Hmmmmm, Mixed review and feelings about the Panigale in MCN against the others

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Guys, I've arguably been one of the most critical posters regarding Ducati over the past several months, mostly due to frustration surrounding their acquisition. Aside from that and the frustration we are all feeling having to wait for our Panigales, deep down, we really are I believe a passionate group. We appreciate what Ducatis are. The hand building and care that goes into building a Ducati...and the prestige that goes along with its ownership. At our track, as at many others I'm sure, Ducati shows up with large tents and trucks, they guard my leathers, give us free drinks, surround us with pretty girls and even give massages, etc. BMW nor any of the other manufacturers do that. Ducati is a lifestyle. We are part of a very tight knit group...we are Ducatisti. To outsiders they may scoff and say something is faster, and there will always be something faster to eventually come along, but regardless, we will be riding a Ducati. A state-of-the-art world-class superbike. We've all read the dozens of positive reviews. One or even several reviews (and mind you even those aren't negative), shouldn't alter your belief in Ducati. I've owned 5 before, the Panigale will be my 6th. Many of us can afford to buy any bike we choose, but we choose Ducati...to us, it's the best! And, as some have said, other bikes don't put a smile of pride on your face like a Ducati does. There will always be naysayers, but many are jealous. Also, for those that always seek only the fastest bike, next year another will be faster...and the year after yet another...but none compare to a Ducati. My 2 cents. Ciao.
 
Chuck said:
Guys, I've arguably been one of the most critical posters regarding Ducati over the past several months, mostly due to frustration surrounding their acquisition. Aside from that and the frustration we are all feeling having to wait for our Panigales, deep down, we really are I believe a passionate group. We appreciate what Ducatis are. The hand building and care that goes into building a Ducati...and the prestige that goes along with its ownership. At our track, as at many others I'm sure, Ducati shows up with large tents and trucks, they guard my leathers, give us free drinks, surround us with pretty girls and even give massages, etc. BMW nor any of the other manufacturers do that. Ducati is a lifestyle. We are part of a very tight knit group...we are Ducatisti. To outsiders they may scoff and say something is faster, and there will always be something faster to eventually come along, but regardless, we will be riding a Ducati. A state-of-the-art world-class superbike. We've all read the dozens of positive reviews. One or even several reviews (and mind you even those aren't negative), shouldn't alter your belief in Ducati. I've owned 5 before, the Panigale will be my 6th. Many of us can afford to buy any bike we choose, but we choose Ducati...to us, it's the best! And, as some have said, other bikes don't put a smile of pride on your face like a Ducati does. There will always be naysayers, but many are jealous. Also, for those that always seek only the fastest bike, next year another will be faster...and the year after yet another...but none compare to a Ducati. My 2 cents. Ciao.
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I am pleasantly surprised by this post Chuck, keep it up!
 
Chuck said:
Guys, I've arguably been one of the most critical posters regarding Ducati over the past several months, mostly due to frustration surrounding their acquisition. Aside from that and the frustration we are all feeling having to wait for our Panigales, deep down, we really are I believe a passionate group. We appreciate what Ducatis are. The hand building and care that goes into building a Ducati...and the prestige that goes along with its ownership. At our track, as at many others I'm sure, Ducati shows up with large tents and trucks, they guard my leathers, give us free drinks, surround us with pretty girls and even give massages, etc. BMW nor any of the other manufacturers do that. Ducati is a lifestyle. We are part of a very tight knit group...we are Ducatisti. To outsiders they may scoff and say something is faster, and there will always be something faster to eventually come along, but regardless, we will be riding a Ducati. A state-of-the-art world-class superbike. We've all read the dozens of positive reviews. One or even several reviews (and mind you even those aren't negative), shouldn't alter your belief in Ducati. I've owned 5 before, the Panigale will be my 6th. Many of us can afford to buy any bike we choose, but we choose Ducati...to us, it's the best! And, as some have said, other bikes don't put a smile of pride on your face like a Ducati does. There will always be naysayers, but many are jealous. Also, for those that always seek only the fastest bike, next year another will be faster...and the year after yet another...but none compare to a Ducati. My 2 cents. Ciao.
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Very good post.
 
Chuck said:
Guys, I've arguably been one of the most critical posters regarding Ducati over the past several months, mostly due to frustration surrounding their acquisition. Aside from that and the frustration we are all feeling having to wait for our Panigales, deep down, we really are I believe a passionate group. We appreciate what Ducatis are. The hand building and care that goes into building a Ducati...and the prestige that goes along with its ownership. At our track, as at many others I'm sure, Ducati shows up with large tents and trucks, they guard my leathers, give us free drinks, surround us with pretty girls and even give massages, etc. BMW nor any of the other manufacturers do that. Ducati is a lifestyle. We are part of a very tight knit group...we are Ducatisti. To outsiders they may scoff and say something is faster, and there will always be something faster to eventually come along, but regardless, we will be riding a Ducati. A state-of-the-art world-class superbike. We've all read the dozens of positive reviews. One or even several reviews (and mind you even those aren't negative), shouldn't alter your belief in Ducati. I've owned 5 before, the Panigale will be my 6th. Many of us can afford to buy any bike we choose, but we choose Ducati...to us, it's the best! And, as some have said, other bikes don't put a smile of pride on your face like a Ducati does. There will always be naysayers, but many are jealous. Also, for those that always seek only the fastest bike, next year another will be faster...and the year after yet another...but none compare to a Ducati. My 2 cents. Ciao.
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Well said....


Chris
 
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I might be missing out on a lot, but when I was a kid and a 750SS pulled up next to the car, a Duc was all I was going to have. Can't wait for it to get here.
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When I was 15, some lucky guy on my street got into the mighty '78 900SS. Had to walk by his house on my way to school. That's what got me infected.
 
Gosh for all you that think the panigale sucks so much :rolleyes: just wait a year or two..the superquadro was designed to build upon...
BMW worked with the BMW motorrad Italia "an italian race team that competes in WSBK and STK 1000" to develop the 2012 s1000RR...hints why all the chassis tweaks and better mid range.....with the panigale already racing in STK 1000 and soon SBK plus Audis infinite funds im sure a revised panigale is just around the corner...
that is if anyone complaining on this forum can actually take the ducati at its limit..
 
Chuck said:
[QUOTE
]Guys, I've arguably been one of the most critical posters regarding Ducati over the past several months, mostly due to frustration surrounding their acquisition. Aside from that and the frustration we are all feeling having to wait for our Panigales, deep down, we really are I believe a passionate group. We appreciate what Ducatis are. The hand building and care that goes into building a Ducati...and the prestige that goes along with its ownership. At our track, as at many others I'm sure, Ducati shows up with large tents and trucks, they guard my leathers, give us free drinks, surround us with pretty girls and even give massages, etc. BMW nor any of the other manufacturers do that. Ducati is a lifestyle. We are part of a very tight knit group...we are Ducatisti. To outsiders they may scoff and say something is faster, and there will always be something faster to eventually come along, but regardless, we will be riding a Ducati. A state-of-the-art world-class superbike. We've all read the dozens of positive reviews. One or even several reviews (and mind you even those aren't negative), shouldn't alter your belief in Ducati. I've owned 5 before, the Panigale will be my 6th. Many of us can afford to buy any bike we choose, but we choose Ducati...to us, it's the best! And, as some have said, other bikes don't put a smile of pride on your face like a Ducati does. There will always be naysayers, but many are jealous. Also, for those that always seek only the fastest bike, next year another will be faster...and the year after yet another...but none compare to a Ducati. My 2 cents. Ciao
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.

Wow! Those are the first positive words out of you! Whatever you're on tonight, I want some!:D
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I'm so tired of people comparing the BMW to the Ducati or any other Italian boutique brand. The BMW was built to beat the Japanese bikes at their own game, basically they took an already proven engine layout that has in the past been built to ridiculous levels of power (Lee's Cycles of San diego sold crate motors rated at 220 hp at the wheel with a full yoshimura system for the 08-12 cbr1000rr's). Then they ripped off every positive technology from the japanese brands (deltabox, unit pro link, etc.) added their own minor twists to avoid lawsuits and produced the ultimate generic I-4 motorcycle ever. Does it work on the track, hell yeah it does, it goes like stink, does it truly do anything that hasnt already been done a thousand times before...other than give people even more power than they had in the japanese bikes? not really.

The 1199 on the other hand is going out of its way to be "all new". New engine, new frame, new suspension geometry, new electronics, new ergonomics, hell even the Ducati trademark underseat exhaust is gone. The one standard that Ducati refused to budge on was the number of cylinders. I am sure they could have gone to a V-4 and had a more manageable engine in the lower revs, but the L-twin is the beating heart of Ducati superbikes. What they have accomplished with this engine is just short of unbelievable...I'm sure that 10 years ago anyone claiming almost 200 bhp at the crank would have been laughed into obscurity.

On top of all that, Ducati is to motorcycles as Ferrari is to automobiles. Sure the Nissan GT-R can smoke an F430, but I guarantee that if both were parked right next to one another people would hardly care about the GT-R. Same goes for Ducati, park a Duc next to a BMW and people will just think the BMW is an "odd Jap bike", while Ducati oozes sex appeal.

On the track the Ducati may be at a disadvantage but it would be slight, considering that even the best of the amateur racers on here posting arent really pushing these bikes to their jagged edge of performance. The BMW will most likely remain the HP king for some time, it has some of the best electronic "nannies" on the market that make all that power "seem" accessible. The Japanese will eventually make bikes that handle as well if not better than the BMW. Dont forget that we'll most likely see an "R" version of the 1199 as well, which will probably end the reign of the BMW on the track. And dont forget about Aprilia i doubt they will sit on their hands much longer when it comes to the HP wars with Ducati and BMW...imagine a 180HP+ V4 in a bike as nimble as the RSV4 and you have something approaching motorcycle zen.

The BMW just hammered the sportbike world with HP but didnt really upset the balance of the market. It found its niche between Jap bikes and the Italians and is content to be where its at. I am curious how BMW will progress with future models...basically what are they gonna rip-off next? Or will they innovate?

For me the decision came down to Aprilia or Ducati, and now I have a deposit on an 1199S. Deep down inside every BMW S1000RR owner is a desire to own an exotic, thats why the only argument they have against bikes like the Aprilia and the Ducati is "mine's faster". That's like the guy who mods a Honda Civic to post 10 second quarters so he can brag that its faster than a Ferrari...its still a Civic, bud.
 
LordRizzo said:
that is if anyone complaining on this forum can actually take the ducati at its limit..
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well the average Ducati buyer can't thats for sure :D:D check out the knobbers groups { slow group } at track days they are full of Ducati's . Ducati marketing division should get a massive bonus as they have done a great job selling the brand
 
shanes said:
well the average Ducati buyer can't thats for sure :D:D check out the knobbers groups { slow group } at track days they are full of Ducati's . Ducati marketing division should get a massive bonus as they have done a great job selling the brand
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By the way what is the average age of that group.

I seem to see that alot of the slower group riding Ducati's are in their later years, where as the other younger guy's are on Jap bikes.....at least they are still out there and that is what riding is all about, enjoyment and having fun, not breaking lap records.
 
Thanks for the scans; I'll try to read them today.

But I'll like to point out that even with GP technicians on board, you can't get a proper suspension settings during the short time of this test ride. That asks for much more time, so don't use it as an argument, as it can't be one.

But come back after a week of testing the same bike with the same rider in order to get the best settings (suspension electronics, etc.) to this rider, and then, we'll talk about proper settings.

Of course, that it considering that all the maths you can do about the proper settings value are just a start and not the definitive answer. :roll eyes:

Update:
Just read the whole thing, and on first page, they say they left all suspensions settings stock. Then Neil Hodgson says that you could set up the Panigale, it would still be less efficient than BMW out of the box (page 5). But did he really set it up? According to his words, nope. Can you give an honest opinion just based on assumptions? Nope again. Otherwise, God exists, he is in Heaven, and everything is fine on Earth...

But the most intriguing part is that it's the first time I see people telling the BMW is more precise in corners, while every reviews I read (add to that my own tests) always complain about the lack of precision and blurriness of the BMW. In fact, it is the whole opposite of every other opinions so far.

I can't comment much of that. We could say the majority proves them wrong, but that can't be a proper argument.

Maybe the key to that is in page 2, where they say the Ducati suits some riders and doesn't suit some others. But that can be said of every bike, and I do believe that Bruce Dune's rant on page 4, about the riding position, proves they just don't suit the Ducati.

But still, the BMW more precise? I never thought that, and have asked for a new test ride of both bikes in order to compare once again. Just for truth discovery purpose, and not at all for having free fun. I swear. *cough*
 
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Wallaroo said:
By the way what is the average age of that group.

I seem to see that alot of the slower group riding Ducati's are in their later years, where as the other younger guy's are on Jap bikes.....at least they are still out there and that is what riding is all about, enjoyment and having fun, not breaking lap records.
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Perfectly said Wallaroo ... fully agree .. and I also understand where Shanes is coming from too.

I'll be one of the knobbers too, now, but be stuffed if that's going to stop me from having a good time on a superlative bike. Hey, even the S4Rs gets the adrenalin pumping nicely, but the Panigale will take it to a new level.

A lot of us will have done their time wringing that last bit of go out of something, whether it be road bike, car, enduro bike, motorcrosser, gokart etc etc when they were in their 20's (or thereabouts) ... and then looked at those really really old guys (aged 50) that couldn't muster quite the same reflexes, agility, strength, good looks, speed etc etc and back then I thought they looked ancient. But hey, we get to 50 and if you don't look in the mirror you feel exactly the same age. Except ... you're a bit slower, a bit more careful etc etc but often quite a bit smarter to go with it.

Ummm ... except there are some, such as Walter Rohrl, who are just plain faster than anyone whatever their age (digressing a second - has anyone seen Walter in "The Audi Quattro Experience" movie and watched his in car camera .. his foot control is sensational). Now there's a Wally who's no wally. See Wallaroo - nothing denigrating about being a Wally. :D:D There was even Wally Hammond - again, he's not a Wally, just a bloody great batsman. Almost rivalled The Don.

I wish I could have had a Panigale when I was 20. But I didn't and historically speaking I just can't. So, be buggered if I'm going to miss out on it's enjoyment now just because I'm older and slower and shouldn't be allowed one as i might be in the old people's home soon.

I'll be doing a track day soonish, and I'll feel guilty holding someone up (I always did, even if I was running at the front of the pack when i was younger) but I'll try not to lose too much sleep, and I'll also try to be courteous and leave space for them to ride round me.

There'll always be someone faster than me. And just as surely, there'll always be someone slower than me - I'll be making sure of THAT :D The competitive spirit is definitely not something that is lost with the onset of years.

Meantime Ducati have done a GREAT job - keeping the dream alive. Yes, for us old farts it may have started with a 750SS or 900SS (or my father in laws Ducati single - it's great to have that support :cool:) but to be able to capture the same passion now is a wonderful commitment, by Ducati. If the Panigale didn't meet the appeal requirements to get the blood pumping in us old blokes it probably wouldn't work for you young blokes either. How many CB250's are in the knobbers group at track days? Or - how many CB250's even make it to track days? Also, life with a motor vehicle is not just only about track days - there are some nice roads out there too :D:D
 
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Lmao....No doubt about it Peted you definetly are a story teller:D

I was chatting to a good friend who was on a Beemer at a Troy Bayliss track day and he is a bloody good rider and was getting right into through a corner at Lakeside when all of a sudden Troy went around the outside with a passenger on the back of his 1198....so as you say mate it doesnt matter how fast you are there is always some one faster:D
 
I really dont care if the BMW MIGHT be better, The Ducati just oozes sex apeal and is the bike you would want to stand beside and also will hold its resale value.

The dealer that has my 1199 on order also sells the BMW and they are Ducati fans.

The BMW is so ugly even my grandmother would punch it in the face! :)
 
Wallaroo said:
Lmao....No doubt about it Peted you definetly are a story teller:D
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yeh .. way too much goes on in my mind ... the bride will take a look at me and ask "so what are you thinking about now?" :eek:

s'pose it goes with age ... less action, more thinking ... ha ha ha :eek::eek:
 
Pogley said:
50 aint old. i remeber being 50 a while ago
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Hi Pogs, well done. How many "whiles" ago was it? It's nice to know that we can ride Duc's well beyond 50 :D:D

it'd be sad if we had to resort to postie bikes once we reached some legislated number like 60 or 65. :(

Mind you, that'd bring back memories of fanging my Mum's Honda stepthrough up and down the drive and verge every arvo after school. Must have driven the neighbours crazy :D
 

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