How much more hype can we give to the new Ducati 1199 Panigale that hasn’t been done already? The successor to the popular and successful 1098/1198, the Panigale is more than just a significant update, it defines what we moto-journos mean when we talk about revolution vs. evolution. Many of the technologies on the new Panigale will break from the mold we’re so used to seeing on sportbikes.
First, the frame, or rather, lack of one. The monocoque design of the 1199 means the engine is the frame and the signature trellis design on past Ducatis is no more. This technology borrows directly from the company’s MotoGP experience. Considering how much trouble Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden had this season aboard those MotoGP machines, it will be interesting to see how the new 1199 performs.
