"The 'invite-only' Ducati Panigale R Superleggera"

The comments are spot on. Ducati needs to make the bike a winner before marketing a lightweight $100K USD version...

 

Three weeks ago someone that had attended a dealer function with Ducati and signed a NDA couldn't help themselves and wrote a detailed description on Ducati.ms (now since deleted).

The bike will feature lightened internals over the R, and is rumored to feature a new magnesium frame/airbox as well as fuel tank. One thing limiting ultimate power of the Panigale is the size of its airbox, this bike attempts to rectify that by pushing the fuel more under the seat and increasing airbox volume. 220 hp (stock Pani is 195) is the rumor.

One thing that is nagging me and I have asked more than once is if production is 500, how will they race it in WSBK? Homologation minimums was increased a couple of years ago to 2000 bikes, precisely to prevent a bike like this from being raced. If Honda's rumored big-buck V4 racer rep ever materializes, it will have the same problem. It too is rumored to be 75k Euros and limited to 500 pieces.

Either way, Ducati should see an improvement in competitiveness in 2015, if not 2014. In 2015 all superbikes will be to the new "EVO" spec, basically superstock engines with special expensive (but still over-the-counter) suspension and brakes. The Panigale is very competitive in Superstock, which is what World Superbike will move toward.

My guess is the new frame/airbox and tank will be seen on the Superlight first in 2014, but not raced. Then for the 2015 model year, three years after the original 1199, the new and improved 1199 will debut using the same airbox as the Superlight of the previous year only in aluminum. This would be the standard model, S, and R while the 899 retains the current airbox design. The 2015 R would be the basis for the 2015 EVO World Superbike and basically the superlight without some of the very expensive components replaced on the race bike anyway to keep it in the $30k range to ensure it sells 2000 units worldwide.

 

Teasing picture of parts. Clearly magnesium frame, sump, side covers, wheels.

Unable to tell if the frame is much different in shape.
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It comes as a kit!

 

LOL.....I got the invite, its basically the WSBK for the street....Shaved as much weight as possible and if they actually limit it to 500 they will sell them all. But if they do like they did with the D16RR which was only supposed to be 500 they will end up in the same boat as last time.

They basically shaved .5-2pounds per item all through, even lightened the crank, pistons and rods. It should be a leap over the standard R. Should be priced around 65K

 

Umm... The Panigale actually doesn't have a "frame" to start with. The forks and swing arm connect to the engine.

 

The casting that replaced the traditional tube frame now doubles as the airbox and is magnesium. It connects the forks to the engine, and Ducati superbikes have had the swingarm pivot through the back of the engine for 25+ years. Nice try though.

 

An airbox is not a frame. Just saying...

Ducati Panigale 1199: Naked for your viewing pleasure

 

I think it is obvious to everyone what you are saying.


Anything constructive to add?