Ducati wave off their V-twin superbike era with a Final Edition Panigale

In a cheery farewell to the V-twin engine before Ducati sportsbikes go all V4 on us, the Bologna-manufacturer have taken the covers off a new model and added a whole load of spice to the already awesome Panigale.

We told you about the Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition last month and showed off the first spy shots of the firms new V4 sportsbike in the same week but here, in its glamorous flesh is the bike that says arrivederci, a “tribute to the legendary twin-cylinder engine, the most victorious in Superbike World Championship history”, say the Italians.

The £34,995, individually numbered (on the top triple clamp) 1299 Panigale R FE features a Panigale R chassis, a bulk load of race components and a Superquadro 1299 engine, an offshoot of the 1299 Superleggera, making it more than just a final edition bike with a dedicated colour scheme or a limited edition. 

Chaz Davis and Marco Melandri ride the new Ducati 1299 Panigale R FE
Watch the Ducati World Superbike stars put the new Ducati through its paces on track
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It’s also Euro-4 compliant and reaches 209bhp at 11,000rpm and a whopping peak torque figure of 104.9 ft-lbs at 9,000rpm. The motor features a lighter crankshaft with a larger crank pin and tungsten balancing pads, while the con-rods, like the intake-exhaust valves, are made of titanium. As on Superbike engines, the two 116 mm diameter pistons have just two segments and slide on steel cylinder liners.

Developed by Ducati Corse, the ultra-compact monocoque structure incorporates the airbox and plays a pivotal role in containing the dry weight of the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition to just 179 kg. The chassis set-up on this latest Ducati supersport is the same as that on the Panigale R, characterised by Öhlins mechanical suspension and a 24° rake.

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Equally sophisticated and light is the complete all-titanium Akrapovič exhaust with high dual silencer (Euro 4 compliant), identical to the Panigale R that competes in the World Superbike championship.

Official Ducati video of the 1299 Panigale R FE in glorious detail
Get up close with the final V-twin sportsbike from Ducati
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The electronics package features the Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and is equipped with ABS Cornering, Ducati Wheelie Control EVO (DWC EVO), Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO) and Engine Brake Control (EBC). These systems have default settings linked to the selected Riding Mode (Race, Sport and Wet) but can be personalised as desired.

Top-drawer tech content and the all-new tricolour livery ensure the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition is set to gain cult status among the vast community of Ducati twin-cylinder aficionados.

Ducati CEO, Claudio Domenicali confirmed during the bike’s presentation that the “new era in which our desmodromic system will be used on a new generation of V4 engines derived from extensive experience in MotoGP.”

If this is what Ducati can do with an outgoing model, then we’re already getting a little giddy at the thought of a V4 super sports bike for the road from Borgo Panigale in 2018.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Type

Superquadro: L-twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled

Displacement

1.285 cc

Compression ratio

13,0:1

Torque

142,0 Nm (104,7 lb-ft) @ 9.000 rpm

Fuel injection

Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system. Twin injectors per cylinder. Full Ride-by-Wire elliptical throttle bodies with aerodynamic valve and optimized trumpets

Exhaust

2-1-2 system, primary tubes in titanium. Twin titanium mufflers. 2 lambda probes and 2 catalytic converters

Gearbox

6 speed with DQS Ducati Quick Shift up/down

Final drive

Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 39

Clutch

Hydraulically controlled slipper/self-servo wet multiplate clutch

Frame

Monocoque Aluminium

Front suspension

Öhlins NIX30 43 mm fully adjustable usd fork with TiN treatment

Front wheel

3 spoke W shape forged light alloy 3.50" x 17"

Front Tyre

120/70 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP

Rear suspension

Fully adjustable Öhlins TTX36 unit, adjustable linkage: progressive/flat. Aluminium single-sided swingarm

Rear wheel

3 spoke W shape forged light alloy 6.00" x 17"

Rear tyre

200/55 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP

Front wheel travel

120mm (4.72in)

Rear wheel travel

130mm (5.12in)

Front brake

2 x 330mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc M50- 4piston callipers with cornering ABS as standard equipment

Rear brake

245mm disc, 2-piston caliper with cornering ABS as standard equipment

Instrumentation

Colour TFT Display

Wet weight (KERB)

190kg (418lb)

Seat height

830mm (32.68in)

Wheelbase

1443mm (56.77in)

Rake

24°

Trail

96mm (3.78in)

Fuel tank capacity

17l - 4.5 gallon (US)

Number of seats

Single seat

Standard Equipment

Riding Modes, Power Modes, Ducati Safety Pack (Cornering ABS Bosch + DTC EVO), Ducati Quickshift (DQS) up/down, Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO), Ducati Wheelie Control EVO (DWC EVO), Engine Brake Control (EBC), Fully Ride by Wire (RbW), Ducati Data Analyzer (DDA+) with GPS and lean angle acquisition, Auto tyre calibration, Rapid setting DTC, DWC, EBC, Titanium connecting rods and valves, Balanced crankshaft, Lithium-ion battery, Auxiliary adjustment buttons, Forged Marchesini aluminium wheels, Akrapovič homologated full titanium exhaust

Additional equipments

Racing windshield, Machined mirror block-off plates, License plate mount removal plug

Warranty

24 months unlimited mileage

Maintenance service intervals

12.000 km (7,500m) /12 months

Valve clearance check

12,000 km (7,500 mi) - street use