1299S First Race Weekend Review

I got the bike from D&D Cycles in Pensacola Florida and have to say that dealing with them was great. It was by far the easiest bike/vehicle buying experience I have ever had. D&D took it out of the crate and fully race prepped it with parts from Sportbike Track Gear. Then it went to Livengood Motorsports for final tuning using the RapidBike module.

As far as the bike, it is insane. After the Livengood custom dyno tune for U4.4 (leaded and oxygenated race fuel) it puts over 100ft/lbs (104.7 to be exact) to the rear wheel at peak. The impressive part is that it is making almost 90ft/lbs even down at 4.5k RPM, it keeps building to over 100 and is still making over 90ft/lbs when it hits redline. All while being a few pounds lighter than my R6 in race trim.

Even when it seems the engine is lugging, it is still putting down a lot of torque. In one of the races I missed my downshift going into T1 and took it in 4th instead of 3rd. I figured since I missed my downshift, I would get on the gas sooner/harder and let the RPMs build up like I would on other bikes. It sounded like the motor was barely running, but when I got greedy with the throttle it started spinning, so I countersteered and picked the bike up off the side of the tire and then it hooked up and started to wheelie while I was still leaned over, and I wasnt even at 7k RPM yet.

The electronics are fantastic. We played with most of them over the weekend and every push of the button made a tangible difference in the bike's performance. And I am very impressed with the auto-blip. Clutchless downshifts are just as easy, quick and smooth as clutchless upshifts.

The front end is the best I have ever felt. We had to make Spring Rate changes and fluid level changes over the weekend to get it sorted out, but it felt fantastic. Even when I just knew I was in too hot, I could brake hard to apex and it just carved its way in. The rear end is a little more finicky. We changed spring rates twice over the weekend and ended up going much softer on the rear than expected (wilkson said the Panigale likes a softer rear, and he was right). Tire wear was great...too great in the beginning. I was sitting at the top of the stroke just spinning. Once we softened up the rear, it would squat and "eat", which resulted in more drive grip...which also resulted in more corner exit wheelies...so we had to play with the electronics.

We ran with the Electronic Suspension in "Fixed" all weekend trying to eliminate variables. We haven't had a chance to play with the Dynamic suspension, nor have we messed with the Engine Braking control. And we are going to make some more changes to the front end. Livengood took it back with him and he is going to go into the forks again before the next weekend.

I ended the weekend with all top 5's, winning 2 races on the Panigale (and 1 win and one 2nd on the R6).

There are still things we haven't played with. We haven't experimented with different Engine Braking settings and haven't tried the DES yet. Also plan on making some gearing changes. But overall I am pleased with how the weekend went being my first time on it.

Couple of pictures:

now all you need is a hardwired transponder

No doubt

And thanks again for all of your help Phil. It was greatly appreciated.

Berry nice!

thats fantastic,

any reason you just didn't go with a base bike instead messing around with the electronic suspension.

I primarily went with the S model because I wanted the lighter wheels. You can't change wheels in our Superstock classes. If it comes with lighter wheels from the OEM, then you can run them. But you cant change them to lighter wheels and be legal.

But I also wanted the electronic suspension. I have actually heard/read good things about it. We just didn't try it this weekend because it was the first weekend on the bike and we wanted to work on a good baseline setup and eliminate as many variables as possible.

Don't mind my asking how much do you weigh? I weigh 190 and thought the stock spring on the 1199R was fine although on the stiff side (normal for a track bike, right?). I'm starting to think perhaps it should be softer but the sag is fine. Glad to hear your season opener started well. Beats the hell out of a crash!

What do you think of Buttonwillow? I'm wondering if it's worth the long drive.

Thanks

I weigh 210-215lbs without gear.

We haven't checked the sag on any of my race bikes in years. We just go by how the bike acts/handles on track. I am not worried about what it does sitting in the pits.

We started the weekend with really stiff springs front and rear (based upon my other bikes). But ended up having to drop the spring rate in the rear. That track is really abrasive, but the rear tire looked absolutely perfect...because it was just sitting at the top of the stroke and spinning. Going to a softer rate in the rear gave it more drive grip.

The front wasn't stiff enough and ended up changing one of the springs, and adding a little oil.

I have never been to Buttonwillow, I don't know anything about it.

Very nice write-up; thanks so much. Great to see someone racing the 1299S. I will be VERY interested to find out what happens when you try the electronic suspension.. From my point of view, it transforms the way you brake.. You can absolutely HAMMER the brakes and it doesn't upset the rear hardly at all...

Thanks again for this. Cheers.

When Rutter tested the 1299S in a direct comparison with the R, he said the same thing. The 1299S had much better braking performance (greatly reduced braking distance) compared to the 1199R (once the DES was activated).

I was really impressed with how the bike changed directions and how great it handled. When racing against guys on R1's and Gixxers I could take tighter lines and wouldn't lose any speed or drive on exit (and square off corners to setup passes).

If feels like somebody took a well sorted Triumph 675 and stuffed a Hayabusa motor in it.

We will be going back to the same track next month and now that we have spring rates sorted out, im going to try the electronic suspension. Ill be sure to report back once ive tried it.

Chaotic said:

If feels like somebody took a well sorted Triumph 675 and stuffed a Hayabusa motor in it.

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HAHAHA!!! Funny you should say that; that's almost exactly how I described it to a buddy of mine. I still maintain that the Triumph 675R is the sharpest handling bike I have ever ridden; I think the 1299S when it's properly set up is a hair better, but MAN my Wife's 675R is a freaking weapon at the track.

80shilling said:

HAHAHA!!! Funny you should say that; that's almost exactly how I described it to a buddy of mine. I still maintain that the Triumph 675R is the sharpest handling bike I have ever ridden; I think the 1299S when it's properly set up is a hair better, but MAN my Wife's 675R is a freaking weapon at the track.

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Great news. I haven't ridden one but I'm about to buy a 675R as a dedicated track whore. Won't get a chance to shake it down until next month though.

You won't be disappointed. A well setup 675 is a damn weapon. I mean you can literally put it anywhere you want it, at any speed, on a damn dime.

I have never had so much confidence in a bike as that one.

Rogue said:

Great news. I haven't ridden one but I'm about to buy a 675R as a dedicated track whore. Won't get a chance to shake it down until next month though.

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You will need different front brake pads, the stock ones suck and have this weird chatter problem under hard braking. I like the CL59's for track use (but they eat rotors) or the Galfer ceramic white 1375's.. very nice and progressive.

It's well past the factory pads. I'm told EBC are on right now. Just waiting to get stateside to pick it up.

Chaotic said:

You won't be disappointed. A well setup 675 is a damn weapon. I mean you can literally put it anywhere you want it, at any speed, on a damn dime.

I have never had so much confidence in a bike as that one.

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agree they are great till the engine blows up and they like doing that

80shilling said:

Very nice write-up; thanks so much. Great to see someone racing the 1299S. I will be VERY interested to find out what happens when you try the electronic suspension.. From my point of view, it transforms the way you brake.. You can absolutely HAMMER the brakes and it doesn't upset the rear hardly at all...

Thanks again for this. Cheers.

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why would the suspension change it's not active.

I thought it just let you amend the settings electronically but it won't change on the move.

Chaotic said:

I primarily went with the S model because I wanted the lighter wheels. You can't change wheels in our Superstock classes. If it comes with lighter wheels from the OEM, then you can run them. But you cant change them to lighter wheels and be legal.

But I also wanted the electronic suspension. I have actually heard/read good things about it. We just didn't try it this weekend because it was the first weekend on the bike and we wanted to work on a good baseline setup and eliminate as many variables as possible.

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ahhh i forgot about the wheels, it's interesting on the suspension as i wanted to go back to standard setting on my New R which is set up very very stiff out of the box, i might try and change the rear spring like you suggested as there is very little give in it.

reganc said:

why would the suspension change it's not active.

I thought it just let you amend the settings electronically but it won't change on the move.

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It stiffens the forks under braking and also the rear end under acceleration.. Here's a quote from Domenicali:

"The Ducati 1299 Panigale S model is equipped with Ohlins Smart EC suspension components featuring semi-active dynamic damping adjustment. Domenicali best describes the event-based suspension. “The funny thing about this is the system knows what you are doing. When you are braking, it’s the best suspension for braking; when you are cornering, then it’s the best suspension for cornering. The image in my mind is that it’s like having an Ohlins guy in your backpack continuously making changes with a screwdriver while you are riding on the racetrack.”

This is a review from Sport Rider, quoting:

"Suspension on the S model is composed of an Ohlins Smart EC semi-active suspension system that’s similar in design to what comes standard on the 2015 Yamaha R1M, but with Ducati-specific settings. With this system, Ohlins divides the riding into different events instead of looking every millisecond at what the chassis is doing and making continuous adjustments. In developing an ideal damping curve for each event (braking, cornering, acceleration, and other events that the company refuses to discuss), they can provide a proper setup for nearly every riding scenario while also maintaining lap-after-lap consistency. Essentially, there’s a specific damping setting that Ohlins and Ducati have determined work well for braking instances, and that exact setting is applied to the suspension when the bike recognizes that you are braking. "

Rogue said:

It's well past the factory pads. I'm told EBC are on right now. Just waiting to get stateside to pick it up.

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Looks brilliant!! Let us know how it goes..

Cheers.