Shocked Newbie!

matt83 said:

Well, i thought i'd register seeing as my Ebay advert has become semi-infamous....

Yes, the advert was real. I'd actually modified it to the state you've seen after i'd done a deal on an RSV4. I'm not a novice, i've been riding sports bikes since i was a kid, i've worked in bike shops, i've raced, the Pani was my 50th bike despite the fact i've only just turned 29. I'm not rich, i had to sell all 4 of my bikes (completely sorted CBR1000RR, R6 race bike, TTR600 trailie, and an NC30) to fund buying the S.

I still stand by my comments, but then thats my opinion on the bike. I dont see why i should have to put up with so many annoying, frustrating faults/traits (or 'character' seems to be used alot...) when i've bought a 20 grand ROAD bike. Yes, it was designed for racing (something that i intended to do with the bike but more on that later) but this is still a road bike, with fancy lights and a number plate.

The midrange is unforgiveable. Maybe mine was one of the famous 'duds' i've heard about, but the fact is it was dangerous. When i first ran it in, i had a right laugh on it, absolutely thrashing it everywhere like it was an RGV 250. Difference was, on the Pani things were getting very, very illegal. At anything other than full throttle or stood still while i stared at how gorgeous it was, i hated that bike.

Racing.... Well here in the UK the Pani in standard trim would be a bloody nightmare. Take Cadwell Park's mountain, for instance. First gear? No chance, right in that flatspot. 2nd gear and slip the clutch like a 2 stroke? Maybe if it wasn't my bike....
Same goes for hairpins. Mine would lift the front wheel from 3000rpm, then it would hit the floor like a Mk1 BMW S1000rr has just initiated its ..... anti-wheelie. Then at 7000rpm it'll lift again, viciously this time, but hook second and you're straight in the flatspot midrange again. Useless.

It burns the backs of your legs, it has a rubbish sidestand certain like previous dukes, it uses oil, it stalls for no reason at the most inopportune moments (again, maybe mine was a dud).
Maybe i'm not Ducati enough to ride around all these flaws, but my RSV is just as fast, i ride it just as hard when i feel like it, and it doesnt annoy the hell out of me and make me have to excuse all its faults. I dont have to defend that bike, its perfect (for me, again, opinion)

Having said that, the Panigale is stunning, a work of art, and a true engineering wonder. But no, if i wanted something as beautiful as it is annoying, i'd buy a Desmo.

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matt83 said:

I dont regret buying the panigale, during the dickdance i went through buying it i was extremely close to pulling my deposit and getting the RSV4. Had i done that maybe i wouldnt have loved the RSV4 as much as i did, so i dont regret buying the ducati. The Aprilia is that good a bike i'm looking at buying a second one to race next year and keeping the road bike, could never have done that with the duke on my wages, really stretched myself paying cash for the pani! Oh to be rich....

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zvez said:

I went the other direction! I traded my 2011 rsv4 for the pani I have now. I've had lots of ducs so I knew what I was getting into, have had lots of apes too.

It's taken a bit (about 1000 miles) but actually liking the pani now. BUT if I had to do over again their is no way in hell I'd trade my RSV4 for the pani. The ape's a far easier bike to live with on a day to day basis.To be honest if the dealer hadn't already sold my ape when I went back for the service, I'd have done whatever needed to get my ape back.

CHris

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