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Old 05-Jun-2012, 04:10
benF04 benF04 is offline
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Talking Collected! First impressions

I collected the Tricolore on Friday from Riders of Cardiff, used with 600 miles on clock, Termis fitted and having just had its first service. I met up with the owner and to say that he was gutted to be selling it was an understatement. He was well known by the staff at the dealers having had a few bikes with them and I have faith that he’s run it in properly and looked after it. It’s still immaculate as you’d expect on a 600 mile bike that’s been looked after. I had to collect the bike in a van and drive the long 180 miles home before even thinking about going out for a play. Unfortunately by the time I got home it was chucking it down and proceeded to do so for all of Saturday morning! . Fortunately the track, I mean the road, dried out on Saturday afternoon to enable a first ride.

I started it up and was amazed at the difference in sound compared to my previous Dukes – 996,998,1098S. The whirring of the gear driven cams makes it sound a bit like a V4 but still with the characteristic beat of a V-Twin. Nice! The paint finish and general component finish is superb, as you’d expect from Ducati. My friends ride Japanese bikes and always moan about the components going furry over winter – that simply doesn’t happen on a Ducati.

First impressions are that it’s a phenomenal machine. I was worried about the reports that I had read about the engine not having the low down torque and grunt of the earlier bikes but it’s so different in the way that it delivers the power that I don’t think it’s a problem, it spins up super smooth with plenty of character and still with a ferocious power delivery as the revs build, lifting the front as it does so. However, I’ve got to wonder what have they covered the seat covered with? Teflon? As soon as the power starts to kick in I slide backwards! I’ll be ordering the race seat as soon as possible, I had one fitted to my 1098S, it made a huge difference and was surprisingly comfy.

What have they done with the weight? I thought the change from a 998 to a 1098 couldn’t be beaten in terms of how light the bike felt but the change from 1098 to 1199 is something else! The 1199 doesn’t quite have the same surefootedness and confidence of front that the 1098 had but a few tweaks here and there should sort that out as I get more used to it. The bike turns on its side like a lightweight 600 and changes its line with a mere hint of input. You look, it follows. You grin under your helmet, it goes faster and leans further. Knee on the floor, it asks if that’s all you’ve got? It’s so different to a 1098 that it’s like riding a bike from another manufacturer.

The brakes are simply amazing and leagues ahead of anything I have encountered on a bike before. I need to rotate the levers upwards a bit to where I want them but that’s a personal thing. The quickshifter is going to take a bit of getting used to as it’s my first experience of one but the gearbox is super smooth, in a different league to previous Ducati’s. The dash has finally brought bikes into the 21st century and I think that electronic adjustment will make experimenting with setup quicker and easier. Just stop, select the changes without even getting off and see what happens.

I think it may be quite warm in traffic on a warm day as my right thigh was already part cooked and it was relatively cool! There is definitely a lot of heat coming from the right hand side of the bike so it’ll be interesting to see what that’s going to be like if we ever get warm dry weather again!

I only got out for an hour and a half on and unfortunately I’m away for work this week so won’t get out again until the weekend. Fingers crossed for sunshine and warm tarmac. There will always be people that say its overpriced and not worth it compared to other superbikes which I can understand because lets face it, it is a lot of money and there’s no denying that. However the feeling of ‘ I want to get out and ride purely for the fun of it’ is priceless. I had a good look at an S1000RR at the dealers whilst I was there and it just didn’t create the same sort of emotion.

It’s going in for the full system to be fitted at the end of the month so I’ll be selling the Termi’s that came with it. I’ll also change that monstrosity of a number plate hanger for something that moves the plate in back under the seat and tidies everything up, perhaps the R&G replacement but I haven’t had an opportunity to see what else is out there. Anyone any other suggestions or fitted anything else?

Cheers,
Ben
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Old 05-Jun-2012, 09:45
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Col996s Col996s is offline
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Mood: Waiting for the warmer weather.
Thanks for the report Ben, always nice to read a riders perspective.
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Old 05-Jun-2012, 20:06
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Sam59r Sam59r is offline
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Thumbs up Thank you

Thanks Ben; great reading so many positives for a first ride out. It sounds like this bike has everything and more to satisfy the purist. I can agree about the lack of emotion in the S1000RR, it's just so clinical but does everything it says on the tin. I have had mine for 24 months and don't really look forward to riding it anymore.

Would love to read more as you get the opportunity to get out. I'd also be interested in the Termig slip ons when you one to the full race system

Thanks again!
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Old 05-Jun-2012, 21:30
benF04 benF04 is offline
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Im hoping to get out this weekend when I get home - I'll post more impressions then.
I'll let you know about the Termis' should be available first week of July.
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Old 07-Jun-2012, 12:10
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Stealth Stealth is offline
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Thanks Ben

Interested to read your report.

After much indecision about whether to go for the RSV4 or the Panigale, I have just ordered a Panigale S plus full Termi system.

I had two longish test rides on the Panigale and was really impressed although I was torn as the RSV4 was really impressive. However, scare stories of unreliability got to me. As did breaking a history of sustained Ducati ownership.

Seemingly, I should be in receipt of the bike next week - so will give reports as I get used to it!
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Old 12-Jun-2012, 23:54
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John W John W is offline
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Bikes: MTS12S, R1, off road stuff, and vintage stuff too.
 
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Mood: MTS1200 - yum yum yum yum yum yum yum ...
Hey Ben,

hope all is well mate. Nice bike choice - work must be good !

I hadn't connected your id with your old one of ben998, until now
It looks like you didn't remain without a bike for too long either, after selling me your 998.

Would be good to catch up mate.
Cheers,
John W. (996 and 998 both sold some time back, got an R1 and 1200 Multistrada now)
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Old 14-Jun-2012, 09:17
benF04 benF04 is offline
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Hi John,
Long time no speak!! Ive pm'd you.

Cheers,
Ben
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