They are phenomenal and they will be the standard on the racetrack as well. Saw one at the motorcycle show in February and know exactly how you feel...
Quote:
Originally Posted by sburns2421
I really couldn't believe how awesome that bike was in the flesh.
I told the salesman (we met last year a couple of times when they had a used 1098 I was seriously thinking about), that I had to get out of there before I bought the thing. That bike will obviously be gone in a few days at most, but others will be coming.
And then my wife was like..."so let's talk about this bike, why don't you get it?" I told her let's get the stupid pool done and then I will. My wife hates the Mille and would love to see it go. Never mind the Aprilia wouldn't even buy the full Termi system from Ducati Performance. But if selling the Mille is a prerequisite, so be it.
Maybe next year the 800cc version will be out by then, but the full 1200cc would be nice too of course.
I really like the 1098 series, but it makes them look very old.
Look at the way they did the exhaust to keep it compact and under the bike... I also really love the easy access to the rear shock and link! Beautifully engineered, put together and finished machine...
Quote:
Originally Posted by sqd8r
For me it was easy to walk away. I had just picked up the S1000RR and stopped by a Ducati dealer on my way home to take a peak. I have no idea how you were able to walk away.
Initially I was underwhelmed. By that I mean the bike is gorgeous but what Ducati superbike isn't imo. What I mean is it is almost a bit subtle, you have to take the time to note the details and remember that there is no frame, where the rear shock is located, how the suspension works...
Nothing stands out because everything stands out on it if you catch my drift.
I often wonder if Ducati and Ferrari share design ideas. The Panigale had me thinking Ferrari Italia from the off; possibly the prettiest Ferrari in decades, which is also very successful in its racing class.
I'd be happy with any Ducati, still considering a 1098, but I could see myself swayed by the Panigale over the MVAF4 next season possibly.
I often wonder if Ducati and Ferrari share design ideas. The Panigale had me thinking Ferrari Italia from the off; possibly the prettiest Ferrari in decades, which is also very successful in its racing class.
Absolutely. Maranello is only 25 miles from Bologna, and Ducati and Ferrari share the same race-engineering consulting company.
__________________ Old Baldy
Ducati 996 with hot 999 motor
Triumph Tiger 955i
Kawasaki KLR650 OB's Ride Reports
Nice self control, if that was me I would of bought it.......weak I am. However, don't deny yourself what makes you happy.......I hate those what if stories.................
We had one once. It got a hole so I through it in the trash can.
Marital harmony. This will be an inground pool with a pool house that has a full bathroom/changing room as well a small kitchen/bar. The goal is when people are over they don't have to go in the house dripping water to use the bathroom or get a soda. The irony is that she has no plans to entertain, she wants it so she doesn't have to be around people. I anticipate it will be used for a summer or two and then interst in it will wane.
I have put her off for several years, and told her unless we could do it right I wouldn't do it. I didn't want a hole in the ground with a ribbon on concrete, my goal is to not have a blade of grass near the pool. With interest rates so low it seemed OK to borrow some of the money to do both the pool & building at the same time rather than drag out the pain (my pain) for more than one build period. Hopefully she is happy with it when it is done. If not, TFB.
Last edited by sburns2421; 06-04-2012 at 03:09 PM.
Went to my closest dealer, obviously have seen the bike in pictures and videos now hundreds if not thousands of times. I didn't really expect them to have one, they are a small dealer in a small market, and have only had the franchise for about a year.
Walk in, no bike on the floor as expected. I ask the salesman about some literature for it. He gets me the promotional book. He says, "yeah, we got one yesterday, wanna see it downstairs?"
Let me think about it a minute...sure OK.
We walk downstairs through the techs eating lunch, past the muddy side-by-sides waiting for service. Turn the corner and there she sits...
At that moment my life simplified because there is no doubt what my next bike is going to be. I will buy a Ducati Panigale. I nearly bought one today.
"Yeah, a guy ordered it. This is the base non-S without ABS. He decided to upgrade to an S. I'll knock off any all freight and setup fees. MSRP plus 45 bucks for documents."
"How's your credit? Good? Cool, I can get you 72 months at 3-1/4%. It's $276 a month."
Why did I go downstairs? It is so tiny. So many little details to take in so unlike previous Ducatis. It is just about the coolest motorcycle I have ever seen. I consider myself pretty jaded and snotty when it comes to sportbikes, but today I was, as the Brits say, gobsmacked by the Panigale.
I am a cheap bastard about many things, and usually talk myself out of the nicer thing for the cheap thing. I am also not impuslive and VERY rarely impulse buy anything. Today I thanked him and conciously made an effort to leave the dealership before I signed papers on that f***ing bike sitting downstairs.
Aprilia RSV4 is cool. MV-F4 is cool. But if I bought either I would always still want the Panigale. So now the decision is over, and my life is simplified. And it is more complicated, because since then all I have thought about is why I didn't buy it today, and what things have to be completed (we're about to spend desmosedici-type money on a pool and pool house, so that might have gave me pause) before i can park one of the glorious little machines in my garage.
I came home and the 851 suddenly looked old, while the Mille just seemed like a fat old whale.
I missed our in-gound pools from South Africa (standard feature in most middle-upper income homes there) when we moved to the USA, and even up here in Michigan, I'd love a pool again.
But at the expense of a Panigale? Probably not.
__________________ Old Baldy
Ducati 996 with hot 999 motor
Triumph Tiger 955i
Kawasaki KLR650 OB's Ride Reports
Go for it or give me the name/number of the dealership and I'll order it! I went on a limb to get my 999S and loved every minute of the bike. Before that I had a 999 that I stuffed under a guard rail in Wisconsin.
__________________
Current Ride:
2006 Ducati 999S Mono in black.
Go for it or give me the name/number of the dealership and I'll order it! I went on a limb to get my 999S and loved every minute of the bike. Before that I had a 999 that I stuffed under a guard rail in Wisconsin.
They are defiantly seductive. I haven't seen too many other bikes that have gotten my heart pounding quite like the Panigale. Pictures really don't do them justice. They are 10 times sexier in person.
I don't know if I could have resisted that low of a monthly payment. Although I wouldn't be comfortable financing something for six years that would be getting taken to the track regularly.
It is nice when you decide what you want. I recently did the same with a car. I won't be getting any other four wheeled vehicle until I get an M5. The wife needs a new suv first though. Marital harmony is a helluva drug.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sburns2421
Marital harmony. This will be an inground pool with a pool house that has a full bathroom/changing room as well a small kitchen/bar. The goal is when people are over they don't have to go in the house dripping water to use the bathroom or get a soda. The irony is that she has no plans to entertain, she wants it so she doesn't have to be around people. I anticipate it will be used for a summer or two and then interst in it will wane.
I have put her off for several years, and told her unless we could do it right I wouldn't do it. I didn't want a hole in the ground with a ribbon on concrete, my goal is to not have a blade of grass near the pool. With interest rates so low it seemed OK to borrow some of the money to do both the pool & building at the same time rather than drag out the pain (my pain) for more than one build period. Hopefully she is happy with it when it is done. If not, TFB.
I feel ya I wanted that 30mm ohlins kit for my forks ,but had to buy an SUV instead. the best thing about finding that bike that you just have to have is getting it, and it being even better than you ever imagined. then you will do stupid shit like put it in your office and live the same lust every day. the happy Japanese eyes of my 51 greet me every morning when I get to work at 0-dark -30 and open that office door. great way to start your day, for she is my moto soul mate. I talked myself out of it for 6 years and it is the worst thing I ever did. that day when I signed the papers and rode her home was the best thing I ever did for my sanity and health. If you can afford it, do it, you deserve it. live life to its fullest potential, because "what if" is the saddest phrase one can ponder.
Look at the way they did the exhaust to keep it compact and under the bike... I also really love the easy access to the rear shock and link! Beautifully engineered, put together and finished machine...
Yes, incredible. What I love about it is how Ducati went completely out of the box on this one and on a 10th of Honda's budget.
__________________
2006 BMW HP2
2011 Husqvarna TE630
2011 BMW S1000RR
Sour grapes are a lesser man's fruit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop The [fact] that the RC45 was a "relative failure" is what matters most...
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06 rc51 banzai/Simons, pcIII,ohlins... the usual
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