Captain obvious...

Any Ducati in the hands of equally skilled riders, similar tires will absolutely smoke a ZX14 on any twisty road,

I think that should have read, "ANYTHING smaller, lighter, nimbler, built to handle the twisties, will smoke a ZX14", it's not just necessarily any Ducati, besides, I think we all know, or should know that the ZX14 was NOT built to handle like a liter bike, it was built to smoke on the drag strip. Put the Pan-e-golly in that environment and then the tables will turn on it - badly... As you said "each has its merits..." - that is true of all motorcycles, they were all designed to excel in something specific, liter bike, Ducati track/twisties, ZX14, Busa, mainly built for straightline performance...

I love Ducati's and most any other thing on two wheels, but I do think that the 1199 has a LOT of hype that may not play out as well as the spec sheet says... Still looking at that Diavel Carbon by the by... toss up between that and the 14R. JM2C.

Throw a passenger on the back and see how she rides, oh wait you can't.

I'll admit that it's an impressive bike but it's very narrow focused for the everyday rider who enjoys long rides and canyon blasting with the wife on the back. so with that being said it's not as impressive to me as the 14 is

Interestingly, Ducati dropped the stressed airbox/engine design on the GP12 and went back to a traditional twinspar aluminum frame setup for Rossi and Hayden. I read a test report yesterday that said the new frameless design on the 1199 may have some handling quirks but it's too early to tell yet.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 4/30/2012 @ 12:39 PM *

Yea Kruz I read somewhere that all their testing time had been done on the old frame and it didn't have enough flex and they haven't had much testing time at all with the new set up.

They didn't like the carbon fiber frame because it took too long to make adjustments and they couldn't be done trackside.

Does Ducati intend on replacing the GP12 with the Panigale??? They just (ealier this year) intorduced the GP12, seems like they're focusing most of their track efforts on this platform... (GP12)

The two machines share very little; The GP12 is a 1000cc V4 and the Panigale is a 1200cc (nominally) V-twin. The GP is a handbuilt prototype and the Pan is a production line bike. Traction control, wheelie control, Control control etc. are all outgrowths of MotoGP tech, but then again, publicity isn't the sole reason for going racing.

It's purty:

but it ain't fast... atleast not in the rain... w/ a rider worried that if he/she crashes it, he /she has to buy it.

It is gorgeous, right there with the new MV F3.

wait a minute

I don't think they're quite getting the message.

[hint, hint... ]

Wait a sec, you telling me Dogo just bought a new Tricolore 1199 Pannigale? That's over $30,000 OTD!!!

Dogo what's the story, did you buy one or are you just pulling our tally wackers?

$32k and change otd, Kruz...

but yeah...... just f'n w/ you guys.

The proud owner of that beauty is, however, a former member of our little community... well, the old forum. His handle is/was ninjaofdoom.

Gorgeous bike, lucky guy! Give us a ride report if he'll let you take it out for a spin.

The tricolor is on my list! I don't care if I'm too tall!

If I can ride a 600 at 6'3", you should be able to ride that Panigale without issue. They say the ergos are much more comfortable than the bikes of old.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/4/2012 @ 6:47 AM *

Give us a ride report if he'll let you take it out for a spin.

Not gonna happen... We ain't tight like that... And my reputation @ the track is beginning to precede me.

Dogo, you ain't a crasher are ya?

A riding buddy just got an Aprilia RSV4 on Saturday, loaded with five pages of bling, carbon fiber everything and an Aka Evo full system. He asked me to take it out on it's maiden voyage and I politely declined.....$30,200 drive out!!!! Nice bike but it felt heavy to me.

Dogo, you ain't a crasher are ya?

Well, don't know that I've earned a title... but I'm out there to push it, and shit happens.

A riding buddy just got an Aprilia RSV4 on Saturday, loaded with five pages of bling, carbon fiber everything and an Aka Evo full system. He asked me to take it out on it's maiden voyage and I politely declined.....$30,200 drive out!!!! Nice bike but it felt heavy to me.

Ninjaofdoom's wife's bike... seriously.

Here's the $30,000 Wonder Prilla..... pardon the iPhone quality pic. I think I could outrun this thing on my five year old '07 CBR1000RR but maybe not, for $30 grand I wouldn't want to find out.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 5/8/2012 @ 1:11 PM *

Panigale vs Beemer vs Ape