Ferrari among motorcycles.

 

Ferrari among motorcycles. The owner of Ducati 1199 Panigale spoke about an unusual bike for Belarus

Ducati 1199 Panigale motorcycle put up for sale in Grodno. Three-time World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss called it the best superbike Ducati has ever made. At one time, this copy was the most expensive sports motorcycle in the city on the Neman. And in general, such equipment in the country could be counted on the fingers. What kind of animal is this?

Today, a 2012 superbike is being sold in Grodno for $12,500. There are only three of these motorcycles in our listing database, ranging from $10,500 to $18,500, depending on age. We met with the owner of this bright red fury and asked about the features, maintenance, as well as the pros and cons of the Italian motorcycle legend.

Even from the peculiar rumble that was approaching from a busy city street, it became clear to us: the Ducati 1199 Panigale was already somewhere nearby. And we were not mistaken: after half a minute, a red superbike famously slowed down near us. Stylish, bright and seemingly compact, but at the same time loud and daring!

“I went to pick up the bike, wrapped in dollar bills”

“I bought this Ducati in 2019 in Moscow,” Vyacheslav begins to recall the story of buying a motorcycle legend from Italy. — I wanted something exotic, with low mileage and in good technical shape. I chose between it and the BMW S1000 RR , and earlier I had a Suzuki GSX-R 750 k6 , which I drove for three years.

At that time, Vyacheslav recalls, Ducati were quite rare in the post-Soviet space. Therefore, there was no opportunity to see them live and stand next to them from Grodno. The guy made up an idea about the Italian superbike only from photographs and reviews on the Internet.

— In those years, Ducati could be counted on one hand in Belarus. And when I did the insurance, this particular model was not even listed in the database!

Vyacheslav got to Moscow for the long-awaited purchase not without adventures. The guy had to wrap himself with money in order to bring the required amount to the neighboring state without any problems. And ... a couple of hours to freeze in an open field.

— It was January. There were epiphany frosts. Our bus stalled near Orsha, and we waited for three hours in the frosty wind. You won’t get warm on the bus - it’s also below zero there! But somehow we got there! Since it was winter, we agreed with the owner of the equipment to inspect the Dukati in the service, - recalls the motorcycle owner.

The Moscow seller bought the bike once new for 14 thousand dollars and hardly rode it. The motorcycle at that time was seven years old, and the mileage was only twelve thousand kilometers!

- The man's sons were growing up, and he was afraid that the children would be interested in this "toy", so he decided to sell it. As they say, stay away from sin! At the time of purchase, the bike was almost in factory condition. Serviced at the service, visually — like new.

 - And how did you transport it from Moscow?

- In the center where we examined the equipment, they gave the contact of a person. We phoned. He said that I should be near the traffic police in the morning with the documents. I asked how he would pick up the motorcycle without me. And he answered, they say, do not worry, everything will be clear! And in the morning, a bus with a bike drove up to the minute. That man took the documents and, bypassing the queue, issued them. And a day later he brought me a motorcycle in Grodno to the garage itself. In general, I was surprised at the trust on which everything is done there. This service cost me 30,000 Russian rubles,” says the Grodno resident.

Very playful and stylish bike!

Remembering the boring experience of buying an Italian device, Vyacheslav began to talk about its technical characteristics.  

- 2-cylinder engine with a volume of 1,198 cm³ develops 195 liters. With. The motorcycle weighs 188 kilograms. It's a very fast bike with good low-end grip and a pronounced mid-range. ABS - front and rear, excellent suspension, color display. All components were installed in it from the best manufacturers of that time, - Vyacheslav lists the features of Panigale.  

Extremely effective braking is one of the main trump cards of the Italian bike.

- Brembo M50 brakes are installed here. By the way, they helped me out more than once in the city. At first, when I was just getting used to the bike and stopped at the intersection for a red signal, I had to roll the bike to the traffic light.

- There is also traction control. If somewhere on the turn the rear wheel starts to break off and instability appears, the electronics reduces power, preventing the wheel from slipping, which is most often followed by loss of control over the motorcycle and a fall. This option even saved my health a couple of times!

- The suspension here is adjustable - this is the standard version. It adjusts well to your driving style. If somewhere you want to screw into corners more fun, the front is made a little stiffer, and the rear is adjusted right on the go.

“But if someone wants a bike to race with others at maximum speed, then the Ducati is not an option,” Vyacheslav warns. - "Maximum speed" - 280 km / h, and more, whatever one may say, the engine will not go. The design feature is that there are two cylinders, not the common four, and they are very large.

I can also highlight a good factory light. At night, it does not blind the oncoming lane. In general, the near one is also good, often the far one can not even be turned on, - the Grodno resident notes. — It is quite comfortable to travel with a passenger. My wife and I constantly rode around the city. And if you prefer to move around alone, there is a plastic plug instead of the rear seat.

The main disadvantage — in the summer as on the stove!

— It's a little hot in the city in summer. The cylinders heat up to 90-100 degrees, so it is already uncomfortable to move around in ordinary pants. Especially when you stop at a traffic light: the driver is not blown with a stream of air, so you feel like on the stove.

— Well, even out of habit, the bike is a little twitchy at low speeds. Here you need to be able to work with the clutch and gearbox - then everything will be fine. My friends, who rode both Japanese vehicles and Dukati, did not come to an unambiguous opinion. Someone said, they say, he is too sharp, like an unbridled stallion. And others really liked that it was so compact and narrow. By the way, the last parameter is achieved due to the L-shaped motor (the cylinders are not arranged in a row, as usual, but along). Some people feel at first that they are riding a bike, not a bike!

Never dyed, never polished

Vyacheslav notes with pride: the motorcycle is completely in its native paint. The Ducati never got into an accident and never even fell off the footboard!

- Once the minuses of Ducati were "fragility" and difficulty in finding parts. But now this is no problem! - the Grodno resident assures, emphasizing that everything on his motorcycle is stock. 

- You can buy any element - to the last bolt. And if you order through Poland, it will be much cheaper. For example, I take all the consumables there, and my friends ordered a pallet and a bracket for the dashboard on Ducati. Both cost about 200 euros. Although these positions came across at a lower price, and not a fake from Alik, but an original magnesium part painted with powder.

Are you ready for the season yet?

- No, for this, and I will not prepare a motorcycle. I served him well last year. I have only driven 1500 km. I changed the oil and other consumables then ...

How much money is spent on maintenance?

- If you replace only the filter and oil - up to 100 euros. But I also changed the chain complete with stars, gave 250 euros. True, this is not done often - every 14,000 km. From service work - I adjusted the valves on a run of 23,000 km.

What is the fuel consumption of the motorcycle?

“It all depends on how you drive. On average, 7 liters on the highway, around the city - somewhere around 9.

- And why did you decide to part with your favorite "toy"? Cool device!

- Of course, there is a certain longing. A large number of warm memories are associated with him: he and his wife rode around Grodno a lot, traveled to other cities. I'm sure the new owner will enjoy the bike! After all, Ducati, like all Italian art, cannot leave anyone indifferent. Why am I breaking up? I don't have time to ride it right now. Well, there is another Ducati in the garage. True, this is a completely different story ...

Now the motorcycle of our hero is put up for sale . According to the owner, the Russians are actively interested in him. In a neighboring country, they ask for $15,000 or more for such equipment.