Ducati Panigale 959

09 Jan Ducati Panigale 959

It’s easy to start and say it’s a great bike – buy one, you won’t regret it! But let’s have a look at what makes the Ducati Panigale 959 better than the 899 model it replaces. Firstly, we have 9 more horse power. This means you have 157 h/p now with approximately 8{02c0c177ee4fd9beaa1f7860c90a8df2b6c3227773fff8a5ad31f40277892f83} more torque. Who is going to say ‘no thanks’ to more horses? Then there’s the 4mm lower swing-arm pivot for better handling. This especially helps when turning the power on when accelerating hard out of the corners. Aesthetically, we are looking at a wider nose and taller screen which should help with some aerodynamics and the bike’s already flawless looks, as well as new air-vents on the fairing and new rear-view mirrors. On the rear, the new tail, divided into two sections, completes the design of the 959 Panigale. Ducati also decided to endow the 959 with a new double-barrel side-mounted exhaust system, whilst sticking to the original electronics that work brilliantly all-round.

The Ducati Panigale 959 is a perfectly balanced machine. It’s fantastic for track-riding, especially when choosing race mode (There are 3 different riding modes: ‘Race’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Wet’), but also for road-riding. The ‘Road’ and ‘Wet’-modes help manage all the power and nimbleness of the Panigale for road riders or perhaps less experienced riders. The ABS-brakes are great for the road and most definitely invaluable when it comes to your safety. In some cases, for more experienced riders, it may interfere on the track. If you ever decide to do track-riding, and switch ABS off or select ‘Race’-mode, remember to turn ABS back on for the road. The 8-level traction control is also a great feature to help riders get used to the power in a manageable manner. The power of the Panigale 959 requires you to change up through the gears nice and quickly.

The Panigale 959 gearbox is super smooth, complemented with a quick shifter that allows for a smooth, clutch-less upshift. The slipper clutch will assist with a more aggressive downshift, while you can comfortably rely on a stable (and more than capable) fully-adjustable suspension for road and track riding. At times, when riding on the road, you might find an excessive amount of heat from under the seat, but keep in mind the Ducati Panigale 959 is not designed for in-town traffic. It needs the open road, twists and turns to show off its full potential. However, this does not mean that the Panigale is only meant for track-riding. In fact, this is why it’s such a well-balanced bike. The Ducati Panigale 959 will suit entry-level, mid-level, as well as expert riders on the road or racetrack and is guaranteed to make you love this motorcycle more and more with each session.

The price of the Ducati Panigale 959 is dependent on the colour and can range from between R199 000 and R218 000. For more specs see below or visit the Ducati website to arrange your test ride

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