July 2013 Cycle World - BMWHP4 vs 1199R

As for ownership the bike is easy to own. It starts right up, performs on road and track, is rock solid in corners, and sounds amazing. Its never let me down. Not that any bike ever has that I've owned though. In my experience you take care of a bike and it takes care of you.[/QUOTE]

Well put indeed and this has been my experience with 916, 1098, 1198 and now the R but early days here. I expect good results.
Same experience with BMW starting with the R90S when they first came out back in 73. First bike to win the AMA championship with some fellow named Pridmore...

Ok been biting my tongue for a long time. But sorry can't with the ugly fat chick comment. I personally find the Panigale to look boring. It's the slab of plastic, single color look. Does absolutely nothing for me. What interested me about the Pani was the dash and configurability. But bottom line, I wasn't going to pay more for a dash and looks that didn't appeal to me.

Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, has done anything but admire my s1ks. The motorcycle uninitiated do least a double take on seeing the BMW roundel and one guy said "I thought BMW only made old man bikes". So in the looks department yalls perspective doesn't necessarily represent the world view

Kuroshio said:

Ok been biting my tongue for a long time. But sorry can't with the ugly fat chick comment. I personally find the Panigale to look boring. It's the slab of plastic, single color look. Does absolutely nothing for me. What interested me about the Pani was the dash and configurability. But bottom line, I wasn't going to pay more for a dash and looks that didn't appeal to me.

Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, has done anything but admire my s1ks. The motorcycle uninitiated do least a double take on seeing the BMW roundel and one guy said "I thought BMW only made old man bikes". So in the looks department yalls perspective doesn't necessarily represent the world view

Click to expand...

I cant see how the pani could look boring but I like the BMer too. I also think that people bashing the BMer and glorifying the pani based on looks makes us loose credibility, qualifies us as posers. I am not part of that club

It's like anything else. Some people love the bike they chose and hate the other contender, some love both and everybody else is scattered around somewhere on the love/hate continuum between the two polar opposites.

I like both bikes, but don't have a need for two sportbikes and preferred the Ducati so went that route. IMHO, both bikes are incredible and you can't really go wrong with either one. Just don't get me started on the Aprilia.

I never really understood how some people need to hate one thing in order to love another thing. But now I still don't.

IMO, the BMW is a good looking bike, but just not as good as the Panigale. I chose the Panigale simply because it's the one that got me all excited like an 8 year old on his way to Disney.

Off topic:

As much as we complain about this forum, it must be pretty popular since we have so many non-Ducati owners visiting us. lol

Its not like I hang out in BMW 1000RR/HP4 forums.

youngR said:

Off topic:

As much as we complain about this forum, it must be pretty popular since we have so many non-Ducati owners visiting us. lol

Its not like I hang out in BMW 1000RR/HP4 forums.

Click to expand...

Good point... Few Ape guys here too....This forum is actually well balanced in general.... Yes we have our "interesting" members... and some foul mouthstoo... but on balance its the best place to be...

pedrin said:

I cant see how the pani could look boring but I like the BMer too. I also think that people bashing the BMer and glorifying the pani based on looks makes us loose credibility, qualifies us as posers. I am not part of that club

Click to expand...

To me it lacks contrast and the front fairings need to be broken up some. The 1199R is more appealing somewhat with the added contrast of the gas tank. The Tri colors don't do it for me at all.

I'd end up painting one if I had it which would prolly get me lynched for messing with it

Kuroshio said:

To me it lacks contrast and the front fairings need to be broken up some. The 1199R is more appealing somewhat with the added contrast of the gas tank. The Tri colors don't do it for me at all.

I'd end up painting one if I had it which would prolly get me lynched for messing with it

Click to expand...

It's definitely not for the loud mohawk helmet crowd. Much more of a subtle, sleeper look. That's why I like the R the least of the bunch.

Kuroshio said:

To me it lacks contrast and the front fairings need to be broken up some. The 1199R is more appealing somewhat with the added contrast of the gas tank. The Tri colors don't do it for me at all.

I'd end up painting one if I had it which would prolly get me lynched for messing with it

Click to expand...

Lacking contrast? Now we are really talking about important issues with the Pani.

The best looking BMW in my honest and personal opinion is the HP2, not the HP4. And that is a fact.

youngR said:

Off topic:

As much as we complain about this forum, it must be pretty popular since we have so many non-Ducati owners visiting us. lol

Its not like I hang out in BMW 1000RR/HP4 forums.

Click to expand...

That's because deep down they still want a Panigale.

This one is a beauty, the HP4 looks like the ugly sister with wonky eyes in comparison to this.

Jariva said:

This one is a beauty, the HP4 looks like the ugly sister with wonky eyes in comparison to this.

Click to expand...

Inbred sister.

Kuroshio said:

Ok been biting my tongue for a long time. But sorry can't with the ugly fat chick comment. I personally find the Panigale to look boring. It's the slab of plastic, single color look. Does absolutely nothing for me. What interested me about the Pani was the dash and configurability. But bottom line, I wasn't going to pay more for a dash and looks that didn't appeal to me.

Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, has done anything but admire my s1ks. The motorcycle uninitiated do least a double take on seeing the BMW roundel and one guy said "I thought BMW only made old man bikes". So in the looks department yalls perspective doesn't necessarily represent the world view

Click to expand...

I just had to chime in on your last comment about nobody saying anything negative about the BMW. It's kinda like if you introduce some of your friends to your wife... if they think she's hot, they'll tell you, if they think she's ugly, they'll lie and say she's cute, or just not comment at all. What I'm getting at, is that the BMW is widely known to be a polorizing bike based on looks, and the people that like it will tell you, but unless a complete stranger is a total ass, they're not going to walk up and tell you your bike is ugly. Who does that?! The internet is plastered with comments calling out the BMW's headlight design as ugly, along with it's exhaust and the empty spot it leaves if you go full system (which is why they created a special lower faring for the HP4). That said, the engineer in me LOVES the BMW, but my eyeballs can't get past it's looks. Looks are always a personal preference thing though. Some people think mustangs look better than camaros and vice versa... good luck convincing one of them that the other looks better. There are also things that are accepted as generalities based on an overwhelmingly large prefence from the public... for example, not everyone loves the way Ferraris look, but most auto-enthusiasts would put them as one of the best looking. Same with Ducati, most reviewers and the general biking community would say it's one of the best looking. Not so of the BMW. But to each their own. This is obviously a Ducati forum full of biased owners

+1 I think all BMWs are beautiful, I own one so obviusly. I think I kinda liked the light thing in the beginning - just cuz it was different, but now just looks wierd. Wouldn't stop me from buying it, it is #2 for me to Ducati. Didn't know about the exhaust thing, that's unfortunate.

Kuroshio said:

Ok been biting my tongue for a long time. But sorry can't with the ugly fat chick comment. I personally find the Panigale to look boring. It's the slab of plastic, single color look. Does absolutely nothing for me. What interested me about the Pani was the dash and configurability. But bottom line, I wasn't going to pay more for a dash and looks that didn't appeal to me.

Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, has done anything but admire my s1ks. The motorcycle uninitiated do least a double take on seeing the BMW roundel and one guy said "I thought BMW only made old man bikes". So in the looks department yalls perspective doesn't necessarily represent the world view

Click to expand...

Your bike isn't ugly but its certainly not in the se class as the 1199. That's a widely shared opinion too.

Obviously looks are subjective and there are so many other things which go into a decision to buy a bike. However, only with respect to the looks, my opinion (and it's just an opinion)...I think of the Panigale like a Monet and the S1000RR like a Picasso. One has immediate aesthetic appeal to the majority and is technically clever but some will think it too trite, obvious and conformist. The other grates visually and challenges the norm requiring a deeper appreciation of the creator's intentions but may reflect progress and a challenge to established ideas which is in itself the appeal.

Again, just talking aesthetics and design so there are no right or wrong answers. I'd take one of each please.

Duke said:

Obviously looks are subjective and there are so many other things which go into a decision to buy a bike. However, only with respect to the looks, my opinion (and it's just an opinion)...I think of the Panigale like a Monet and the S1000RR like a Picasso. One has immediate aesthetic appeal to the majority and is technically clever but some will think it too trite, obvious and conformist. The other grates visually and challenges the norm requiring a deeper appreciation of the creator's intentions but may reflect progress and a challenge to established ideas which is in itself the appeal.

Again, just talking aesthetics and design so there are no right or wrong answers. I'd take one of each please.

Click to expand...

so really...its all personal preferences and your $$$

Duke said:

Obviously looks are subjective and there are so many other things which go into a decision to buy a bike. However, only with respect to the looks, my opinion (and it's just an opinion)...I think of the Panigale like a Monet and the S1000RR like a Picasso. One has immediate aesthetic appeal to the majority and is technically clever but some will think it too trite, obvious and conformist. The other grates visually and challenges the norm requiring a deeper appreciation of the creator's intentions but may reflect progress and a challenge to established ideas which is in itself the appeal.

Again, just talking aesthetics and design so there are no right or wrong answers. I'd take one of each please.

Click to expand...

For me the S1000RR is more like Edvard Munch but that is just my personal opinion. I would take the HP2 anytime.