Anyone taken the plunge on the 1199 sight unseen or waiting to get a leg over?
Not me. I don't think it's going to be a great road bike, and I am totally enthralled by the RSV4 even though performance-wise, it may not compare in numbers. But then it didn't compare in numbers to the S1000RR, and yet it usually beat it by a fair margin on track tests (in outright time and in overall comparison). On the street, these things don't even matter - get what blows your hair back.
I guess we'll see but I'm seeing just the opposite. The bike has some serious kit on it that is going to need maintenance - maybe not the valvetrain (but then, they did raise the rev ceiling) but things like the hardcore slipper clutch, the TTX shock et al. Also, such a light bike is in itself going to be a bit of a handful, my 385lbs (full of fuel) GSX-R is light enough that I have actually had it blown feet off line by wind. And it vibrates, is somewhat loud in its mechanical working... the lighter bikes are, the less refined they tend to be. I predict that the Panigale will be pretty hardcore.
But who knows... there's tech in this bike we haven't seen before. Maybe.
Contemplating it. Major holdback is being tall at 6'3, I'm worried it's too small. It's so damn beautiful though.
I guess we'll see but I'm seeing just the opposite. The bike has some serious kit on it that is going to need maintenance - maybe not the valvetrain (but then, they did raise the rev ceiling) but things like the hardcore slipper clutch, the TTX shock et al. Also, such a light bike is in itself going to be a bit of a handful, my 385lbs (full of fuel) GSX-R is light enough that I have actually had it blown feet off line by wind. And it vibrates, is somewhat loud in its mechanical working... the lighter bikes are, the less refined they tend to be. I predict that the Panigale will be pretty hardcore.
But who knows... there's tech in this bike we haven't seen before. Maybe.
Contemplating it. Major holdback is being tall at 6'3, I'm worried it's too small. It's so damn beautiful though.
Just saw the 1199 at the show. It's stunning. Nicest design.....ever. I'm thoroughly impressed. It made the MVs look like crap, too.
GP said they sold 12 at the show already (deposits).