"Doran" (doran)
03/09/2018 at 08:18 • Filed to: None
5
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"Doran" (doran)
03/09/2018 at 08:18 • Filed to: None | 5
| 13 |
This post originally appeared on Top Dead Center.
Like all great loves, giving form to the myriad of feelings the Ducati 959 Panigale inspires is complicated; some things are just simply known. Perhaps I’ll try with two observations. First, this motorcycle is really, really good. Second, it makes me quite sad. At one point while riding it, an old Melvin Endsley song called “Singing the Blues” drifted into my head. Melvin is pining for a lover now gone and tears are his only refuge.
Oh, the moon and stars no longer shine
The dream is gone I thought was mine
There’s nothin’ left for me to do
But cry-y-y-y over you
I realize that’s awfully dramatic, but knowing I had to give the 959 back after reviewing it was a bummer. I’ll make every effort to not wax too poetic for I don’t want you, dear reader, to watch me turn into a blubbering mess. But, I need you to know why this bike is special. First, some context.
This is an incredible time to fall in love with Ducati, particular with its superbikes. The company recently unveiled a radical new direction for its flagship superbike line with the stunning Panigale V4. That bike has been charged with the unenviable task of replacing the absolutely mental v-twin 1299 Panigale at the top of Ducati’s food chain, and it does so with a brand-new 214 horsepower (!) four-cylinder motor, which makes the V4 the most powerful naturally aspirated production motorcycle ever.
Twin-cylinder desmodromic engines have been at the heart of every Ducati superbike since the iconic 851 stormed onto the scene back in 1988. Interestingly, however, the Panigale V4 is not the only Ducati to come packing a v-4. In 2008, Ducati released the brilliant and ultra-exclusive (see - ultra-expensive) Desmosedici RR which used a weapons-grade four banger, but that was bike was essentially a MotoGP machine with mirrors and was never meant for series production.
That brings us neatly to this object of my irrational desire, the 959 Panigale. With the end of the 1299 Panigale, the 959 is now the sole v-twin superbike offering from Ducati. And what a peach of an engine it has – a 955cc Superquadro that shells out 157 horsepower and spins to a heady 11,300 rpm. It has a lightweight crankshaft, all-new connecting rods, 12.5:1 compression ratio, and a special super strong coating applied to the piston pins and desmodromic rocker arms. No one does v-twins like the boys and girls from Bologna.
No one does styling like Ducati either. In my opinion, the 959 is one of the most attractive motorcycles on sale today, full stop. The tidy tail and airy gap to the rear wheel are so strangely sensual I feel compelled to avert my eyes. I also love the glowering intensity of the front end, and how only Ducati could make an exposed section of exhaust pipe look so provocative. It reminds me of Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress photo – all coy and fetching and impossibly leggy. At one point, I caught a quick glimpse of my reflection in a shop window as I rode past and couldn’t help but giggle like an idiot.
Thumb the starter button and the dual belly-mounted exhausts punctuate the air with a concussive blast. Good luck having a normal conversation near the 959 while it’s idling; you’re better off trying to talk over an active cement mixer. Goose it, and the combination of exhaust note and clattering engine make for a shockingly physical experience. This is one of those motorcycles that begs you to bang down a gear and stab the throttle at every opening in traffic just to hear it sing. Pavarotti, where you at?!
(K. Said all that without fainting like a Southern belle. Let’s continue.)
One of the 959's most impressive elements is its approachability. Like every hot Ducati it’s intimidating as hell on first approach, a feeling that’s only amplified when you swing a leg over it and fire it up. Fortunately, the riding experience is far more forgiving. The 959's DNA may be imbued with brutality but even a novice sportbike rider ( raises hand ) can tame the beast. It’s a surprisingly comfortable and subdued machine when you want it to be, and doles out its impressive performance in a manageable and linear way when it’s time to hustle. I was delighted to discover the 959 is more velvet wrapped maul than belligerent jackhammer.
A lot of that approachability comes down the sheer amount of technology bristling beneath the bike’s skin. The 959 features enough electronics to get even Elon Musk all hot and bothered: three distinct riding modes, eight level traction control, ABS, and EBC. I kept all the systems in Sport during my 250+ mile test ride, and found that mode’s slightly softened throttle response to be ideal for every day riding.
Those miles saw me trundling between stoplights in downtown traffic, enjoying a few blasts on the highway, and blitzing a handful of back roads. I hesitate to use cliche phrases like ‘telepathic steering’ to describe how the 959 handles, but the steering really is superb, and changes in direction are buttery smooth. And, because there’s enough power to keep things exciting without striking icy fear into your heart, you can ride the 959 with confidence and feel assured in exploring its breadth of ability.
Ducati’s quickshifter is another truly standout feature. Even doodling around at pedestrian speeds under moderate throttle load produces quick, seamless gear changes. Then, when the wick is good and truly lit, the gearbox rewards with no perceptible let-up between upshifts. The 959 just buckles down, exhales, and goes. It’s chuffing magic.
So, is this an actual review or did I just #fanboy out for the last 1000 or so words? Well, the 959 might be comfortable, but that comes with the caveat ‘for a sportsbike’. No aggressive motorcycle can really be considered “comfortable”. It’s also not particularly cheap to buy, and surely won’t be cheap to maintain, insure, or repair. But, you can say the same of any high performance machine, particularly the Italian ones. Other than that I, umm, struggle to think of anything else.
Describing emotion is a tricky task; rarely can words fully illuminate its nuances and finer details. If I’ve been able to give words to anything, I hope it’s that the 959 glistens with delicious emotion and feels like no other motorcycle I’ve ever ridden. It’s visually and aurally intoxicating, glorious to ride, and makes even a ham-fisted goon like me feel like a rockstar. If daddy didn’t need any more bills, there’d already be a 959 in my garage. Someday I’ll own one. It’s too good not to.
And just like that, it was time to hand the keys back. Take it away, Melvin.
Well, I never felt more like cryin’ all night
‘Cause everythin’s wrong, and nothin’ ain’t right
Without you… You got me singin’ the blues.
Many thanks and much respect to
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
in Derry, NH for the opportunity to ride and review this bike. SSC is a full-service dealer with incredibly knowledgeable staff and a wide array of motorcycles and gear to choose from.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Doran
03/09/2018 at 10:17 |
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My local dealer said I could come by and take the V4 out for a ride when the weather is a bit nicer
KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
> Doran
03/09/2018 at 10:32 |
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This was enjoyable to read. Duactis have that enduring character that is rare in Japanese sportbikes. Did I short ride in a 1199 Panigale few years back. It was quite the beast and demanded respect.
valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
> Doran
03/09/2018 at 13:55 |
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Great writeup, and nice pics. BTW, the paragraph “That brings us neatly...” appears twice.
BTW, how did you “break out” and get to a point you are given nice bikes to review?
Jid
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
03/09/2018 at 13:58 |
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You luck duck...
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Jid
> Doran
03/09/2018 at 14:00 |
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Great write up, Doran.
I love the panigale family. They’re absolutely stunning to look at, and I’ve heard from other reviews the same thing you expressed: The feeling can be truly inexpressible. It’s just.... something , and something wonderful .
I really do not know what I am going to do when I’m ready for a new motorcycle. Do I go sportbike? Sport naked? Cafe? Bobber? I DON’T KNOW. Too many options. Too many good (really good) motorcycles out there.
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Doran
> Jid
03/09/2018 at 15:59 |
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Thank you, Jid! Haha, you’re good for my ego man, Imma keep you around.
There are WAY too many great motorcycles to make an easy choice. I went the naked bike route at got a 2012 Monster 796 as my first bike. *Literally* one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Highly recommend it.
Anything you’re leaning towards?
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Doran
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
03/09/2018 at 16:00 |
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Doooooooooo it.
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Doran
> KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/09/2018 at 16:02 |
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Thank you! They certainly do have undeniable character that makes the riding experience that much more enjoyable. I’ve never ridden the 1199, but from what I hear, that bike definitely demands respect. Seems like Ducati has gone to great lengths to tame the beast in their new bikes, all while making them even faster, sexier, more insane. Life is good.
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Doran
> valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
03/09/2018 at 16:04 |
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Thank you very much for the kind words! Also thanks for letting me know about the double paragraph, that’s since been fixed.
I’ve been writing/reading a ton lately, meeting as many people as I can, and genuinely making an effort to improve as a writer. The local Ducati/Aprilia/Guzzi dealer near me reached out and asked if I would review a couple of their bikes. It was an awesome project to work on!
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valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
> Doran
03/09/2018 at 16:27 |
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I read a few other articles on your site - you can tell they’re all distinctly written by yourself (meant in a good way because it’s quite poetic). I like to read and write too; I’ve been maintaining a blog of my own for a little bit, but I guess it’s important to go out to people rather than have them find you in the sea of online content.
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Jid
> Doran
03/09/2018 at 17:31 |
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I bought a 2005 Honda CRF450X SuperMoto for my first bike, and absolutely do not regret that either haha.
All of the write-ups on the new KTM 790 Duke are coming out, and the second they announced it I was kind of in love, and I am happy that the majority of reviews are really, really positive, so definitely leaning that way. If it doesn’t fit me, Yamaha XSR700.
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Doran
> valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
03/12/2018 at 08:29 |
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I appreciate that! I’ve found that it’s important to continue to work, even if things are small, and become your own best promoter. Waiting for things/growth to happen doesn’t typically work. Gotta hustle! I know you can do it!
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Doran
> Jid
03/12/2018 at 08:30 |
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Right on. Big fan of the Duke as well. Buddy of mine as the 1290 R and holy shit, is that thing a beast. KTM makes some fantastic bikes!