Ducati will be replacing the Panigale 899 with the Panigale 959 next year and it was recently spotted testing in Italy. It gets design inspiration from its elder brother.
There are superbikes and then there are superbikes with character. The Italian brand Ducati falls into the latter category. Ever since they started, they have been building beautiful bikes which make the rider feel special. Powering the machines is a twin-cylinder engine which is something the company has stuck to since the beginning. It is this motor configuration which makes their superbikes very different to ride. But as they say change is necessary and so they are also changing a popular bike from the stable.
The Ducati Panigale 899 has been a motorbike which has been very popular for the brand globally. The manageable size, dollops of power and a relatively affordable price tag is what attracts enthusiasts to it. Come next year and the 899 will be replaced by the Panigale 959. Not many details of the new bike are available at the moment but it is expected to have more power considering its bigger engine size and it comes with design elements from the current range of bikes.
Recently, the Panigale 959 was spotted testing close to the Ducati’s factory in Bologna, Italy. While majority of the new bike looks similar to the 899, the difference lies in the details. The fairing, headlight and mirrors look like the ones from the Panigale 1299. In order to show the Ducati badge on the engine case, the 959 gets a gap in the fairing side panel like its elder brother. The rest of the motorcycle looks visually similar to the one it replaces.
The displacement of the new engine was also uncovered recently from an emission statement and it stands at 955cc. The Panigale 959 is a part of the nine bike lineup which Ducati will display at the Eicma Milan Show in November. Other bikes which are likely to be displayed are the Monster 1200R and the Hypermotard 939. The new bikes will be launched in India soon after their global launch since the Italian marquee has made most of the current models available here and the sales are growing.
Source – VisorDown.com