- Joined
- Nov 24, 2011
- Messages
- 30
- Location
- england
....at the Manchester MC show.......panigale S
First thougths....
aesthetics....very nice,...but not stunning. A well balanced very modern aesthetic without anything dramatic.Very well considered intergration of the front inner-fairing top section, from dash and around the froks, ....seat was well integrated with tank and rear cast support section.
What was noticable was how narrow the top fairing looks whilst sat on the bike,.....its miniscule ! Which is why the handlebars look so prominent from the front of the bike.
The tank felt perfect,...wide enough to notice you inner thighs were touching the sides, but not being pushed outwards like some of the jap 1000cc tanks.
The seat area looks very "waisted", and good for it, but didn't feel narrow at all whilst sat on the bike.
Nothing stood out as being unsightly or out of context with its neighbouring parts. The area that I thought would look unsightly, the rear cylinder exhaust loop, under the seat,...was fine and less obtrusive than expected.
The fit of some of the black plastic mouldings was poor, ie the ignition cover, the mouldings that join the ingnition cover. The fit of the side fairings to the black filler in-between the tank.....big, inconsistent gaps.
The fairings themselfs were very thin,...but not "flimsy" as some have described them..... they are very thin to get the weight down.
The ABS unit in the inner right fairing looks a bit unfinished,...like a working prototype !
Ergonomics,...I'm 5'9" and the position felt right,...the handlebars do feel more relaxed (being nearer and higher). My knees did touch the back of the side fairings and can see this getting scuffed from leathers etc....clear film sort that.
The pegs felt very "right" for me. High enough without feeling too high and not like I would need to buy adjustable rear-sets. Ok, I didn't ride it, but that was the first impression.
What I was supprised at was how light the bike felt,... the bike was not on a "rear stand", so could move it from side to side. Tried the 848 evo for comparison and it felt a LOT, LOT lighter,...presumably because some of the weight (exhaust) were underneath the engine.
You are compleatly un-aware of the rear ohlins shock,...it does not touch your leg !
I have heard it said from people over here that it makes the 1098/1198 series bike look dated,....I didn't think so,....just different approach to a bikes architecture....the Bayliss rep and 848 evo next to it still look stunning, just different to the panigale.
Personally, I didn't come away thinking it was visually stunning,...nice but not stunning for me (that should rattle a few cages !).....I definetly think it will be an easier bike to ride, .....weight/handlebar position and weight distribution.
I think we have to accept that this bike is first and formost "function over form ",...Its designed to be race bike first and attractive second..... thats not to say in isn't attractive, just not got the aching 916/ MV/ 'SEDICI ETC X-FACTOR !....but thats just my opinion.
First thougths....
aesthetics....very nice,...but not stunning. A well balanced very modern aesthetic without anything dramatic.Very well considered intergration of the front inner-fairing top section, from dash and around the froks, ....seat was well integrated with tank and rear cast support section.
What was noticable was how narrow the top fairing looks whilst sat on the bike,.....its miniscule ! Which is why the handlebars look so prominent from the front of the bike.
The tank felt perfect,...wide enough to notice you inner thighs were touching the sides, but not being pushed outwards like some of the jap 1000cc tanks.
The seat area looks very "waisted", and good for it, but didn't feel narrow at all whilst sat on the bike.
Nothing stood out as being unsightly or out of context with its neighbouring parts. The area that I thought would look unsightly, the rear cylinder exhaust loop, under the seat,...was fine and less obtrusive than expected.
The fit of some of the black plastic mouldings was poor, ie the ignition cover, the mouldings that join the ingnition cover. The fit of the side fairings to the black filler in-between the tank.....big, inconsistent gaps.
The fairings themselfs were very thin,...but not "flimsy" as some have described them..... they are very thin to get the weight down.
The ABS unit in the inner right fairing looks a bit unfinished,...like a working prototype !
Ergonomics,...I'm 5'9" and the position felt right,...the handlebars do feel more relaxed (being nearer and higher). My knees did touch the back of the side fairings and can see this getting scuffed from leathers etc....clear film sort that.
The pegs felt very "right" for me. High enough without feeling too high and not like I would need to buy adjustable rear-sets. Ok, I didn't ride it, but that was the first impression.
What I was supprised at was how light the bike felt,... the bike was not on a "rear stand", so could move it from side to side. Tried the 848 evo for comparison and it felt a LOT, LOT lighter,...presumably because some of the weight (exhaust) were underneath the engine.
You are compleatly un-aware of the rear ohlins shock,...it does not touch your leg !
I have heard it said from people over here that it makes the 1098/1198 series bike look dated,....I didn't think so,....just different approach to a bikes architecture....the Bayliss rep and 848 evo next to it still look stunning, just different to the panigale.
Personally, I didn't come away thinking it was visually stunning,...nice but not stunning for me (that should rattle a few cages !).....I definetly think it will be an easier bike to ride, .....weight/handlebar position and weight distribution.
I think we have to accept that this bike is first and formost "function over form ",...Its designed to be race bike first and attractive second..... thats not to say in isn't attractive, just not got the aching 916/ MV/ 'SEDICI ETC X-FACTOR !....but thats just my opinion.
