Remember a few days back, Ducati discontinued some of it's most affordable superbikes in India which also included a Panigale 899? Well it sure makes sense now as Ducati unveiled it's updated 2016 Panigale 959, along with other bikes in Milan, a day ahead of the opening of the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan at a special event.The Panigale 959 is a bigger version of the currently discontinued Panigale 899. The bike now gets a bigger engine, more electronics and a lot of features that include bigger air intakes, a taller screen, longer mirror stalks and slight bodywork revisions to the tail unit and fairing panels.
Coming to the bike's engine, it is now a 955cc V-twin engine that is complaint with the latest EURO 4 emission norms, though another model has been offered by Ducati that is non-complaint with the EURO 4 emission norms which retains the low-slung exhaust. The engine is a long stroke engine which enables for better power and more rapid torque. The bike produces a maximum power of 157 hp and 107 Nm of torque and weighs in at just 176 kg. The increase in power and torque have not changed the bike's service intervals and the valve clearance inspections are required at every 24000 km.
The exhaust is now longer and placed higher. It also gets a new timing belts cover and an anti-hop slipper clutch. Ducati also has a non-EURO 4 complaint version of the bike that retains the low slung exhaust.Coming to the electronics, the bike now gets a host of electronics including Ducati Quick Shift (DQS), riding modes including ride-by-wire, triple stage Bosch ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Engine Brake Control (EBC).
The 959 Panigale is available in traditional Ducati red with black wheels or Arctic White Silk with contrasting red wheels. The bike is priced at £13,095 (Rs.13 lakhs). With the discontinuation of the 899 Panigale recently, we expect Ducati to launch it here in India very soon.By: Rakesh Gowda