One of the most beautiful machines that I have seen in a long time. Ducati do know how to design their machines, I think most Italians do, its rare to see an ugly machine out of an Italian firm and this case the 1199 Panigale is the top of the breed. I have had my eye on this machine for so long, thinking about it, always crossing my mind whenever I see the color red or hear a v-twin engine revving in the background.

I had my chance to try out the Ducati 1199 Panigale when I was in California, it was the best possible setting to try this beautiful machine, and a ride in the mountains and just by the ocean to cool after a long fun ride. I thought they couldn’t make the 1098/1198 ride any better, I was wrong, it takes precision input, gives you the ride feedback and claws on the group like it’s life depended on it. I took every corner with confidence and even when I didn’t know what was coming around the corner and I went in a little too fast, this bike would just keep on gripping, I had few moments when I was almost paralyzed with fear but luckily years of practice and an amazing machine got me out of a possible bad situation.

I have to say that having an 1199 is like having a relationship with a feisty Italian woman, you just don’t know what your going to get out of it. When I rode this bike, its the same exhilarating feeling that I got the first time I rode the Diavel, excitement just shoots through my spine, they did everything right. I thought this is the machine of my dreams, but sometimes dreams are just too good to be true, there was just one fault, one damn thing that Ducati screwed up and for us living in the Middle East, its going to be a little hard to ride this machine, well for me at least. Even when riding in relatively cool weather in California, I would get a little hot under the legs, and especially the right leg, turns out all the heat is being emitted from the engine block, specifically from the piston head area which is devastating. If its getting hot here, how will be in Kuwait, seriously, at every stop light my legs would get hot, and I wasn’t too happy about it, if you are moving, and this machine moves fast then your fine, but if you are stopping then you are going to be in trouble, it gets a little too hot down there.

I for one loved the 1199 and everything about it, if it wasn’t for that one fault I would get one as soon as possible. For now I don’t want to park a motorcycle in my living room just to enjoy staring it, but if I’m going to to do that then the 1199 would be at the top of the list. Don’t get me wrong, it is probably one of the best machines I have ever ridden, but they made just one mistake, I hope somehow they can correct in the next iteration of this beautiful machine.