The Goodwood Test: Ducati 1299 Panigale – Sign up here for raw thrills

Heritage

Ducati began a new era of V-twin performance in 2012 with the 1199 Panigale, which held an ultra short-stroke “Superquadro” engine in a monocoque, aluminium-framed chassis that was a radical departure from the Bologna firm’s traditional steel tubes. The resultant rev-happy motor and supremely light chassis gave the 1199 fearsome performance, especially on a racetrack, but made it a demanding roadster.

In creating the 1299, Ducati set out not only to boost speed still further but to add rider-friendliness. Its additional capacity allows a hefty injection of midrange grunt, as well as a power increase to an outrageous 205bhp. The higher-spec 1299 Panigale S, in particular, lives up to Ducati’s recent tradition of cutting-edge engineering and electronics with a host of advanced features including semi-active suspension.

Design

One glance tells you why Ducati didn’t make fundamental design changes to the 1199. That original Panigale was visually stunning, its minimalist monocoque chassis contributing to the appeal, and the 1299 is similarly gorgeous. It differs slightly by incorporating its tiny headlights in the air scoops, and by having a slightly taller screen and wider fairing to improve aerodynamics. Because the 1299 was introduced last year it doesn’t need to comply with Euro 4 regulations so can have a compact exhaust that is almost hidden within its fairing, rather than a bulky, twin-silencer system like the recently released 959 Panigale.

The eight-valve, desmodromic V-twin engine holds its cylinders at 90 degrees apart in Ducati tradition, and has a capacity of 1285cc, due to massive 116mm pistons (4mm wider than the 1199’s). Suspension depends on the model: this upmarket Panigale S gets high-tech Öhlins semi-active kit, tuneable by pressing buttons on the handlebar, while the standard 1299 makes do with conventional units. Both bikes wear Brembo’s classy M50 Monobloc front brake calipers, incorporating Bosch’s cornering ABS system. Neat details include the Thin Film Transistor instrument panel, whose information changes automatically with riding mode.

Performance

The 1299 Panigale is outstanding on paper, thanks to that 205bhp output and a dry weight figure of just under 180kg, but even its power-to-weight ratio barely does justice to what a blast the Ducati is to ride. The big-bore V-twin’s mighty midrange torque sends it hurtling forward from below 6000rpm, bellowing mightily and heading towards its 190mph top speed with such urgency that the gearbox quick-shifter, which works on both up- and down-changes, is invaluable.

And the Panigale S is every bit as exhilarating on the twisty sections, where its light weight, racy geometry and refined semi-active suspension combine to give agile handling, high-speed stability and even excellent ride quality. Its levels of grip and ground clearance are immense, and its ferocious braking is backed-up by that brilliant cornering ABS. The 1299 is a wild ride, with a sophisticated safety net that doesn’t detract from the experience.

Passion

The Panigale is right up there scrapping with the quickest superbikes on lap times, and in terms of raw thrills it’s arguably the pick of the bunch. With its thunderous V-twin exhaust note, brutal acceleration and ability to wheelie over slight crests in fourth gear at close to 150mph, the 1299 generates adrenaline like few vehicles on earth.

It’s hard to resist even when parked, thanks to its sculpted lines, rich red paintwork and high-quality equipment from specialists including Öhlins and Brembo plus Marchesini, who supply the forged aluminium wheels. Ducati’s next super-sports flagship will have to join its 959 sibling in complying with power-sapping, weight-adding Euro 4 legislation. So let’s be thankful for the 1299 Panigale – a majestic superbike symphony that will be very difficult to match, never mind improve upon.

Price tag of our bike: £21,050

Photography by Milagro