I finally slung a leg over the V4 this weekend and I know there have been many comparisons but opinions are like, well you know how the saying goes.
From what I can tell the 1299 Panigale has three main flaws:
1) Heat
2) Vibration
3) Seat
1) The problem with the heat on the 1299 Panigale is that seriously hot air blows on the back of my thighs even while at highway speed. That hot ... air needs to be re-routed some how somewhere. At some point I'm going to figure it out. For now I just deal with it.
The V4
there is no more heat blowing on your thighs at speed. Some heat did blow on my ankles but I'm talking the V4 is 80 to 90 percent better than the 1299. It was a welcome change.
2) Vibration - if you have read any of my previous post you know I hate it. Have you ever put your hand on the rear cowl while riding. OMG. The vibs through the bars are not high frequency vibs like you find on a inline 4, the 1299 is much slower but more pronounced. I'm starting to get used to it, but I've changed the grips, added heavy barends and a truss bar and things are much much better for me. If the 1299 vibration does not bother you the good for you or get a 959.
The V4
is significantly smoother. I'm talking 70 to 80% smoother than my 1299. I suspect I could ride the V4 without modification, it's that much smoother. You still feel the engine, it's just better.
3) The stock seat on the 1299 is atrocious. It might be suitable for the track, but any kind is street riding will have your ... crying for mercy. Aside from being brick hard it's slippery. On the gas or brakes and you will move around. There is another post about the difference between the race seat and comfort seat. Whoever wrote that said the comfort seat was as slippery as the stock seat and a race seat, which you will not side was better. I can attest that on my new comfort seat, it is softer and I do not slide. No more sore ... after an hours worth of riding.
The V4,
the seat is wider and more comfortable. You do not slide like the stock 1299 seat. It was a welcome change. Also, the seating position on the V4 is much more in than on top of the bike. It's wider and easier to grip the tank with your legs. I grip the tank with my knees and on the V4 you grip with more with your thighs. The V4's pegs are much higher, and this combination of knees up, wider and gripping with more of my thighs was easier than my 1299. I've been considering some rearsets and I thought I'd be lowering the pegs a touch but I think I'd like them to be higher. I certainly would like the opportunity for some adjustment. Perhaps BMW will make adjustable rearsets and bars standard and others will follow. Lol
Other noticeable differences.
The quick shifter
The 1299 can be a bit clunky especially going down. The V4 was very smooth. The bike didn't clunk or jerk.
Now the things the V4 do not do as well as the 1299.
I can only think of one!
My 1299 changes directions very easily. It's amazing how little effort is needed. The V4 was a little slower to lean. Counter rotating crank or not, it's just slower.
If you can think of others things the 1299 does better than he V4 I'd like to hear them. After my ride I confirmed I will be back on a V4 for my next bike. Will it be a Ducati or back to Aprilia, who knows. Living in Detroit means a lot of time crushing before you get to good back roads, so I would like cruise control, heated grips, AND, tire temperature gauge. I will not buy another BMW to get CC and heated grips, so it would be nice if Ducati or Aprilia offers all three or at least 2 of 3. Since these are race bikes I doubt they will do it, but I can wish. Aprilia has CC, but I would not say it's in the lead.
From what I can tell the 1299 Panigale has three main flaws:
1) Heat
2) Vibration
3) Seat
1) The problem with the heat on the 1299 Panigale is that seriously hot air blows on the back of my thighs even while at highway speed. That hot ... air needs to be re-routed some how somewhere. At some point I'm going to figure it out. For now I just deal with it.
The V4
there is no more heat blowing on your thighs at speed. Some heat did blow on my ankles but I'm talking the V4 is 80 to 90 percent better than the 1299. It was a welcome change.
2) Vibration - if you have read any of my previous post you know I hate it. Have you ever put your hand on the rear cowl while riding. OMG. The vibs through the bars are not high frequency vibs like you find on a inline 4, the 1299 is much slower but more pronounced. I'm starting to get used to it, but I've changed the grips, added heavy barends and a truss bar and things are much much better for me. If the 1299 vibration does not bother you the good for you or get a 959.
The V4
is significantly smoother. I'm talking 70 to 80% smoother than my 1299. I suspect I could ride the V4 without modification, it's that much smoother. You still feel the engine, it's just better.
3) The stock seat on the 1299 is atrocious. It might be suitable for the track, but any kind is street riding will have your ... crying for mercy. Aside from being brick hard it's slippery. On the gas or brakes and you will move around. There is another post about the difference between the race seat and comfort seat. Whoever wrote that said the comfort seat was as slippery as the stock seat and a race seat, which you will not side was better. I can attest that on my new comfort seat, it is softer and I do not slide. No more sore ... after an hours worth of riding.
The V4,
the seat is wider and more comfortable. You do not slide like the stock 1299 seat. It was a welcome change. Also, the seating position on the V4 is much more in than on top of the bike. It's wider and easier to grip the tank with your legs. I grip the tank with my knees and on the V4 you grip with more with your thighs. The V4's pegs are much higher, and this combination of knees up, wider and gripping with more of my thighs was easier than my 1299. I've been considering some rearsets and I thought I'd be lowering the pegs a touch but I think I'd like them to be higher. I certainly would like the opportunity for some adjustment. Perhaps BMW will make adjustable rearsets and bars standard and others will follow. Lol
Other noticeable differences.
The quick shifter
The 1299 can be a bit clunky especially going down. The V4 was very smooth. The bike didn't clunk or jerk.
Now the things the V4 do not do as well as the 1299.
I can only think of one!
My 1299 changes directions very easily. It's amazing how little effort is needed. The V4 was a little slower to lean. Counter rotating crank or not, it's just slower.
If you can think of others things the 1299 does better than he V4 I'd like to hear them. After my ride I confirmed I will be back on a V4 for my next bike. Will it be a Ducati or back to Aprilia, who knows. Living in Detroit means a lot of time crushing before you get to good back roads, so I would like cruise control, heated grips, AND, tire temperature gauge. I will not buy another BMW to get CC and heated grips, so it would be nice if Ducati or Aprilia offers all three or at least 2 of 3. Since these are race bikes I doubt they will do it, but I can wish. Aprilia has CC, but I would not say it's in the lead.
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