The word “ultimate” is thrown around loosely these days. Often times, it doesn’t do justice to what it’s describing. But in rare instances, the adjective definitely applies. Take the Ducati Panigale R->ke4026, for example. In so many words, it’s the ultimate superbike->ke1888. Actually, it’s THE ultimate super bike. That’s how incredible this machine is, which is why if you’re thinking of getting one, it’s probably best to check with a doctor first just to be sure you have the stomach to handle it.

Ducati->ke622 decided to build the Panigale R in large part because it wanted to homologate Ducati's World Superbike race machine and turn it into the flagship 1199. It’s race-bred, from start-to-finish, which is all the clues you need to know how fast and powerful this superbike really is.

In a lot of ways, the Panigale R is the ultimate Ducati. See, there’s that word again. It’s a bike that’s born to race so put on that helmet and strap on that racing suit. The Ducati Panigale R has arrived and it’s ready to become the superbike we’ve all had dreams of owning at one point in our lives.

Click past the jump to read more about the Ducati Panigale R.

Design

One look at this powerhouse on two wheels and you’ll immediately recognize it as a Ducati. That’s the good thing about Ducati. Its identity is clear and its purpose is pure: blow out just about any other super bike that comes its way.

The Panigale R is the ultimate Ducati superbike and the Italian bikemaker created it to imbibe its award-winning integration of engineering and design. The advanced headlight with LED positioning lights is the clear distinguishing mark of the Panigale R and integrated into the front air scoops. Meanwhile, the full LED taillights wrap around the air events in the seat-tail assembly and the new split tail are all trademark design cues of the Panigale line.

Despite its character as a performance maven, the Panigale R also has a softer side to it. Call it ‘ergonomic’ even because the word certainly applies, specifically the seat and handlebar positions, which have been optimised to give the rider total control and comfort when he’s riding the bike. Likewise, the bike’s high-tech dash features a full TFT display on the instrument panel. Depending on the Riding Mode and the external environment, the color display is perfectly adaptable to any kind of situation. Toggle with the bike’s Riding Mode and you’ll notice how the “Road” and “Wet” configurations puts speed at the center of their universe. That’s why the bike’s speed is prominently shown on the display in big, bold numbers. Toggle to “Race” mode and the layout automatically changes, putting the last lap time front and center.

There’s something to be said for Ducati’s award-winning design of the Panigale R. But of all the words that can be used to best describe the bike, the most appropriate one, at least in today’s societal vernacular is concerned, is sick. The Ducati Panigale R is sick.

Absolutely sick.

Design Specifications

Frame

You don’t need to be reminded that the Ducati Panigale R’s sole objective is to dominate whatever track it finds itself in. That’s precisely why everyone of the bike’s features is oriented for that specific purpose. The Panigale’s Monoscocca chassis is essentially the bike’s structural backbone. It’s made from aluminum, in case you didn’t know that, making it compact, rigid, and lightweight all at the same time. The chassis was also developed so that it attaches directly to the bike’s Superquadro engine while also serving as its own airbox, contributing to the bike’s lightweight frame. And if these things aren’t enough, the bike’s air filter, throttle bodies and fuel circuit complete with injectors are all found inside the chassis. Yep. It’s about as unique as any chassis in the superbike segment.

True to its roots, the Panigale R also comes with a competition-focused Ohlins suspension system that includes an NIX30 fork, TTX36 shock, and steering damper, all of which can be adjusted manually. Once again, saving weight was a premium objective for Ducati engineers, hence the decision to essentially put all these pieces in one place to presumably save weight and, you know, less bolts and screws, and stuff.

Moving to the wheel-and-tire set-up, the Panigale R comes with a set of Marchesini tri-Y spoke forged aluminium wheels wrapped in 17-inch Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tires, otherwise known as the road version tires of the ones used in the Superstock 1000 World Championship. The choice of these tires didn’t come by accident because Ducati wanted to fit the Panigale R with the kind of rubber that optimizes its power. The tires are specifically designed to maintain a precise line in straights and on curves and feature casings specially studied to ensure rigidity even in extreme braking conditions.

Speaking of brakes, the Panigale R has an engine braking control (EBC) system that seamlessly works in concert with the slipper clutch. This was designed to help prevent and manage any locking of the rear wheel during aggressive downshifting. The Ducati Panigale R also comes with the company’s very own Ducati Wheelie Control system, which we first saw on the 1199 Superleggera. This system recognizes whenever the bike goes to a front-wheel lift and responds according to one of 8 rider-selectable levels, allowing the throttle to be remain and ensuring that maximum acceleration out of any corner.

Frame Specifications

Drivetrain

At the heart of the Ducati Panigale R is a 1,198 cc Superquadro engine that pumps out an incredible 205 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque. That’s the kind of power normally attitude to entry-level sedans and yet the Panigale R spits it out like a sunflower seed. The Superquadro engine is actually homologated for use as Ducati’s platform in World Superbike, making it the closest thing available to a dedicated race engine that Ducati has at its disposal.

All that power travels through a six-speed gearbox that was specifically designed to enhance the efficiency of the engine, especially in sport riding conditions where abrupt changes in braking reduces the pressure on clutch plates to help improve stability when braking into hard corners.

A homologated Akrapovic exhaust, with its silencers and tubes fully finished in titanium, serves as the outlet of all the power, allowing the Superquadro engine to exert maximum breathing and maximum power while weighing only a fraction of what a steel exhaust would’ve weighed.

All together, the Ducati Panigale R is capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in just three seconds to go with a scintillating top speed of 202 mph.

Drivetrain Specifications

Price

Clearly, a machine of such proportions doesn't come cheap. The Ducati Panigale R is the ultimate superbike and its £28,995 ($43,800) price tag definitely justifies its place in the industry.

Quotes:

“The “R” version of Ducati’s Superbikes has always been the flagship model, the machine taken by Ducati Corse and enhanced with high performance preparation for homologation into the highly competitive environment of World Superbike. The 1199 Panigale R model takes everything that the ‘S’ model is equipped with and applies a list of enhancements to the technical specification that enable the model to achieve even greater targets. Titanium con-rods, which save an overall 0.63 kg (1.38 lb), a 0.7 kg (1.54 lb) lighter crankshaft flywheel and DLCcoated rocker-arms enhance the Superquadro engine’s crank acceleration and allow it to rev 500rpm higher to a 12000rpm limit, an incredible engineering achievement for 112mm pistons.” ----- Total Motorcycle“The new Panigale 1299 sets new standards in the superbike fraternity, with a claimed 205 hp at 10,500 rpm and a terrific 106.7 pound-feet of torque at 8,750 rpm. Simply put, there is nothing like that on two wheels, with the possible exception of the new supercharged special from Japan. Valve size is the same as that used in the 1199: 46.8 mm titanium intakes, 38.2 mm steel exhausts. By keeping the same valve and port size of the 1199, Ducati engineers have created a more flexible and torquey powerplant. The higher speed of the intake charge helps disprove the old notion that extremely oversquare engines have poor torque curves.” ----- CycleWorld