I would if I had the cash, but the niggling feeling would be that it's really overpriced considering the quality. I would kick myself mate everytime i washed it... Yes, it's a gorgeous looking thing, but throw a hm+ and a brembo mc at the 1000 rr, and it IS on a par leccy wise. I don't like too many electronics, and Im even not sure on ABS ( too much to go wrong) so the tech is wasted on me. The likes of the panigale wouldn't be ridden in the wet much anyway, and as far as I'm concerned, tc is controlled by the giggle switch and left hand. If its for a pure track bike or only fast, twisty riding, then yes, I would use the panigale. I don't do track, so it would be a very expensive £20k paperweight to use on the odd hour or so blast.
Good write up Si, thanks for sharing. I just spent some time helping my buddy ventureshield his new panigale, and a lot of what you say is very true. tell me, did you experience hot nuts? My pal says it is a real downside for him, and it's a bloody good job he's already had kids!! He's also finding the seat too bloody hard.... He's waiting to see if his arse gets used to it before upgrading it. But the noise is simply incredible!!!! Out with 4 bikes all with aftermarket cans but all I could hear was that 1199, and it is a standard pipe too!
Yes mate, very warm! Ok on the move, but at lights and slow traffic your derrière gets a tad toasty.. As do the plums.
That sounds a bit dodgy! How does it work? Is it easy to change modes without knowing it? After owning a previous bike where it was easy to knock on the full beam and hard to see the indicator light on the dash, I have an occasional reflex when riding to knock off the beam position and cancel the indicators, just in case they're left on. If you can change modes using the indicator cancel I can see me putting it into race on a wet day and not realising*! (*when I come up on the lottery and buy one, obv!)
Phew! Sounds like they're cutting corners on components though, which as you say doesn't make you feel like you're getting great value out of £20K. I had a long chat with a guy from Ducati Sheffield at the MotoGP as they had their display stand there with the Pani. Every time I see a Pani I'm more and more tempted to buy one. If it wasn't for the small issue of not getting any insurance cover for it, I'd have been on a test ride and more than likely stumping up the dosh! Thankfully, getting back on the Blade makes the thoughts go away.
As long as you ride fast everywhere, then you will love it...the fuelling and jerkyness around town and upto 50 ish would peeve me is the only thing. I would still love one though, they look amazing and the handling is sublime.
Cracking write up Si. You noticed stuff i would not have seen through the test ride rose tints, and then see them afterwards only for them to niggle you ever more. Problem is i still love it, cant quite put my finger on it, but its love at first sight a bit like my ex wife and shit me don’t I just regret that impulse (kids excluded from that comment of course). I wonder if the crappy bits can be replaced with some quality replacements. I was also interested to see passenger foot rests; I don’t think I have seen that before on any that I have seen. I will still have a test ride at some point this year and if that goes well for me I will consider it next spring but it would be the base model for me with termi pipes and some choice carbon. Thanks for your effort Si, much appreciated.
Haha...you're welcome mate. Yes, i also want one... but definitely not as the only bike... It's far too compromised. I wonder if the people who bought one on looks alone will notice the negative things? i bet they do, it'll take Stevie wonder, Helen Keller and an amputee to not notice. Also, if it is true at 100lb of torque and nearly 200bhp, there's no way it feels it. Like i said, the Blade is the far, far better road bike, it fuels near perfect right out of the crate, has torque low down, lots of mid and is simply better built. If it;'s good enough for McGuiness and Dunlop, it's way too good for the likes of us mere mortals. The looks of the Panigale, however, are beautiful, as is the handling but the build and lack of mid and drive at the low end would ruin it as an everyday bike.for me anyway. Throw a good suspension tune to suit your weight, a HM quick shifter and Decent brakes at the Blade, then you have a stinker, even better than it already is. Which is near perfect anyway.... and let's face it... 2008 since it's first incarnation aint that old is it? I'm not a brand snob, far from it, and i think my loyalties lie with Triumph for some reason, and i didn't like the previous Blades apart from the first one..and i didn't think i'd ever end up with the Honda. I got told they where too easy (the press, and mates who had obviously never ridden one) too bland, boring and grey and good at everything, not outstanding at anything etc... what a crock of poo. But, after a good blat on the latest, shiniest and most upto date super bike then i know i made the right choice of going with the Blade. Journos, like everyone get sucked in (and paid off with nice weekends away by the manufacturers) and suddenly, the latest is the best etc... Well it isn't...far from it. Not in my experience and real world test, where it would be used. Fab for a second bike, i would love one as it looks superb, but not £20k as a main bike. No way.
there where 5 x 1199's at sepang yesterday , 4 of them where in the c group with 4 1098R's , 1 was in A group but he was very very slow , seams to be a pattern forming here , Ducati for posing and looking good parked in front of starbucks and real bikes for going fast :-}}
Had my first close-up of the Panigale since reading Si's review and had a look at the build quality issues highlighted - and boy, was he right! Can't believe I never noticed them before, although probably due to my tongue hanging out at the sexiness of it, but if I'd have bought one I'd be mightily disappointed in the poor quality. The plastics stink up the bike. Once noticed will never be unseen. Would have overlooked it (just) on a sub-£10K bike, but at £15K+, I'll pass on the v1.0, thanks. (although doubt they'll ever really address poor build quality, though)
The 1199 does have its faults that's for sure, one fired up at the dealers last week and there was more smoke than my old GT250!!!!!! I said man that's furrrrrged and my mate who works there just said, yeah they do that when cold, I said yeah but what will that be like at 15k miles! But then I though hang on that won't ever see 15k miles as IMO it will never make it! Anyway my local dealer threw me out that day, the boss seemed to think I was wasteing the guys time in the workshop by asking them to help me revise some geometry settings with my 848! Seems I am the ONLY one who cares what ride height etc I'm running, the guy and I get on VERY well as we share the same interests, shame the boss of Snells don't feel the same, after all they did sell me the bike! He said the doors always open to me, but if you don't mind....get lost! Don't worry I will NOT be back I've never been talked to so rude by ANY dealer EVER! maybe it's just my bald head!
you only need to hear that one once Arthur and another repeat customer is gone forever (When will they ever learn? )
see that was your problem you wanted the bike to handle , 99.8 % of ducati owners wouldn't know what geometry was or what different it made anyway nor would they care as its all about the look and I OWN A DUCATI
Not wrong! Anyway my geom is bang on with no help required so no thanks needed from me! Pays to learn yourself then you don't have to ask, all I can say is thanks to the guys in the workshop as they always have time to chat bikes and sorry I got you all in trouble....like you say shanes its not just about the "look at me"! How does the boss think they learn, would he be surprised to know that some of the "customers" may have a clue what's what and be willing to share what they know with the workshop, what does he think people like me thrive on? I guess they only care about profits and after such a big refit I guess the stress is at its highest ever! Tbh Im gutted I caused such upset and now feel I can't stop by for a chat....what's worse is we only ever chat bikes anyway! Still plenty of my mates and punters have 1199's so I'll get my test ride, and there's another dealer just up the road who always make me welcome and NEVER talk down to me, funny thing is they lent me the ride height tool and chatted geom and suss before and they have sold me very little! Maybe I will go to Rapido and get my test ride!
Art, you can come to my workshop anytime you want mate. You can talk tech or bollocks and will always be welcome. And if you could bring your spanners, that would be good too. No pressure.
Arthur, the way I see it is this. You are a wealth of information and experience. If you can't share your knowledge with blokes at the dealers, then they will not be as good as you. Time and time again, I've read guys on here getting bad information from dealers and what not, only recently there was a thread about a dynojet operator giving false information to a member on here. You put him right, and consequently, the member got intouch with dynojet and is getting it sorted on your information and experience that you passed on. I would rather come to you, and ask you for advice, than any dealer I know. I bet this goes for most on here too. So, you must be doing something right. Don't get upset mate, the guy who spoke to you like that doesn't deserve to learn from you, or indeed to call you a friend. He simply wouldn't be an acquaintance of mine.... And these guys wonder why bad news spreads so quickly in the retail business.
