Anyone see this week's MCN superbike shootout?

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hu8742

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The Fireblade SP pipped the 1299s (last year's winner). From what I read, the article seemed like fair comment on the whole.

My takeaway for the new V4 Duke that's coming ... please, please Ducati, make the new V4 lighter, not more powerful. Its all about handling and useability not horsepower bragging rights.
 
Completely agreed, keeping the V4 light is a definite must for me as well otherwise I'll be sticking with just the Panigale. The Suzuki figures are pretty crazy. Fastest 1/4 mile time they have ever recorded!
 

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I've said it elsewhere, if the new V4 is heavier or wider then it's a no from me
 
hu8742 said:
The Fireblade SP pipped the 1299s (last year's winner). From what I read, the article seemed like fair comment on the whole.

My takeaway for the new V4 Duke that's coming ... please, please Ducati, make the new V4 lighter, not more powerful. Its all about handling and useability not horsepower bragging rights.
Click to expand...

if i recall i could be wrong but the r1 won 2 years ago and the ducati won last year both bikes were exactly the same lol.

now its the fireblade you cant make this stuff up
 
MCN are full of ...., I'd take any recommendation with a pinch of salt, if manufacturers don't chuck money or bikes at them they usually get a bad bike review
 
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750steve said:
MCN are full of ...., I'd take any recommendation with a pinch of salt, if manufacturers don't chuck money or bikes at them they usually get a bad bike review
Click to expand...

To give them their due they started giving the R1 worse reviews after having the demo bike from Yamaha for many months and finding it uncomfortable for road journeys.

They do seem to understand the behaviour and way to ride the Panigale as well which is good to see as it takes a bit of getting used to.
 
How would you explain the behaviour and way to ride ? Not trying to sound like im having a go at you just want a better understanding of the riding style im looking at buying one end of winter in oz ... when i test rode the 959 and 1299 i could feel differences but as far as way to ride it felt fairly normal ?

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk
 
adamd said:
How would you explain the behaviour and way to ride ? Not trying to sound like im having a go at you just want a better understanding of the riding style im looking at buying one end of winter in oz ... when i test rode the 959 and 1299 i could feel differences but as far as way to ride it felt fairly normal ?

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Ergonomics and power delivery are two of the biggest adjustments that most people have to get used to on the panigale. The S1000 is by far the most complete and dialed in bike I've ridden, the new R1 is the most progressive. After ridding those two I mentioned and getting back on mine you def. can tell that the Duc is playing by it's own rules.
 
I too am interested in this riding style thing.

My R1M handled incredible but really lacked power to me... My s1000rr was a lot more comfortable and had a much better power range. I was looking at the DUC for the torque and power.
 
Yeah the new Fireblade won, but is your office receptionist going to ask to for a picture of her on the ... Honda? No. Forza Ducati!
 
To push the Panigale it's quite different to other bikes. They mention in the MCN shootout that you have to ride with a loose grip on the handlebars and let it move around underneath you and that you have to be be smooth moving it from left to right.

The first part about being loose with the handle bars and letting it shimmy is 100% right and only a person that's rode one for a decent amount of time on track would understand that so it's quite cool they mention it. If you hang onto the bars too tight it transfers all the shake through the bike, no different to any other bike but it just does it a lot more on the Panigale so really makes a difference. I think it's because the Pani is set up in a way that is very sensitive to make it drop on its side and turn very quickly and be easy to trail brake really deep. It takes a little while to get used to how easy it drops down. On the average Jap inline four you can ride pretty fast before you start to experience this.

I actually disagree with the part about needing to be smooth transferring left to right or dropping into corners. The Pani is a bit slower to turn than other bikes so I get around this by slamming it on its side as quick as I can to get it turned and stand it up again. I guess you still need to be smooth whilst doing this but I don't think you need swooping lines like with older Ducatis.

This vid I took at Oulton, UK is quite a good demonstration. My front speed sensor was broken so all the electronics were not working and I had no quick shift either so everything is manual. I'm short shifting up the gears by letting off the throttle quickly with a bit of pressure on the gear shifter. The second half of the track has a lot of corners and gradients and you have to let the bike wheelie and shake around as it likes to get the most out of it.

[youtube]THMGCNQ11xM[/youtube]
 
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Looks like you just had fingertips on the throttle doing all the controls and also at the outer edge of the throttle grip. That style of grip definitely takes getting used to. Blippin throttle, barely holding on the handle bars and power wheelies in 5th gear. Looks like you got the works down!

Great video.
 
royal said:
To push the Panigale it's quite different to other bikes. They mention in the MCN shootout that you have to ride with a loose grip on the handlebars and let it move around underneath you and that you have to be be smooth moving it from left to right.

The first part about being loose with the handle bars and letting it shimmy is 100% right and only a person that's rode one for a decent amount of time on track would understand that so it's quite cool they mention it. If you hang onto the bars too tight it transfers all the shake through the bike, no different to any other bike but it just does it a lot more on the Panigale so really makes a difference. I think it's because the Pani is set up in a way that is very sensitive to make it drop on its side and turn very quickly and be easy to trail brake really deep. It takes a little while to get used to how easy it drops down. On the average Jap inline four you can ride pretty fast before you start to experience this.

I actually disagree with the part about needing to be smooth transferring left to right or dropping into corners. The Pani is a bit slower to turn than other bikes so I get around this by slamming it on its side as quick as I can to get it turned and stand it up again. I guess you still need to be smooth whilst doing this but I don't think you need swooping lines like with older Ducatis.

This vid I took at Oulton, UK is quite a good demonstration. My front speed sensor was broken so all the electronics were not working and I had no quick shift either so everything is manual. I'm short shifting up the gears by letting off the throttle quickly with a bit of pressure on the gear shifter. The second half of the track has a lot of corners and gradients and you have to let the bike wheelie and shake around as it likes to get the most out of it.

[youtube]THMGCNQ11xM[/youtube]
Click to expand...

I must learn your Kung-Fu style. :D
 
Royal thank you that was the kind of response i was looking for i know some bikes need to be muscled and some finessed (is that a word) and some turn point and shoot while others maintain momentum but i honestly dont have the skill set to be able to feel or demonstrate it . Cheers

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk
 
Royal that was beautiful to watch. Those exits from shell oils with, with no TC, no shimmy or hint of high side based death, well I doth my cap. Interesting to watch you grip or lack of it. Whilst I was informed to treat the bars like a tube of toothpaste with no cap fitted, I still have a full but light grip I shall have to try this. I haven't tracked mine yet but I shall at some point probably at snetterton as there's less to hit! Oulton is on the bucket list but on the 675. What gear/speed where doing over the start/finish when popping wheelies?

In my own personal experience on the crappy uk roads, I found that that it does like to move a hell of a lot compared to my 675 or the S1000rr I have rode several times. I am not used to a bike moving under me and used to find it quite frightening. When I held on and didn't let the Pani move as it wanted it was scary as feck. But letting the bike do what she wanted, I found out whilst total abnormal to me actually felt normal as it didn't feel like I was going to be killed!
 
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Thanks guys :) I like the toothpaste analogy, thats very true. I try to ride the bike from the foot pegs. The old Twist of the Wrist thing about this not being possible is completely wrong with the Panigale, they are much more like dirtbikes these days. One thing worth mentioning is the fisheye lens of the go pro make it look like my hands are right off the end of the handle bars which they are not but they are finger tipped at the end. This shot is a very heavy braking zone at Anglesey:
 

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