Ducati 1199 Panigale R

      Ducati pushed the envelope with its 1199 Panigale establishing a new standard of what we expect from a twin-cylinder sportbike. Although it impressed in some areas, the Ducati didn’t elicit the final result many had hoped. This year it gets a shot at redemption with this new R-spec Superbike ($29,995).

      The new Panigale R is based off the S model we rode during the 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale First Ride. It features a variety of hardware and software updates outlined in the 2013 Ducati 1199 Panigale R First Look. This narrative focuses on the riding impression from the freshly paved 20-turn Circuit of the America’s Formula One course in Austin, Texas.
      
      Hop into the seat and the 1199 R is Ducati’s most accommodating Superbike to date. Engineers continue to refine the way the rider interacts with the controls. After all, the more comfortable you are, the faster you can go. Although the seat height continues to measure 32.5 in., it feels closer to the ground than we remember.


      Thumb the starter button and it whirs to life firing the engine immediately without the occasional hesitation or hiccup we experienced on the 2012 machines. Drop the shift lever down into first gear, flip down your visor and its time to ride.

      Escaping the pits is a simpler exercise due to the lower final drive gearing. Engineers fitted a two-tooth larger rear sprocket (41) enhancing acceleration in each of the six gears. It also reduces the amount of clutch slip required during launches. The added velocity doesn’t come at the expense of top speed due to engine’s higher 12,000 rpm ceiling (more on that later). Initial feel and lever action from the wet-style (clutch plates lubricated in engine oil) is superior to the previous generation’s dry-clutch set-up, even if it doesn’t emit that nostalgic racy sounding clank-clank-clank rattle. We never had the opportunity to give it an aggressive, high-rpm racing-style launch so we’re curious if the 1199 R’s drivetrain has what it takes to break into the nine-second range through the quarter mile.


      The lap begins at the end of the fifth-gear front straightaway. Exiting pit lane you travel uphill preparing for Turn 1, a tight, off-camber left taken in second gear. Let the bike drift to the candy cane-painted curbing, put your head down and pin the throttle.