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This arm from the side fairing to the tank like the supersport it's a really bad decision
I actually think the Supersports looks better and that is shocking.
This arm from the side fairing to the tank like the supersport it's a really bad decision
Beauty and the beast. On the left a perfectly proportioned stunning model. On the right, they've tried to shoehorn a size 18 into a size 10 dress. Never gonna work! Looks not so much Panigale more ST4.
That's the nail on the head. A few others have also mentioned this. It's seems as though they can't let go of the Panigale. A few nods, sure, but this should be a brand new machine.
The Desmosedici was a stunning bike as it was unique, this looks like a chewed up and spat out Panigale.
Say what you like, but what is with that machining on the outside os the V4 crank case?!?! It's not functional, just sh*t. The design engineers have run out of ideas...... they just gave up
Mutt the way I see it is this. Ostensibly, it's a much bigger engine being shoe-horned into a design that was conceived for a much narrower footprint. I still maintain that following the Panigale bloodline is a mistake. If you are going to herald in a huge step change such as a mass produced V4 engine to power your flagship model, why not create something new and fresh as opposed to regurgitating a 5 year old design. Possibly why no one butts an eye lid when MV poop out yet another F4 variant. Its a great design but it's married to the original mechanical architecture and works best with it. Try and mess with the fundamentals and make a square peg fit in a round hole and its only ever going to end in disaster. The photos that have been leaked thus far have been universally panned. If as I suspect the tooling has been already implemented on what we now know was a compromised design (as per TJ99's post), then they the factory are going to have to ride this one out until they can come up with a worthier replacement to introduce an all new engine to the mass produced market. Budgets and management have designed this bike, not inventive, creative designers. I don't see any passion in this design. More a quick fix to house the new engine in a passable host. Too bad they dont exercise market/customer research as they would have known well in advance this design was clearly heading down the wrong path, before committing to production. Sales will be the only clear indication how well this bike is actually received. Until then if I was in Claudio Domenicali's shoes right now, I'd be crossing my fingers. This supposedly is going to represent their top of the line model after all and if it doesnt measure up (uptake in sales), that's a big ....... problem. Maybe we'll see Audi AG looking to offload some of their trinkets with a degree more urgency as a result.
I don't think anyone is going to lay the blame at the feet of the powerplant, since it's in its infancy in terms of exploitation and development (I can see a 100cc hike in 2 years time to keep sales afloat ie 1199 to 1299), so that just leaves looks. Aside from your bar stool bullshitters, insistent that a 210bhp V4 heavier engine, is superior to a 209bhp lighter V-twin (1299 FE) most people are driven by a bikes appearance. If you package a product well and market it accordingly you can sell it. An engine alone is not enough in my humble opinion to sway anyone, except the most fickle of buyers.The big problem for management could well be the ability to tell why the bike
fails to sell. Has it tanked due to the shift from V2 to V4, or is it the aesthetics?
You've made some good points but there are a few more things to consider. For most people who still have the 1199 this will be an upgrade they will make. TO them its about the newer bigger, badder, better. It makes more power, modern design and better electronics. I believe it will sale, I think the traditionalists won't make the jump. Should they have kept the Panigale name? No.... not at all, I Can understand if they are trying to keep that name as a que to the monocoque design but it was lazy. To try and modernize the Panigale design (which has been one go the best motorcycle designs of all time was a mistake.
The engine will be the selling point, I don't think it will be nearly as aggressive as the Superquadro. Less torque and more revs, Im sure they will regain a WSBK title as a result of this, Im sure it will be an along engine. For me, Ill stick with my FE.
You could be right but as with many products, first impressions often count. This design falls so far wide of the mark, that relying on the engine alone to justify your purchase is a skewed way to make a sound decision. If that were the only criteria you might as well bolt the V4 to a skateboard and be done with it. All bikes are a compromise between cost and design constraints but you at least want one that looks AND goes well. The two (at least historically with Ducati, save for the 999) were never mutually exclusive. It is well documented that the original MV F4 was meant to house the successor to the 916 engine, the Testastretta. Had this have happened, we would have seen an iconic bike reach fruition but it never came to be. Just as the much anticipated Stradale engine, now finds itself in an ill suited host.You've made some good points but there are a few more things to consider. For most people who still have the 1199 this will be an upgrade they will make. TO them its about the newer bigger, badder, better. It makes more power, modern design and better electronics. I believe it will sale, I think the traditionalists won't make the jump. Should they have kept the Panigale name? No.... not at all, I Can understand if they are trying to keep that name as a que to the monocoque design but it was lazy. To try and modernize the Panigale design (which has been one go the best motorcycle designs of all time was a mistake.
The engine will be the selling point, I don't think it will be nearly as aggressive as the Superquadro. Less torque and more revs, Im sure they will regain a WSBK title as a result of this, Im sure it will be an along engine. For me, Ill stick with my FE.
that relying on the engine alone to justify your purchase is a skewed way to make a sound decision.
People are gonna hate me but i didnt get the 1299 because of looks. I bought it because of the way it rode, how the engine sounded and pulled, and how it made me feel when i test rode it. To this day im still not 100% sold on the looks of the panigale but i know theres a big grin everytime i throw my leg over her. But really its the engine that sold it to me cus it was noticeably different to the other bikes i test rode.
^^^^ You are definitely in the minority there. No matter how good the bike rides or sounds, I'd say 9 out 10 made their purchase of a Panigale based on the stunning good looks, meaning that if the same exact package was offered in a bike that looked different, those buyers would not have purchased the other bike. Well, except for you of course ☺
No hate here.
As much as I want to believe Ducati is pranking us all, it looks like way too much effort went into that bike for it to be a practical joke. It just doesn't seem like something they would do anyways.
Still waiting to see a front facing photo. Obviously not a fan of the side profile. Rear end looks pretty good though. Still not a fan of them reusing the same old chicken foot wheels either. Lazy.