2017 Ducati Superbike 1299 Panigale

Unequalled Beauty

The beauty of speed translated into design. Pure racing spirit is channelled to the rider with a grasp of the 1299 Panigale‘s handlebars. Large, aggressive air intakes feed the new Superquadro engine and signal no holds-barred competition.

Superquadro Engine

The new Superquadro’s bore/stroke ratio of 1.91:1 sets an extreme example of the power-maximizing “oversquare” architecture used in the world’s most advanced racing engines. A short-stroke crankshaft and enormous pistons combined with large Desmodromically-actuated valves allow the Superquadro to breathe freely at high rpm, while a 1285cc combustion chamber ensures the ample torque that has made so many enthusiasts fall in love with Ducati’s signature L-twin power. The clutch cover, cylinder head covers, and oil pan are all cast in a golden-color magnesium alloy to ensure the engine’s strength with the absolute lowest possible weight.

Decompressor

At the end of the exhaust camshaft of each cylinder head is a centrifugal decompressor. On start-up, this device allows the profile of the cam opening lobe to be modified, slightly lifting a valve so that part of the combustion charge can escape the chamber during the engine’s compression phase. Once the engine fires, the increase in rpm and associated centrifugal force modify the decompressor, cancelling the valve lift effect to bring the engine to normal operating conditions. By temporarily reducing the compression effect of the piston during start-up, a much smaller and lighter starter motor and battery can be used, contributing significantly to the extreme light weight of the overall engine and motorcycle. This ingenious system further underlines the synergistic strength achieved by engineers and designers in the uncompromising creation of the Superquadro.

Essential Desmo

To control the large valves with the precise and efficient Desmodromic system, engineers chose a mixed gear and chain drive system. This chain drive accurately transmits the motion between crankshaft and camshaft, and thanks also to an automatic tensioning adjustment, offers excellent reliability with low routine maintenance costs.

The new Superquadro uses large intake valves fed by advanced oval-section throttle bodies, which emphasize high air flow for maximum power production. Independently controlled by the fully Ride-by-Wire system, the throttle bodies are each fitted with 2 fuel injectors: the first is set below the body and operates in lower rpm/load conditions, while the second is fitted above the throttle body and is called into action when it’s time for the Superquadro to unleash the full scope of its power and torque.

Crankcase

The crankcases, produced through a vacuum casting technology called Vacural®, ensure high strength at low weight along with a uniform wall thickness, and are designed to incorporate water jackets around the cylinder barrels. The engine uses wet barrels coated in Nicasil, which are inserted into the holes of the engine block’s housing during the initial stages of assembly. This design allows the head to be fastened directly onto the crankcase, combining the need for rigidity of the engine’s structure with a significant advantage in terms of compactness. Due to their thin structure, the cylinder barrels efficiently transfer heat to the coolant running along their walls. In addition to these barrels, the Superquadro’s crankcase stands out for the use of plain main bearings, previously utilised on the Ducati Desmosedici RR engine. These bearings allow the use of large-diameter crankshaft journals, which maximise rigidity and mechanical strength to optimise the internal rotating structure to the extreme power of the Superquadro.

Lubrication

The journals of the main bearings are lubricated by pressurised oil admitted through ducts inside the engine block. This serves to assure the efficient lubrication of the new crankshaft, followed by a rapid recovery of the oil thanks to a lobe pump that places the connecting rod compartment under vacuum, similar to the engines used in MotoGP. This pump is driven by gears built in a special high-strength techno-polymer and maintains the crankcase area below the pistons in controlled conditions of constant vacuum, thereby reducing resistance during the pistons’ downstroke as well as facilitating oil flow for rapid recovery.

Fully Ride-by-Wire

The opening and closing of throttle butterflies on the Superquadro is controlled by a fully electronic Ride-by-Wire system. The absence of a mechanical connection between the twistgrip and the throttle bodies allows the engine ECU to regulate power delivery by directly adjusting the throttle; Ride-by-Wire makes it possible to have different power and delivery based on the selected Riding Mode, to alter the level of engine back-torque (EBC), and to control any slipping of the rear wheel (DTC).

The Panigale’s Monoscocca chassis forms its structural backbone – compact, rigid, lightweight, and multi-functional. Cast in aluminium, it attaches at its rear directly to the heads of the Superquadro engine and contains the steering head and bearings at its front. In addition to performing the function of a traditional frame, the Monoscocca also serves as the airbox and in this way significantly contributes to lowering the overall weight of the motorcycle. Housed inside it are the air filter, throttle bodies and fuel circuit complete with injectors, making it truly unique and a revolutionary advancement to the world of traditional motorcycle construction.

Wheels

The 1299 Panigale mounts stylish tri-Y spoke black aluminium wheels, in widths of 3.5 inches at the front and 6 inches at the rear, which allow rapid changes in direction together with stability at high speeds.

Tires

All Panigales benefit from Pirelli’s Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres, the road version of the tyre used in the Superstock 1000 World Championship: 120/70 ZR17 at front and 200/55 x ZR17 at rear, which provide the contact patch necessary to effectively transmit the Superquadro’s power to the ground. Designed to maintain a precise line in straights and on curves, the rear 200/55 x ZR17 tyre maximises the area of contact and corner speed by combining 200 mm width with a high profile. The tyres have structures and compounds deriving directly from Pirelli’s experience in the Superbike World Championship, and feature casings specially studied to guarantee rigidity in extreme braking and shoulders that maximise the contact patch. In addition, a special double compound that uses the most advanced polymers facilitates the rapid heating of the tyres together with a constant grip.

Brakes

The 1299 Panigale features the finest brakes available – Brembo’s M50 Monoblock callipers. Sporting an extremely compact design and machined out of a single alloy block, the M50 callipers offer the ultimate in rigidity and deformation resistance during extreme braking.

Ergonomics

The Panigale’s ergonomic dimensions assure a perfect integration between rider and motorcycle. The seat and handlebar positions are optimized to provide total control and comfort during sport and track riding, while the switchgear and dash are further designed to be intuitive, informative, and a pleasure to use. Grippy, machined-from-billet aluminium footpegs and a carefully-shaped seat with racing cover allow the rider to perfectly integrate with the Panigale, and focus only on the extraordinary sensations of the ride.

Bosch Inertial Platform

The 1299/S Panigale and Panigale R use the Bosch Inertial Platform, which is centered around an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The IMU constantly monitors the motorcycle’s lean angle and fore/aft pitch, interfacing with the ABS, DWC, and on the 1299 Panigale S, the Ohlins Smart EC suspension – ensuring that these systems operate at maximum effectiveness regardless of the motorcycle’s position.

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) 9.1 MP

The Bosch 9.1 MP ABS equips the 1299 Panigale/S and Panigale R as standard, and is a latest-generation system that performs combined braking with control rear wheel lift to guarantee the shortest braking distances and greatest stability in any conditions. Further, the system interfaces with the Bosch Intertial Control platform, allowing maximum braking even while the motorcycle is leaned over.

Ducati Traction Control (DTC)

Ducati Traction Control (DTC) is an advanced system that monitors and maintains control over slipping of the rear tyre and operates on the basis of eight different levels of intervention, each of which has been programmed to respond to a different tolerance to rear slipping. Each Riding Mode is assigned a preset level of activation, which can then be modified according to the riders’ desire.

Level 8 corresponds to an activation of the system with the slightest slipping, while Level 1, best used by expert riders and professionals, has a higher tolerance and thus allows a much higher amount of slip before intervening.

Full TFT instrument panel

The instrument panel on the 1299 Panigale uses a full TFT display. The colour display’s configuration is variable and automatically adapts to variations in environmental light and to the selected Riding Mode. In the “Road” and “Wet” Riding Modes, speed takes centre stage and is displayed in large numbers in the middle of the display, whereas the two boxes containing “supplementary information” underneath provide data on total mileage and engine coolant temperature. In the “Race” Riding Mode, the display layout is automatically reconfigured, shifting the display of the vehicle’s speed in the lower information box at left and making room for the last lap time, centrally displayed in large numbers. For the first time on a Ducati motorcycle, the display features a “lean angle visualization,” allowing the rider to see their achieved lean angle displayed on the dash in real-time.

Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS)

The Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS) is a race-derived electronic system that manages shifting of the gearbox in both up and down directions. It allows upshifts to be made under full acceleration without using the clutch, which gains precious fractions of a second that would otherwise be wasted in closing the throttle. It also allows clutchless downshifts, as the system performs a perfectly-timed auto-blip when the foot lever is depressed, engaging the gears smoothly and allowing the rider to concentrate only on braking and corner entry.

DDA+ GPS ready

The DDA+ GPS is the latest generation of the Ducati Data Analyzer, which integrates a GPS signal to create a “virtual finish line”. The system automatically detects, without any intervention by the rider, the conclusion of the lap and stops the chronometric time. Integration with the GPS signal also provides visualisation on the circuit map of the trajectories ridden and the main parameters of the vehicle: throttle opening, speed, rpm, gear engaged, engine temperature, DTC activation, and lean angle.
The 1299 Panigale and 1299 Panigale S are pre-configured to accept the DDA+ GPS, while the Panigale R includes the system as standard.

Optimized geometry

The 1299 Panigale and 1299 Panigale S benefit from the experience of Ducati Corse, and adopt a new geometry which uses a 24° steering head angle along with a swingarm pivot point 4mm lower compared to the previous generation of Panigale. This enhances the bike’s agility, and provides better rear traction in a wide variety of conditions.

Full LED lighting

The 1299 Panigale S shows its technologically advanced nature with a bright, efficient, and stylish full-LED front headlight, along with LED brakelight, turn signals, and number plate light.

Total control

Ducati’s Riding Modes allow a rider to instantly vary key characteristics of the 1299 Panigale to suit different conditions or rider preferences – engine power and delivery, traction control, wheelie control, ABS, engine braking, and – exclusively on the 1299 Panigale S – suspension behaviour. Three pre-set configurations, Race, Sport, and Wet, are available to be selected by using buttons mounted on the handlebar. But these are only a starting point, as each configuration can be completely customized according to the specific level of each control parameter desired by the rider. With three custom setups ready at the push of a button, the Panigale superbikes become perfectly tailored partners to the rider’s unrelenting pursuit of speed.

Engine Braking Control (EBC)

The engine braking control (EBC) system works in combination with the slipper clutch to prevent and manage any locking of the rear wheel during aggressive downshifting. The rider can select the level of engine braking felt from one of 3 levels, allowing them to perfectly customize the motorcycle’s feeling during deceleration and turn entry.

Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC)

First implemented on the incredible Ducati 1199 Superleggera, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) recognizes front-wheel lift and responds according to one of 8 rider-selectable levels, allowing the throttle to be maintained open without fear of the wheelie getting out of control. This allows for maximum possible acceleration, ensuring a formidable drive out of any corner.