1299 Ducati Panigale vs VFR: A Very Brief Shootout

My buddy just bought one of these this year and on Monday we did the Duffy Lake Road to Lillooet and he let me ride it from Pemberton to Whistler. As you can see there's lots of forest fire smoke in the air, but the conditions were perfect, didn't effect breathing and you couldn't smell or taste the smoke, and it hovered in the low to mid 20's C all day, which was such a relief from the blistering Cali like heat of the last several weeks, traffic was light, and we ripped it up.

Here's my very brief impressions: from the VFR I could see he was just lighter, more nimble and effortless through the corners, and my VFR , unlike his Pani, is sadly unable to lift the front wheel at 160 kmh in 4th gear simply by dialing the throttle back from 7500 to 7000 and whacking it, HOWEVER, he didn't gap me by much through the twisties and it wasn't like I was so badly off the pace I couldn't keep up or enjoy riding with him. At least for semi sane street riding.

Then I got on the Pani. First of all it's an engine with some body work, not much else to it. Coming off the VFR it feels like a 600. He had it set up very sporty as far as modes, TC, wheelie control, suspension...the thing has 10 levels of everything and I rode it in the 2 or 3 range with 1 being sportiest/least compromising, so it was not all neutered. 2, it barbeques your nuts like nothing I've ever experienced, right through your leathers. I'd rather get bear mace on my dick than get stuck in traffic on a hot day wearing jeans riding that thing. 3, it's easy to stall coming off the line which is a special kind of embarrassment if you happen to do it coming up to Whistler Village after having passed the 10 cars behind you on a double yellow. 4, it's almost impossible to find the right gear for cruising at legal speeds 3rd gear is too low at 100 kmh, 4th gear lugs. 5, for every 10 L of fuel I burned, he burned 16. 6, I had to give it back before I got it impounded - when I played with the throttle on the open road, I kept looking down and I'd be 80, 100 over the speed limit, with about the same effort it takes to be 40 over on the VFR 7, at WOT I was shot to the back of the seat with such ferocity I thought it might dislocate my shoulders. 8, it was comfortable for about 10 km. No wait that's bullshit, it was never comfortable for one second. Thrilling, yes. An experience, yes.

But I have never been so happy to get off a bike and back on my VFR.

 

"I'd rather get bear mace on my dick than get stuck in traffic on a hot day wearing jeans riding that thing" Thats awesome!

 

That about sums up my experience as well! My friend has one now for about 3 years. Even after the recall for the heat, it will roast your nuts like nothing I have ever seen. The other bad thing about it is the fact that it has been in the shop more than on the road. I hope your friend has better luck with his.

 

I'm thinking of the 1098 as my new bike and might just keep the VFR for those days when I just feel like chilling out. Yes the Ducati is intense but sometimes it just gets too much.