Need an honest opinion!

Hello I just have a few questions I hope that you guys could help me answer. I own an 09 Suzuki GSXR 1000. This is my fourth motorcycle over 13 years. I have been looking at the 13 Ducati 1199 Pinagale and I'm thinking about purchasing one. What are the major differences should I expect if I get one? I have only been doing street riding on the GSXR. But I want to start to take up some track days. I want to be able to ride the 1199 on both the track and street vise versa. So would it be a good idea to make the step up or should I just keep my GSXR? I would be doing more street riding than track.

Nobody can answer this but yourself...

You are attracted to the 1199, if you can shell out the $, do it.

For learning on the track I'd recommend the gixxer, although the safety features
Might be a plus in the pani. Crashing will be cheaper in the gixxer.


I'm gonna buy a grom now.

$64000 question....and about the same number of possible responses...as Phl says only you can decide.... 2 very different machines...

If you haven't, test ride the Pani since the engine characteristics of a V twin and an I4 are totally different.
Some people might say that the Pani takes more effort to ride fast.

Have you always had I4's?

A thumpy v-twin is different, although the Pani is much smoother that its predecessors.

Just get some time in the saddle, you'll know pretty quick if it flicks your switch

Chace said:

should I just keep my GSXR?

.

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Track? Yes. Keep it and upgrade suspension.

Street? ditch it.


When I rode the gsxr, the suspension seemed not up to task as well compared to mine, power not as linear on the gsxr and powerband more controllable on the pani .

Thought my bike being narrow and lighter was easier to throw around as well.

I ride with some crazy friends with GSXRs in the Catskills and at times we swap bikes to feel the difference.

The GSXR is very easy to ride but heavy and when cornering the lighter, narrower Ducatis properly ridden are quicker though the turns. The GSXR is only lively at high RPMs and I confess the 1199(s) are set up similar in that you need to keep the RPMs high to get a lively ride. Unfortunately, at the extreme we all know a flat torque curve is what you want in the twisties otherwise you get yourself into trouble. In short. the engine performance will feel similar but the handling better on the 1199.

If you are a serious rider, meaning your not riding straight line to feel acceleration but rather love the carving sensation in the twisties you should buy yourself a Ducati 1098R or if you have the money a Superleggera 1199. Both of which have flat torque curves and will handle predictably at high RPMs in the turns. What you will miss with the 1098R is the missile like launch of a GXSR or 1199 when it nears redline. If you have the money the Superleggera will give you both, predictable power with missile like acceleration. In sum, for $20K get the 1098R and if you have the money, you will be the envy of all with the $65K Superleggera.

Tricolore said:

. In sum, for $20K get the 1098R

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To me that is moving backwards riding that torture rack lol


For 20, get a 1199S and enjoy.

stay away from the 1*98 series ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ get the pani....

"In sum, for $20K get the 1098R and if you have the money"

This is a mis-print, right?

Get the 1199 ABS and you're all set.

southeastduc said:

"In sum, for $20K get the 1098R and if you have the money"

This is a mis-print, right?

Get the 1199 ABS and you're all set.

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If somebody walked up and offered an even trade for my 1199, I might take the 1098R. It is a lot more rare, and was an insane bike in it's time. I have the Beemer if I want comfort, the 1098R would is an all out race bike, without all the Pani's frills.

Get the Pani.

Get the Panigale. It's a whole different world than a GSX-R1000.

VAST said:

stay away from the 1*98 series ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ get the pani....

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Would have to agree. I sold my 1098S since the Pani was easier and so much more fun to ride.

I dunno....the 1098R I rode was brilliant. Far more of an 'experience' than the 1199. A better all-arounder? No....but ...., what a memorable and engaging ride.

As for the GSXR and the 1199....I have no doubt that you would never regret the decision to go with the 1199. And there's a lot of data out there online that will help you make your decision if you haven't already. But I'll mention three of the biggest differences that you'll never read in SportRider or hear mentioned in a YouTube shootout:

1) Owning a Ducati means you are part of one of the best fookin' brotherhoods I've ever known. Ducati owners are ....... awesome. Owning a Ducati means you will make some new friends that are worthy of a spot in a lifeboat in the event of a zombie (or ebola) apocalypse.
2) How should I put it--showing up to a dinner party on a Japanese bike is like showing up in riced out STi. Yes, everyone notices you. Yes, you have a fast ride. But there's a judgement call 95% of the population make and it's usually not all positive. Showing up on a Ducati is the equivalent to arriving in a Huracan. You're still seen as flashy, daring and antisocial, but there's just a dignity and respect--an awe you might say--given to you by the general public (which includes the police) you will never get on a GSXR/CBR/R1/ZX.
3) Women. Guys love sportbikes, but women only swoon over Ducatis. Trust me on this one.

zaster said:

Would have to agree. I sold my 1098S since the Pani was easier and so much more fun to ride.

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Loved my 848, but the pani made me a lot better rider due to many small factors that add up.

The wrist not bleeding after a 100 miles Is nice too

The difference is ' more fun' a different leaugue

Chace said:

Hello I just have a few questions I hope that you guys could help me answer. I own an 09 Suzuki GSXR 1000. This is my fourth motorcycle over 13 years. I have been looking at the 13 Ducati 1199 Pinagale and I'm thinking about purchasing one. What are the major differences should I expect if I get one? I have only been doing street riding on the GSXR. But I want to start to take up some track days. I want to be able to ride the 1199 on both the track and street vise versa. So would it be a good idea to make the step up or should I just keep my GSXR? I would be doing more street riding than track.

Click to expand...

Tricolore said:

I ride with some crazy friends with GSXRs in the Catskills and at times we swap bikes to feel the difference.

The GSXR is very easy to ride but heavy and when cornering the lighter, narrower Ducatis properly ridden are quicker though the turns. The GSXR is only lively at high RPMs and I confess the 1199(s) are set up similar in that you need to keep the RPMs high to get a lively ride. Unfortunately, at the extreme we all know a flat torque curve is what you want in the twisties otherwise you get yourself into trouble. In short. the engine performance will feel similar but the handling better on the 1199.

If you are a serious rider, meaning your not riding straight line to feel acceleration but rather love the carving sensation in the twisties you should buy yourself a Ducati 1098R or if you have the money a Superleggera 1199. Both of which have flat torque curves and will handle predictably at high RPMs in the turns. What you will miss with the 1098R is the missile like launch of a GXSR or 1199 when it nears redline. If you have the money the Superleggera will give you both, predictable power with missile like acceleration. In sum, for $20K get the 1098R and if you have the money, you will be the envy of all with the $65K Superleggera.

Click to expand...

With all due respect, please re-read my response, the honest opinion given was "the engine performance will feel similar but the handling better on the 1199."

Maybe in hindsight, I opened up a can of worms and went further to say if you are a "serious" rider, and then, and only then, would you want the 1098R for the same $ as a Panigale or money no object, then the Superleggera.

For those that complain about comfort, ride with their hands not their core and therefore should not ride these bikes to begin with and as I wrote originally should get the 1199(s,r).

For those serious riders, not posers, the 1098R is the most comfortable, safest bike you will ever ride but it is only made for one thing, to go as fast as possible while giving the rider total confidence. I would never commute on a 1098R or Superleggera, they are made for the track, a no frills, no compromise superbike. In sum, the 1098R is nothing like a 1098/1198 as much as a Superleggera is nothing like a Panigale.

And for the record, I never met anyone on 1199(s,r) who could keep up...I wish I could show you a video of our rides but at minimum they would take away my license and confiscate by bike!

To leave this post on an upbeat positive note, I welcome any and to all come ride with me this spring. I have a farm in the Catskills and all are welcome to ride our twisties with 30 degree grades!

If you are considering regular trackdays and really working on your riding skills then the GSXR is a lot easier to learn on. I'd probably advise you to do a few trackdays on the GSXR or a similar bike before switching to the Ducati so that you have some of the basics dialled in before the change. The 1199 Panigale is not as straightforward to get comfortable with as the GSXR, but it is much more entertaining once you start to take it by the horns and ride it harder.

The Panigale is very light and skinny with a much lighter and less forgiving throttle. It definately takes a couple of hard days riding to start to feel at home with whereas the GSXR is like the Fireblade and some other Jap bikes in that it is very flattering and easy on the rider. You seem to always seem to be hanging off in the right body position on the Jap bikes whereas you have to put a bit of practice into the Ducati due to it being so skinny and giving you more options to be in the wrong place, and it bites back more when you get it wrong, usually by whacking you in the balls

The Panigale is way more maneuverable than the GSXR. You can really feel that the GSXR is a much older design. The Panigale will do stuff that just isn't possible on the GSXR, it just takes a little more practice to get there.

It's worth bearing in mind that once you get over the initial jump to track riding then the way you ride is very different to on the road. Being 'the fastest in my town on the roads' means almost nothing in terms of actually how good you are. Track riding is a great way of destroying inflated egos and giving you a more realistic view of your skills. Plus it's a much safer place to learn to ride hard, after all it's just a big road with no traffic going in the other direction so get yourself out there as soon as possible.


Also as already mentioned, owning a Ducati feels massively different to a Jap bike, it really feels in a different league. Kind of like owning a Ferrari instead of a Nissan.

Chace said:

Hello I just have a few questions I hope that you guys could help me answer. I own an 09 Suzuki GSXR 1000. This is my fourth motorcycle over 13 years. I have been looking at the 13 Ducati 1199 Pinagale and I'm thinking about purchasing one. What are the major differences should I expect if I get one? I have only been doing street riding on the GSXR. But I want to start to take up some track days. I want to be able to ride the 1199 on both the track and street vise versa. So would it be a good idea to make the step up or should I just keep my GSXR? I would be doing more street riding than track.

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I have a 2012 1199 Base with ABS, i have owned it since new (going on 2 and half years now), and now have close to 25,000km on it.

1199 is an amazing bike! BUT it has some bad points.

The Power/Torque band on a stock 1199 is down right CRAP! there is a very noticeable torque hole until about 6,000rpm, in the beginning it was great having that surge in torque around 6,000rpm but then it just become annoying it was too choppy down low and the surge at around 6,000rpm made it little unpredictable.

The stock pegs are .... and there is no grip when it rains, the stock seat is like sitting on wood, the bike gets hot, they are costly to fix, aftermarket parts have bs ducati tax making everything more pricey. mine being 2012 had many reliability issues and warranty claims. My dealership is .... and wasn't interested in helping me at all. The paint is soft and chips very easily.

Some of these issue can be fix/address others you just have to learn to live with.

Here is how i addressed some of these bad points

- Power/Torque Issue: Install Full Akra exhuast system and custom tune (tuneboy), cost was close to $4,500 for this.
The dyno graph speaks for itself

- Stock Pegs: Install aftermarket rear sets
- Bike gets hots: Install the factory engine cover heat shields (helps but does not eliminate the problem completely, i believe these come standard on 2014 bikes)
- Reliability issues: seems to be improving but i still have the bike randomly cut out of me now and then and a gear sensor error which comes on for few minutes most rides

I have only taken the bike to the track twice now, once when it was stock and then another time when i had the exhaust and tune done. Both times i really enjoyed it but i limit how hard i push because i know if i go down i will be in a world of pain "money wise". This means i never will be super fast on the bike but i go out there to have fun so that doesn't phase me so much.

As for the street, i love it, with the exhaust and tune the bike is alot more smoother, easier to ride at lower rpm and alot more fun, because you can open the throttle at low rpm in higher gears and have that torque there straight away. the heat from the exhaust and engine can sometimes be an issue but i find it is something i can live with. The stock seat is about to be upgrade as it is just way to uncomfortable to daily.


This is my honest opinion on the 1199