Ducati have debuted their new “supermid” sport bike, the eagerly anticipated 2014 Ducati 899 Panigale. Pronounced “Pan-ee-gah-lee”, the model represented a change in Ducati Superbike tradition, adding a name to its engine capacity designation and making a significant association to its historic roots in the Borgo Panigale area of Bologna. In an Italian territory known as “Motor Valley” and where high performance and racing runs through the veins of its passionate people, Ducati have underlined their pride in being world ambassadors for the “Made in Italy” title by immortalizing their birthplace in the name of the new generation Superbike. Ducati is passionately committed to further development of the Panigale concept both on the track and on the street and the 899 represents a “Supermid” version, intended to be a method of entry into the world of premium performance. With carefully designed, rider-friendly features, like increased seat cushioning and shorter final drive gearing for enhanced mid-range rideability, the new model achieves a successful mix of authentic Italian performance with everyday usability, offering the very best of both worlds in absolute style.
The innovative “monocoque” frame solution and the new 899 “Superquadro” L-twin engine uses race-derived electronics to continue the “bred for the track and trained for the road” mentality. This initiative further demonstrates how innovative Ducati World Championship level technology has a direct contribution to ride improvement and safety enhancement.
With the click of a button, Ducati’s Riding Mode concept delivers performance with enhanced rider confidence by combining a number of class-leading technologies. The latest-generation sports ABS system, Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Quick-Shift (DQS), Ducati’s race-derived Engine Brake Control (EBC) and Ride-by-Wire (RbW) are now all programmed into seamless, electronic rider assistance.
Like its larger sibling, the Ducati 1199 Panigale, the 899 features a “frameless” chassis design, a suite of electronic rider aids, as well as the new 148hp Superquadro engine. A new version of the Superquadro engine features a revised bore and stroke for a broad power delivery, developing 148hp with 73lb ft of torque.
Like its larger capacity sibling, the 899 Panigale has a V-twin engine that’s a fully stressed member of the innovative chassis. Ducati says this provides an outstanding power-to-weight ratio and ride-enhancing agility. The bike’s dry weight is 169kg (372.5lb). Ducati is at the forefront of electronic ridder aids and the 899 Panigale features Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) gearchanging, along with a ride-by-wire package, triple-stage ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Engine Brake Control (EBC). The 899 Panigale will be available in traditional Ducati red with black wheels, or arctic white with red wheels.