First 1299 review

Hey Guys, Just got back from the ducati sponsered event. Here is my Review of the 1299.

The Nose: very different from the 1199 its about 4 inches wider when compared side by side with the old bike. the wind screen is taller. The air intakes are also wider. The guy from ducati who is driving the bikes all over the east coast on the van was there and he said that this model was extensively wind tunnel tested and should be much more stable at higher speeds compared to the 1199.

The mirrors: they are now mounted about 2 inches away from the the windscreen where as the 1199 had them adjacent to the windscreen which creates more rattle. There is also a slit in the stem of the mirror for better aerodynamics and will rattle less as a result.

The seat and riding position: The seat on the 1199 is a rock compared to the 1299, its very plush even softer than the very comfortable gen4 zx10r. as a result of the softer seat and new 24 degree rake the riding position feels more comfortable, after sitting on both bikes side by side several times its pretty noticeable.

The foot pegs: I had on dress shoes and they were very grippy, very similar to the pegs on the the superleggra.

The exhaust: Ducati rep told me that the internals of the new 1299 exhaust are slightly different in the way the air exits that collectors and as a result produce a bit more power out of the new engine even without the new Arka which is available as an add on for 3,800 for the slip on, the full exhaust was quoted as 4,999.

the tail: PIMP

The clutch: the lever pull felt a bit lighter than the 1199 and flipping through the gears felt lighter than the 1199. Granted the bike was not yet prepped but it did feel better

So compared to the ZX10r, and new S1000rr, this bike felt more comfortable for me. I am 6'3''

Thanks mate, great to hear positive insights from non journalists.
Ps. I am assuming your not a journo, lol

Deffinatly a non journo, but am a soon to be 1299s owner!!

I am very much of the same thought, I see a bright shiny red 1299 in my not too distant future.

Just to confirm, you believe Akra have developed a new exhaust for the 1299?

WAs anybody riding the 1299, or was display only?

The 1299 stock cans seem to be identical in terms of design to the slip ons on the SL

I have a SL slip on here, it's incredibly light and completely different to the existing stock cans. No more outer sleeves, just a cover around the outlets.

Not that it can't be cored and loudified, but I won't take the TI ones for trials

Time to sell the bikes....

Ducati rep told me that termi cans are no longer available for the panigale. The dealer also confirmed. It will be arka only, at least as an official dealer option. I am not sure if termignoni will make there own aftermarket.


In terms of the 1299 oem exhaust. I am not sure if the shape of headers are different and if 1199 full termi will fit on 1299, there was now way to start taking of the fairing during the event , lol. I wish I could, but if you look at the stock cans on the 1299 from the rear 3/4 angle and then looking down under the seat I believe the curve behind the sleeves are a bit different. And the outflow angle is different.

They won't prep the bike, I tried. I pleaded to hear the engine run, but looks like we need to wait. They will let to run the scrambler though , actually sounds good!!

1199 headers are not going to work on the 1299.

Akrapovic is now the official exhaust partner for the 1299 family. The product looks great. It's hard to tell by the picture, but the new titanium cans have the Ducati text under the Akrapovic logo.

Full EVO ti system and ti slip ons will be available.

Thanks for clarification, in a previous thread it was stated the 1199 slip ons would fit the 1299.

I'm not certain about the slip ons yet. I doubt they will fit.

Even if they do, the upmap will be different. Not an issue if you're running a custom tune, but the OEM maps will not be the same.

The Akra Systems (complete for 1299/1299S) and just slip-ons (for 1299/1299S and Panigale R) are already listed on the official Ducati website:

Evolution complete exhaust system in titanium. - Ducati Superbike Accessories

Price: 5,000 $!

DucatiDetroit said:

I'm not certain about the slip ons yet. I doubt they will fit.

Even if they do, the upmap will be different. Not an issue if you're running a custom tune, but the OEM maps will not be the same.

Click to expand...

Regarding slip ons, the mounting point at the flapper valve seems to be different between 1299 (clamp mount, what I can seen on the official images) and 1199 (3 bolts flange).

So the collector of the 1199 Termi or Akra slip on will probably not fit at the 1299.

Question is, are the headers or other mounting points of the full Akra Evolution Line for the 1199 also different from the 1299 Akra System offered now exclusively by Ducati Performance?

Just checked, UK price is £2,627.40. Put another way £1,313.70 per can. That's just f***ing ridiculous. If you're reading this Ducati/Akra, congratulations on pricing yourself out of the market.

If you are buying the 2015 R, all you need are the slip ons.

UPDATED: Exhausts are in fact compatible between 1199/1299. As Phil noted the 1299's exhaust is the same dimensionally as that of the SL's, only it's made in steel instead of ti and isn't Akra. The Akra ti exhaust is available for both 1299 and 1299 S.

The Panigale R, on the other hand, runs the exact same homologated ti Akra exhaust as the SL.

TJ99 said:

Exhausts aren't compatible between 1199/1299. As Phil noted the 1299's exhaust is the same dimensionally as that of the SL's, only it's made in steel instead of ti and isn't Akra. The Akra ti exhaust is available for both 1299 and 1299 S.

The Panigale R, on the other hand, runs the exact same homologated ti Akra exhaust as the SL.

Click to expand...

Will the titanium headers be available since the oem ones are SS?

Eeeeeek! Akrapovic slip-ons are only $3,856...

b9009b said:

Will the titanium headers be available since the oem ones are SS?

Click to expand...

It doesn't look like we will be offering them, but you should be able to get them from Akrapovic. Steel headers were selected to meet our durability tests.