Ducati 959 Panigale Corse

[ducatirdr]

Talk about the craziest trade ever. I saw a used Pani 959 Corse at Seacoast with only 490 miles on the clock on sale for $15,200. That less than the sticker for the base model. Knowing it was owned by a responsible older dude, with other bikes, yet he couldn't take the riding position had me want to check it out. I called Seacoast and talked to Jim and asked if they took Harley's in trade. Sure do, was his reply. The next day was Saturday so I decided to suit up in Dainese textile sport bike gear and ride the big lardy HD Road Glide up to NH. AGV Project 46 helmet and sport bike gear had all the "bikers" confused. Listen, I like all motorcycles. Been riding street bikes since 1978. I always a Harley in the garage from 1995 to present. Fun low and slow rides and H-D events used to be fun. But riding one around lately had me feel like everyone on a Harley is acting like a want to be Sons of Anarchy actor. I guess I'm getting old as I have no time for those tudes. Plus my K1600GTL has me spoiled. The HD is a good looking machine but it rides hard with its 2 inch travel rear shocks.

I pull into Seacost and see the lil Panigale Corse in the flesh. That paint much like the Ducati 1299 Superleggera and Dov's race bike. It is stunning to look at but what about the ride? Can I do this? A plate is found and I take it on the loop. Whew the clip-ons are down near the front axle. Dang that seat is super hot... Um ya you need to rethink this... I have them take a look at the HD and they come back with a deal that has me leaving with the Pan and a decent check in my pocket! Shoot let me take it for another ride. This time I go longer and take it up on the highway. I start to bond. I'm digging the commitment to ride this thing. It can pull out of the hole at 3 grand and the fueling is spot on. The bike can be ridden slow but on the highway the wind blast takes some weight off the bars and the bike is actually quite comfortable to my 5'9" frame. The intake honk and exhaust sound is intoxicating at +8 grand on the rev counter. It pulls hard like my old, worked on 996S that dyno'd at 129 rear wheel bhp. I got rid of it when the fluids started leaking out of aged cooling system plastic parts. It really feels like my old 996S in size as well. Tiny!!! I love it. OK let's do this. Papers signed and a few hours after pulling in I rode out on the 2018 959 Panigale Corse.

The 80+ mile ride home was a feeling of "specialness". Seriously this bike makes me happy. The sounds, peaky character of the motor, light feeling handling, not overly intimidating power... It really makes for a super fun sport bike. The last two sportbikes I owned were a late model R1 and Aprilia Tuono Factory. Both were amazing bikes. The power of them both was insane. There is enjoyment out of wringing a bike out and rowing through the gears that gets lost in the league of giants. This SuperMid size is a fun place to be.

Well what did you expect from a guy with a screen name of Ducatirdr?

[ducatirdr]

FYI My back hurt riding there on the HD. That upright ridding position hurts me. The ride home on the 959 Pan had no back pain. Maybe a little in the wrists but 80 miles of highway is not what this bike is designed for. I can't wait to take it to the track!!!

[Paul_E_D]

THat is a great story, and SICK bike. congrats.

[xrocket21]

Awesome bike!

[backinthesaddle]

That's awesome, congrats and great looking bike. Local dealer has one and its got to be the best looking bike on the floor right now. Also saw a guy riding around the Thompson parking lot around 6:00 yesterday.

[ducatirdr]

That's awesome, congrats and great looking bike. Local dealer has one and its got to be the best looking bike on the floor right now. Also saw a guy riding around the Thompson parking lot around 6:00 yesterday.

HA! That was me. I was seeing if any of the LRRS crew was still there after I got off work.

[Tricky Mike]

You bought my bike?!?!

[backinthesaddle]

We were one of the last to roll out and were going to come by to see it (and hear it), but packing the camper, two trucks, and the trailer - eh it was just time to take advantage of the green light on the bridge.

Best of luck and congrats again.

[bstnsboy]

Ducatidr I live in sutton and hope to see this around town!!!! Nice ride!

[nt650hawk]

much better in person as Tom rolled into Thompson last night. thinks for the eye candy!

[Zolden]

I was ogling one at the dealer recently. This is just the best livery Ducati has come out with on the Panigale. Since I have the Tuono Factory I'd take one of these over the Pani V4 any day. I rode the '17 and loved how planted and nimble it felt, like sitting on the top of a bullet in motion. The position is not something I would ever want to spend any amount of time on on the street though. It'd be a shame for me to get one because I'd just put it into track trim.

[scottieducati]

I still hate you Tom.

[OreoGaborio]

Still pitching a tent after rubbing my crotch on that thing. Said it before & I'll say it again... Congrats!

[PinHead]

Send me all your FPV gear, you'll never use it again. And BTW, nice friggn ride!

[Chippertheripper]

It looks like an 80’s Marlboro team race bike. In a good way, of course.
That’s my first reaction.

[hawk]

Congrats, Sounds like how I ended up back on an R1.

[capitalcrew]

That's awesome. What a trade indeed. Great looking bike

[Mr. Kurtz]

Whoa, that thing is nice.

[feralchimp]

Gorgeous stock paint scheme on that model. Congrats!

[ducatirdr]

It looks like an 80’s Marlboro team race bike. In a good way, of course.
That’s my first reaction.

It's supposed to look like the current MotoGP bike. That same matt paint style anyway.

[zombie]

damn way to go that thing is lovely.
By the way how do you like your K1600 gtl?

[Imbeek]

Wow, congrats Tom! What year road glide was it?

[Chippertheripper]

[ducatirdr]

The RoadGlide was the first 2018 off the truck at American HD. While it looks cool it sucks as a motorcycle. One thing it did well was play tunes while riding. I put a Rockford Fosgate amp and speakers in it. At 80mph it was like headphones. Crazy loud and clear but probably not so good for my ear bones.



The K1600GTL is an amazing bike. The inline 6 pulls from just above idle with something like 118ft/lbs of torque. It handles like a sport bike. Seriously it is so easy to ride fast on the New England back roads. My first day on it had me following a friend on his air cooled Duc and he kept looking back upping the pace. Sure on a track it'd be left behind but at moderately insane speeds on the road it is an amazing machine. BTW that first day I put 400+ miles on it. All back roads and at 30-60F degrees. The motor has character. It's smooth as silk yet raucous when you open the taps. Much like a Porshe wail under load. The only flaw is no one gives a F about it. Seriously it is the Rodney Dangerfield of motorcycles. I swear people pull out in front of this bike more than any bike I have ridden. On the HD they seem to keep distance and get the "biker" vibe. On the BMW none one gives a F about you. Or maybe I'm making this up. It could be that I'm riding this thing faster than an HD can go and people are doing the normal, I didn't see you...

I just took my GF for her first long ride on it of just under 300 miles in one day. She loved it. That and the SENA intercom. I set the bike to rain mode and two up comfort on the suspension. The throttle by wire on rain is so smooth with adding power and when you cut the throttle it has less engine braking on rain so less helmet banging. It rides like a cloud.

I had a 1200RT twin and the thing put me to sleep. Boring and not much character. The recent motor I hear has more character. Also the RT fairing is hot as hell on warm days. Effective in cold day but not much you can do when it is hot. The K1600 has these flaps on each side of the fairing that flip out and direct air onto your torso. BRILLIANT!!! I use them all the time on warm days. Reminds me of those front triangle windows cars had back in the old days when AC was rare.

Back to the Lil Pani... It has a heated seat!!! No switch to turn it off I hear....

[Paul_E_D]

You gotta wear tin foil underwear to keep from burning your spuds...