VOL. 52 ISSUE 34 AUGUST 25, 2015 P85
this bike that you can't find on Chaz
Davies' 1199 Panigale R racer (if you
want that too, it's here, also the road-
going version of Chaz's Panigale R test
can be found here), which, in the case
of the roadbike, are designed to make
you safer. Then, and only then, will they
make you faster.
You cannot escape the fact this is a
machine governed to dictatorial sta-
tus by electronics. As soon as you sit
on the slightly curved up, thinly pad-
ded seat and twist that key behind the
gorgeously crafted top triple-clamp, the
Panigale buzzes and zings and lights
up like the south on the Fourth. You're
greeted with your chosen setting of
engine mode (Race, Sport and Wet)
and level of Ducati Traction Control,
Electronic Braking Control, Ducati
Quick Shift (the system now lets you do
clutchless down shifts matched to the
auto-blipper), Anti Wheelie Control and
ABS setting, gear position and speed.
And that's just the start. You've also
got the electronic suspension adjust-
ment preset settings that can be played
with and Ducati Wheelie Control. Then
you've got the race dash, which pairs
the speed back to a small icon while
the rpm and gear position take center
stage. You can even go further and get
into the Ducati Data Analyzer system
and see just what throttle position you
were using at what lean angle on that
corner you just messed up. It's all very
confusing and yet engaging.
Starting a Panigale up is like ignit-
ing the Italian artillery. It cackles and
booms and swears at the atmosphere,
with those two massive pistons, the
biggest of any production vehicle (two
(Right) While it looks
like a work of art, the
Akrapovic exhaust is fry
your undercarriage if you
sit in traffic too long.
(Far right) That seat
is beautiful. Hard, but
beautiful.
The Ducati will mash its way through
fast sweepers but isn't a fan of sharp
bumps with a bit of shock going
through to the rider.
