The folks at Bologna have unveiled the new 959 Panigale at India Bike Week 2016, by giving the older 899 a major boost! This beautiful machine will soon be in the hands of its Indian customers!
Ducati has launched the new 959 Panigale as an update to its already very powerful 899. With an estimated ex-showroom price in the range of 14 to 15 lakhs, it will be hitting the stores later this year. The new 959 features a larger engine along with certain changes, to meet the new stricter Euro 4 standards along with subtle updates and tweaks to its chassis. The 959 Panigale is just as beautiful as its predecessor. In fact, some minor changes in the visuals give the 959 even more character and charm. The twin headlamps, the new twin side exhausts and the tightly packed rear tail section bestow the Panigale with an unholy combination of absolute grace and rage. The 959 features new intake ports right below the headlamps along with slightly reworked side panels and headlamp housings. The new updates give the 959 a more grown-up, mature and less angular look compared to the older 899.
At the heart of this raging Super-mid Supersport is the signature Panigale Superquadro L-twin motor that has been enlarged to produce 157 HP at 10,500 rpm and 107.4 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm. The engine displacement has been increased with the help of a longer piston stroke. The 959’s transmission is a six-speed gearbox and features a 1299 inspired oil bath clutch. On the race track, this same mechanism reduces pressure on the clutch plates giving a proper race derived “slipper” action. On the suspension front, the 959 is equipped with 43 mm upside-down Showa BPF (Big Piston Fork) forks that are fully adjustable in spring preload and compression, along with rebound damping. Rear suspension is a fully adjustable unorthodox side-mounted Sachs monoshock. The 959 has a 10 spoke wheel design and features 120/70 ZR17 front tyre and a 180/60/ZR17 rear tyre that come with sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa’s. Braking is offered with Brembo’s monobloc callipers actuated by master cylinders, dual floating 320mm at the front and a single 245mm disc at the rear.
The 959 Panigale, like all modern Ducati superbikes, hosts an abundant electronics package. The DTC (Ducati Traction Control) uses the same software logic as the MotoGP and World Superbike Ducati Corse motorcycles, and offers a choice of eight settings developed to respond to any environmental situation. Riding modes on the 959 are pre-programmed to instantly change the bike’s personality based on the ABS, DTC and EBC levels of intervention as well manipulating the power modes.
The Ducati 959 Panigale definitely stunned us here at the India Bike Week. With its eminent launch in India, the Daytona 675R is its main rival. Now the Daytona may be down on power compared to 959 but it’s loaded with the top of the line Ohlins suspension for front and rear along with a super sticky Diablo Supercorsa SP racing tyres. The Daytona is also a much more user friendly motorcycle in terms of riding comfort and general ergonomics compared to the older 899, not that it matters in this category. How these giants will settle things, only time will tell!
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