DUCATI 1199 PANIGALE S (2012 - 2014) Review

As I received it the bike was solid like a plank. I had no give in the suspension whatsoever, it was very uncomfortable and actually dangerous as it was throwing me off the seat on bumpy uk back roads. It also had very little feel.I took some advice from Dave Moss setup guides and ended up swapping out for softer Ohlins springs for my weight to make it more compliant. Now it its plush while retaining the right amount of firmness. I remain seated over bumps and I can feel everything going on at both wheels.Brembo brakes are great! Can't fault them at all, I recently changed the pads to SBS as the standard Ducati Brembos are extortionate! The SBS pads are every bit as good, if not better, than the stock brakes.The seat is also very slippy and hard. I swapped mine out for the comfort seat and it's night and day difference. so much more comfortable now, that I could do a bit of touring on it no problem.

I love the power delivery on this bike, which makes it a great road bike in my opinion (within reason). Loads of low down torque but very controllable and the noise this bike makes is sooo addictive! It will lift the front wheel in every gear to 4th if you have a sharp wrist!It does put out a lot of heat to the point its uncomfortable when stuck in slow moving or town traffic on a hot day.

A few non-major gremlins appearing on what is now an older bike with 8.5k miles. A previous owner had added a switch to bring the fan on earlier but this caused issues with engine cooling so I removed it. I also had a leaking radiator hose on delivery of the bike.In one year of ownership I have had a sticking exhaust valve (common problem on standard bikes) which I freed up and removed the cable so it won't be a problem in the future. I have a fault oxygen sensor which I need to look at.None of these issues are difficult or overly expensive if you can do the work yourself

I do my own servicing and work so it's not very expensive for me. I will do my own desmo service as well when the time comes, the ducati service manual is widely available free of charge. The bike isn't the easiest to work on, access is limited to many parts. Just to change a spark plug the main radiator assembly needs to be removed.Servicing parts costs from a 3rd party oem are no more expensive than other bikes. Even the ducati dealerships aren't that bad for some of the parts and are widely available from online ducati stores.Can usually get around 100+ miles to a tank (light comes on around 80-90 miles) on the road but I'm not ham-fisted.

The S model is well spec'd and had everything I personally need on a bike (except for wheelie control :))I don't like that I had to buy a 'comfort' seat in order to be comfortable on the bike. It's a great business model from Ducati to upsell but in my opinion the bike should have come with it for the price.

As in previous comments, the Panigale comes into it’s own on a track, European if you get the chance. In race mode, I could go for about 30 minutes before I need to rest, but the bike will go all day.

Strong engine with plenty of grunt.

Bolts and screws do tend to loosen especially on track days, fairing anchor points not the strongest. Topping up coolant and oil requires fairing removal which is a pain,

Not everyone wants to tackle any issues on a Ducati, so a trip to your nearest dealer can incurs additional costs.

Just so god damn gorgeous to look at.

Needs sustension tuning for street vs track to get the most out of the bike and the best comfort.

Great power. Only down side is not geared for town/slow traffic yet it is a sports bike to be fair (Be prepared for using your clutch a fair amount).

Mostly OK except when it goes wrong, then it does it in style.

Price is for servicing and averaged general costs when things go wrong. This includes doing some work yourself.

Brakes are great at stopping with fantastic feel, suspension is good with good feedback and accesories to bling up the bike are bountiful.

It's a dog to ride at 30mph or in stop-start traffic, but I'm rarely exposed to this type of riding so I can live with it. I'd have made a huge mistake buying this bike if I was using it for commuting.The temperature shoots up if you're riding it at slower speeds and it gets hot under the seat but as hot as some other owners have reported.Ride quality is sublime but it can be tiring on poor road surfaces. The Brembo M50's on the front are massive stoppers. Thankfully!

There is absolutely nothing I don't like about the bike's performance or power delivery. The torque is intoxicating and it's a constant challenge trying to keep its 195bhp in check.The power delivery in "race" mode is savage if you're not used to it.

The quality is mainly pretty good, despite all the horror stories.Winter salt remains on the Scottish roads well into the summer months and I've been disappointed in the poor quality of the OEM fasteners, which have burred quite badly. I'm gradually replacing the fasteners with titanium equivalents.It's a little bit aquaphobic - don't use a pressure washer.You'll end up on first-name terms with your tyre dealer.I have an ongoing intermittent electrical problem which means the bike occasionally cuts out. Usually happens when I'm hundreds of miles from home in the middle of nowhere.

I do most of the smaller maintenance jobs myself - oil & filter change, coolant flush, brake fluid changes, brake pads (clean/replace) - because I want these carried out more regularly than the recommended service intervals. This also keeps the cost of ownership lower.I haven't had any of the big services yet. My 4 out of 5 rating might go down after I experience some main dealer servicing.

Not a feature as such, but for an 8yr old bike the styling is stunning and doesn't feel like it's aged. She can still stand her ground when parked up next to the newer Panigale's.

Not a pillion type bike but for me solo it’s all day comfy. It’s my only bike. It does 300 mile weekend ride outs and commutes. Can be thirsty if you press on a bit and is way faster than anyone really needs. It is top notch build and component quality.

Doesn’t really want to run smoothly at low revs but once your moving it’s a wave of torque. If you take it above 7k revs you unleash what I can only describe as a two Stoke type power band that pins you on the seat hump and demands the very best of the electronic package.

Only issue I’ve had is miss firing on the front cylinder during heavy rain.

The Desmo service @ 15k is around £1500z🙄

It’s a piece of art to look at. Best upgrade full termis and remap. Running on pilot powers and significantly better than corsa’s for everyday riding.

Top of the line. Comfier than people give it credits for. Does get warm in the traffic but its pleasant when cold. Astonishing breakes and being so light, even over the v4 and such, the bike just stops and goes and all that so so easily.

Torque is relatively up high for a twin and overall its very smooth and linear. On second gear around 2k rpm it goes very quiet and the throttle gets fixed at a position. I assume this explains how the passed the emission tests because i dont know how the hell this road bike is this loud with a stock exhaust. I love it, the thump of it just moves your chest. And i still dont know the made it those big cylinders rev to 12k, you can truly tell that this is the highest point of the craft of building v twin engines.

Superb overall. I've bought an 9 year old bike with low milage. Everything is holding up great even after years passing. Minor negatives are the black plastics looks to be "sweating" a little but thats truly all. Everything works as well as when it first rolled outta factory and the bike is still impressive after all these years.

It is hugely undervalued in the used market right now because everytone wants the v4 goodie. Well on the long run, I see this bike being more sought after than the v4 due to its uniqueness as being one of the most advanced v twins history has ever seen and one of the most beautiful bikes ever made. For such bike, you just suck it up and pay for whatever they ask for at service time.

Great electronics working as they should, screen still looking great. Actually i prefer the graphics on 1199 to any other current gen Ducatis. Quickshifter as standart but no blipper. One would have to be quite certaing with the feet moves for the quickshifter because sometimes it can go a bit indecisive and put you back on the previous gear. Although no problems on acceleration.

Light, flick able, brakes will hurt your hands and forearms as you pile into corners. Honestly the front brake is ridiculously good. Ohlins electronically adjustable suspension is awesome. Plenty of rebound options for British roads. I came from an RSV 1000 (2001) which was over 200kgs wet. I think the 1199s (with the carbon fibre mods on mine) is about 185kgs and there is a massive difference. Plenty of confidence in corners. Pottering around town will mean the exhaust shielding under the seat gets warm. It's not uncomfortable like the new V2 and V4 but it's noticeable.

With a throttle spacer, easy and managable around town and motorways or duel carriageways, but who buys a Panigale to ride on those? Stick it in sport or race mode wind it up to over 8000 reves and just make sure you're holding on tight. The power delivery is initially smooth, but once you get to the top end the bike goes mental and the world becomes a blur. It's very very fast, and takes your breath away.

Have only done 500 miles in the month I've had it. Bike feels rock solid and smooth as melted butter despite its 16k miles. Slightly loose left mirror joint, means the already useless mirrors are worse. Absolutely no other issues.

Thirsty. Expect about 100 miles per tank giving it the occasional beans. Big service at every 15k miles is nearly 1000 pounds so save up! I've been riding 7 years with 7 years NCD, I'm 37 and insurance was just over 300 quid for fully comp 250 excess.

Too long to list. ABS, Traction Control, wheelie control, brilliant TFT screen, riding modes which are almost infinity adjustable. Ohlins, Marchesini wheels, Termignoni exhaust system. Throttle spacer and ducati performance seat are an absolute must.