking forward to seeing one in person.

So I have been to the dealers today and had a chat with them.

I can definitely afford the bike, no issue. But I baby my £28k R round the track, adding another £7k on top of that will probably mean I would never enjoy this bike on a track.

Insurance is also going to be another factor here with no insurance companies quoting this bike yet I still don't have a proper estimate.

But as said previously, this bike doesn't stand for much in my eyes. I get it, it's a last hurrah for the last of the twin cylinder super bike, that's not really enough to justify it to me.

My deposit has just been shifted and put down on a V4 R, whenever that may be....... So it better be good

centeroff said:

Well that was a short run, 2012 to 17, maybe they can put a dry clutch on the 1299 put it in a trellis frame, with the 900ssbevel upswept exhaust, and sell them faster than they can make them

Click to expand...

Lasted just as long as the 1098/1198 series - 2007 - 2011. 5 years seems to be their superbike life cycle. Better than Honda, which is 2008 - ?.

I like this paint scheme better...

I think a lot of what will influence the purchase of a 1299 FE is how we use our bikes. It's where we live and the ability ( money) to purchase them. Of course there is the emotional side too.

If I only planned to use my Panigale S for an emotional recharge by driving thru the Cascades Mtns or showing it off at Star Bucks then I would have no reason to buy the FE. My S can do that.

For me it's the appeal of owning a track day toy and having the most bad ... production twin made. But, I have to agree, if I already had a well set up "R" then I would not even consider the FE version.

If you live in a large city and rarely get out to the countryside for a ride or you should live in a flatland area like the midwest or Florida, again, I can not see the point of owning this bike or a SL... Read the reviews of the SL which shares what is basically the same engine... Over triple digits or on the track and it's sheer ecstasy but in an urban environment she'll buck you off quicker than you wife will when, during ..., you tell her that her sister was better in bed!.. Oh yeah, then there is the heat. There is hot and then there is HOT! It's said a slow ride on the SL is comparable to spilling a fresh hot cup of coffee in your lap. Your two boys aint gonna like it...

Any purchase like this is an emotional one and it's about where your passion and hobbies steer you. It's basically a needs versus want issue. No one really needs a Panigale, let alone a FE you just want one.

Prince Albert said:

I like this paint scheme better...

Click to expand...

totally agree but some people are saying that the new paint scheme looks much better live.
Just wondering if there is any chance to see new FE in Poland...

Prince Albert said:

I like this paint scheme better...

Click to expand...

OH, YES!!! But I'm afraid that seat has already been taken!

Panigale's are a lot like Pizza.... The worst I ever had was still good!!

Pick the toppings you like when you place your order. Or you can take a ready bake home and then doctor it up with your own toppings!!

I put a deposit down on one, will most likely keep my current R forever... Does anyone know if the FE will have launch control like the new SL has?

VAST said:

i prefer no logo -- if i were designing i'd move in the red some and maybe add a very subtle third color (not green) to lessen the white area. but yeah, no logo for me with black wheels and maybe even the plain akra underside exhaust (no need for this fake race exhaust).

here's my super sloppy to wit:



we just put their design team to shame! but it's not really fair, since this FAIL EDITIONE is just a bad misstep.

Click to expand...

Bottom line, if you buy it for the track you probebly gonna swap to race fairing. So the graphic doesent matter.

And im willing to buy the fairings
Updating my WTB thread from looking for+15R fairings to looking for ugly 1299R FE fairings

CrazyDuc said:

I put a deposit down on one, will most likely keep my current R forever... Does anyone know if the FE will have launch control like the new SL has?

Click to expand...

Yep!

Equipment: Riding Modes, Power Modes, Ducati Safety Pack (Cornering ABS Bosch + DTC EVO), Ducati Quickshift (DQS) up/down, Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO), Ducati Wheelie Control EVO (DWC EVO), Engine Brake Control (EBC), Fully Ride by Wire (RbW), Ducati Data Analyzer (DDA+) with GPS and lean angle acquisition, Auto tyre calibration, Rapid setting DTC, DWC, EBC, Titanium connecting rods and valves, Balanced crankshaft, Lithium-ion battery, Auxiliary adjustment buttons, Forged Marchesini aluminium wheels, Akrapovič homologated full titanium exhaust

Additional equipments: Racing windshield, Machined mirror block-off plates, License plate mount removal plug