but Bostrom lapped quicker on the 1199S in the CW comparison. His quote "the Panigale has one of the most incredible motors ever built".
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These are good news! See I think the reason the pani lags behind in the comparos is due to rider inexperience with twins. I consider Bostrom a more credible source than these two in the video. What this tells me is that in experienced and professional hands the panigale has more capability while us average riders will be able to extract better lap times out of the BMW.
How do you explain Hodgson and the current Italian superbike champ (who won on a Ducati) lapping faster on the BMW than the Panigale in the MCN test?
Pretty much ever review has hailed the Ducati's motor and ancilliaries as well as the BMW. I really don't get why anyone is getting bent out of shape over this; would many of oyu not have bought the Ducati if you had an inkling wherre it would have placed? If so, let's put these tests in perspective.
1. The Ducati would likely lose any test based on price alone. 2x plus compared to the Japanese and nowhere near the dealer/mfg support of the BMW (3yr warranty and roadside assist where I live).
2. Ducati's rarely win comparisons and rarely can compete with the performance of an I4. I'd gladly own a Panigale with 916 bhp to have the tech in it.
3. End use. I do a minimum of 10 and max of 20 trackdays a yr and honestly do not care about laptimes since they are so far and away from what I can do.
If you're a trackday rider the question you have to ask yourself is if you can afford to have the Ducati down the track when someone on a ZX6 cuts you off. Are you willing to pick up that repair bill. If not, buy an I4 and go just as fast for less cost. If you are on the street, none of these tests matter except at Starbucks.
4. I've owned 1 bike in 40 over 22 yrs that the mags gave universal praise to. The BMW 12GS and I bought it before a single review came out. In contrast all the mags have slammed almost all of the bikes I've owned and loved. We've got to remember these guys and gals get jaded riding the latest and greatest.
Enjoy the bike guys, don't waste your summer picking holes in the reviews. The Panigale placing wherever in these reviews should not be a factor once you've bought it, only perhaps leading up to buying it and even then only if the information is relevant to your real world riding.
I bought the BMW because (1) it is BMWs 1st superbike (2) it is an incredible bike (3) dealer / mfg support (4) parts availability. It is my trackbike and rarely ridden on the street. I've got about 4-5k on it now and it is flawless and dead easy to ride. At the track this is what you want. Admittedly a GSXR will do the same but let's be honest if we buy European ego comes into the equation.
I'm buying an MVF4 or Panigale next season based on deals and reliability alone. The Panigale leads as you've always got the ''what is going on at the MV factory'' concern but in any event both could have bombed on the reviews and I wouldn't be dissuaded in the least, nor should you. The Panigale is an incredible motorcycle.
