2015 DUCATI PANIGALE R
FIRST RIDE
P64
makes for easier steering
and faster changes of
direction. Forged alu-
minium 17-inch wheels, a
3.50in front and 6.00in
rear, carry massive
330mm floating Brembo
front discs gripped by
the company's radially-
mounted four-piston M50
Monoblock one-piece
race calipers, with a
245mm rear disc and
two-piston radial caliper.
Bosch 9.1MP cornering
ABS that debuted on
the 1299 Panigale S is
retained here.
Indeed, Ducati's elec-
tronics package on the
Panigale R is essentially
the same as found on the
1299 Panigale S minus
the electronic suspen-
sion, and includes the
Bosch-supplied IMU/
Inertial Measurement Unit
which debuted on that
model. This measures
acceleration in relation
to three axes to calculate
the bike's lean angle and
fore/aft pitch, interfac-
ing with the DWC/Ducati
Wheelie Control and
Bosch Cornering ABS to
ensure these systems op-
erate at optimum effective-
ness. Paddle shifters on
the left handlebar permit
on-the-go changes to the
eight-stage DTC traction
control program, DWC,
or EBC, as monitored via
the densely info-packed
TFT/Thin Film Transistor
dash's pages. But while
Ducati's DTC has been
uprated to account for
the Panigale R's power
characteristics, it hasn't
– yet – been linked to
the new IMU so as to use
the lean angle informa-
tion this delivers. Besides
Ducati's usual choice
of three different riding
modes – Race, Sport
and Rain – new elec-
tronic rider aids on the
Panigale R not present on
its predecessor include
an eight-level switchable
DWC system sourced
from the Superleggera,
a revamped DQS/Ducati
Quick Shifter system
which besides wide-open
upshifts now also has
the auto-blip function for
downshifts that only made
"HOWEVER, UNLIKE LIMITED EDITION MODELS
SUCH AS, SAY, LAST YEAR'S ULTRA-COSTLY
1199 SUPERLEGGERA OF WHICH JUST 500
EXAMPLES WERE MANUFACTURED, THERE'S
NO FINITE LIMIT ON HOW MANY EXAMPLES OF
THE NEW BIKE WILL BE BUILT, SAYS DUCATI –
SUPPLY WILL FOLLOW DEMAND."
its debut on the factory
F14 Superbikes raced by
Chaz Davies and Davide
Giugliano last April and
was missing from the
Superleggera, and an
adjustable EBC/Engine
Brake Control system
that helps enhance
stability on the overrun
with a closed throttle on
corner entry.
