The 2014 Ducati Superbike 899 Panigale – Supermid perfection

The 2014 Ducati Superbike 899 Panigale
The new 899 Panigale – Supermid perfection
The introduction of the highly-anticipated Ducati 899 Panigale provides a new way to access the exclusive
world of Ducati Superbikes with a “Supermid” version designed to provide the thrill of the new generation
flagship model with the refined character of an everyday streetbike.
The brand new Superquadro engine features a revised bore and stroke for a broad power delivery,
producing 148hp (109kW) with a torque of 73lb-ft (10.1kgm). The super-smooth power unit continues to be a
fully stressed member of the innovative Panigale monocoque construction, achieving both an outstanding
power-to-weight ratio and ride-enhancing agility with a dry weight of 169kg (372.5lb). An 1199 silhouette
underlines the family DNA, while the Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) and the fully integrated Riding Mode
technologies of Ride-by-Wire, triple stage ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Engine Brake Control
(EBC) continue the benchmark ingenuity introduced with the award-winning Panigale.
Ducati’s constant pursuit of perfection now offers all-round performance for connoisseurs with an authentic
and stylish way to enter the world of high performance. The 899 Panigale is available in traditional Ducati
red with black wheels or a stunning arctic white silk with red wheels.
The best of both worlds
Ducati is passionately committed to further development of the Panigale concept both on the track and on
the street and the 899 represents a “Supermid” version, intended to be a method of entry into the world of
premium performance. With carefully designed, rider-friendly features, like increased seat cushioning and
shorter final drive gearing for enhanced mid-range rideability, the new model achieves a successful mix of
authentic Italian performance with everyday usability, offering the very best of both worlds in absolute style.
The innovative “monocoque” frame solution and the new 899 “Superquadro” L-twin engine uses racederived electronics to continue the “bred for the track and trained for the road” mentality. This initiative
further demonstrates how innovative Ducati World Championship level technology has a direct contribution
to ride improvement and safety enhancement.
With the click of a button, Ducati’s Riding Mode concept delivers performance with enhanced rider
confidence by combining a number of class-leading technologies. The latest-generation sports ABS system,
Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Quick-Shift (DQS), Ducati’s race-derived Engine Brake Control (EBC)
and Ride-by-Wire (RbW) are now all programmed into seamless, electronic rider assistance.
Pronounced “Pan-ee-gah-lee”, the model represented a change in Ducati Superbike tradition, adding a
name to its engine capacity designation and making a significant association to its historic roots in the Borgo
Panigale area of Bologna. In an Italian territory known as “Motor Valley” and where high performance and
racing runs through the veins of its passionate people, Ducati have underlined their pride in being world
ambassadors for the “Made in Italy” title by immortalizing their birthplace in the name of the new generation
Superbike.
Unmistakably Ducati
Every detail of the Panigale pays tribute to the rich heritage of racing on which Ducati is built. Components
that are not only functionally efficient, but also minimalist, essential and beautifully engineered into pieces of
automotive art.
Climb aboard the Panigale and take hold of the bars and the feeling of pure racing is everywhere. The finely
formed top-clamp with weight-saving hollows and recesses immediately communicates Italian engineering
at its very best. Radial brake and clutch pumps, Ducati’s precise switchgear and full Ride-by-Wire twistgrip
give a race-driven sense of minimalism further enhanced with the monocoque-integral steering head flowing
into the front sub-frame and minimalist instrumentation.
The twin headlamps, with LED positioning lights, are integrated with the frontal intake ducts, while the twin
rear lights are moulded perfectly around the recessed seat air ducts and illuminate with an attractive lightguide surround effect, enhanced with LED brake lights. Front LED indicators are integrated into the mirror
bodies and rear indicators, which are also LED*, are styled with clear lenses.
The majority of the frontal air ducts feed the main airbox, while a small splitter diverts air also into the fairing
bodywork to ensure efficient cooling for the onboard electronics. The carefully executed shape at the rear of
the fairing enables a highly efficient exit from the radiator area, protecting the Superquadro’s power output
and further reducing aerodynamic resistance. The sleek shape of the seat and tail-piece is accentuated by
the under-engine location of the exhaust system, further enhancing the aggressive stance of a true Ducati
Superbike. *Country specific
Engine
The 899 Superquadro
Ducati’s latest power-plant, the 899 Superquadro, represents another major step forward in twin-cylinder
design and technology, generating superb Ducati performance with super smooth power delivery. Providing
148hp (109kW) @ 10,750rpm and 10kgm (73lb-ft) @ 9,000rpm, the new engine achieves a perfect balance
of drive and fluidity using a bore and stroke of 100mm x 57.2mm (3.93in x 2.25in). The Desmodromic, 90° Ltwin inherits the 1199’s structural design to enable full integration with the monocoque chassis while
boasting an ownership-friendly 24,000km (15,000 miles) between major services.
Engine architecture
Mirroring the innovative 1199, the 899 engine is a fully stressed member of the chassis, with its architecture
calculated to provide the best possible vehicle construction for layout, weight distribution and strength. The
cylinders, which remain at 90° to each other, are rotated backwards around the crankcases, positioning the
front cylinder at 21° from horizontal and enabling the engine to be positioned further forwards for optimum
front / rear weight distribution and perfectly positioning the cylinder head attachment points for the
Panigale’s monocoque frame.
The crankcases, which are vacuum die-cast using Vacural® technology to ensure optimal weight saving,
consistent wall thickness and increased strength, also incorporate the outer water-jacket of the “cylinder”,
eliminating the jointing face that used to exist at the base of the cylinders. Instead, the Superquadro has
separate nikasil-coated “wet-liners” inserted into the tops of the crankcase apertures. This design enables
secure fixing of the cylinder head directly to the crankcase, improved sealing and enhanced heat dissipation
from the thin cylinder-liners directly into the surrounding coolant. The clutch casing, sump and cam covers
are all cast in aluminium.
The 899 Superquadro crankcases use shell main bearings for the crankshaft, enabling an increase in
diameter of the crank journals for enhanced rigidity and an increase in the crankcase section around the
main bearing area for improved strength. The shell bearings are force-fed oil from internal drillings within the
main bearing pillars to keep the new crankshaft well lubricated and the oil is quickly scavenged back into the
sump with a highly efficient GP-style vacuum pump. The pump is driven by the main oil pump shaft and
effectively maintains constant vacuum in the crankcase area below the pistons, reducing atmospheric
resistance during the down-stroke of the piston and controlling the internal “breathing” of the engine.
Supermid precision
In calculating the optimum configuration for a “Supermid” 899 version of the Superquadro, Ducati engineers
selected a bore and stroke of 100mm x 57.2mm (3.93in x 2.25in). The combination of power and ridability
resulted in an impressive output of 148hp (109kW) @ 10,750rpm and 73 lb-ft (10.1kgm) @ 9,000rpm.
The bore and stroke ratio achieves an attractive balance of torque while allowing sufficient area for the
highly efficient valve diameters of 41.8mm (1.64in) inlet and 34mm (1.33in) exhaust. The valves are
actuated by 'super-finished' and diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated rocker arms for reduced friction and
fatigue.
The 899’s volumetric efficiency is achieved with the help of oval throttle bodies measuring an equivalent
diameter of 62mm (2.44in) that feed air across a single injector per cylinder positioned below the Ride-byWire controlled butterfly. The new engine also inherits the 1199’s secondary air system, maintaining
performance-optimised fuel mapping for smoother cycle-to-cycle engine operation, without compromising
emissions.
Desmodromic valve control
Ducati’s Desmo system actuates valve closure mechanically with the same method and accuracy as it
opens, enabling steep cam profiles, radical cam timings, large valves and high operating speeds. This
system is used in every Ducati engine and constantly proven on Ducati Corse’s World Superbike and
Desmosedici GP motorcycles.
The Desmodromic assembly is driven by a combined chain and gear-drive arrangement with a conventional
bush-type chain running from the crankshaft to the cylinder head, where a single sprocket positioned
between inlet and exhaust camshafts is attached back-to-back to a gear wheel mounted on its own short,
dedicated shaft. The attached gear meshes directly with gears on the ends of both the inlet and exhaust
camshafts, which are also designed with +/- position adjustment for ultra-precise cam-calibration. The cam
chain provides a highly efficient point-to-point drive route and, tensioned automatically, provides continuous
reliability, further reducing the cost of routine maintenance.
On the end of each exhaust cam drive gear is a centrifugal flyweight which retracts at speeds below tickover to rotate a “protrusion” from the concentric section of the cam, thus creating sufficient valve lift to act as
a de-compressor. This ingenious device enables the Superquadro engine to be started easily without using
a larger battery and starter motor, which has further helped the reduction of overall vehicle weight. When the
engine starts and the camshafts begin to rotate at tick-over speed, the centrifugal flyweight flicks out,
retracting the “protrusion” back into the cam and allowing complete valve closure for full compression. This
innovative feature further underlines the lengths to which designers and engineers have worked together in
the single-minded pursuit of weight-saving.
Transmission
The 899 Superquadro engine adopts the same gearbox as the 1199, capitalising on the extensive work
carried out in increasing dimensions between the centres of the six-speed gearbox shafts to enable larger
diameter, stronger gears to transmit the enhanced power output.
Chassis
Monocoque technology
The 899 Panigale’s chassis continues Ducati’s innovative and courageous step forward in motorcycle
design, merging multiple parts into one compact and lightweight component, while re-evaluating rider
posture with a revised ergonomic triangle. The extremely compact monocoque construction integrates the
airbox to become one of the key elements in reducing the overall dry weight to an impressive of 169kg
(372.5lb).
Using the Superquadro engine as a stressed member of the chassis, the short and strong aluminium
monocoque is die-cast in aluminium and attaches to the cylinder heads protruding forward to house the
steering head bearings and forming the airbox. Continuing the concept of component minimisation, the
airbox is capped-off and sealed by the underside of the 17 litre (4.5 US gallon) steel fuel tank.
While the cylinders remain true to Ducati’s signature 90° L-twin configuration, the Superquadro engine has
effectively rotated the top-end backwards around the crankshaft to enable engineers to position the engine
perfectly for optimum front/rear weight bias. With a front-end geometry of 24° of rake and 96mm (3.78in) of
trail, a brand new, fully die-cast aluminium, double-sided swingarm provides the wheelbase of 1,426mm
(56.14in) setting the weight distribution of the 899 Panigale at 52% front and 48% rear.
With the exhaust system located below the engine, the steel tubular rear sub-frame maintains a clean line
and attaches directly to the Superquadro engine, while the lightweight, aluminium front sub-frame attaches
directly to the monocoque frame, providing secure support for the headlamp, instrumentation and fairing.
This centralisation of mass substantially contributes to overall vehicle agility.
Suspension
The 899 Panigale is eqiuipped with 43mm Showa BPF usd forks, fully adjustable in spring pre-load and
compression and rebound damping. The bodies are finished in titanium grey and the sliders in chrome and
feature forged radial calliper mountings on the fork feet. The Showa Big Piston Fork (BPF) enhances
damping control at low suspension speeds by flowing more oil at lower pressures and reducing the range
over which the damping fluid has to flow during compression and extension. This innovative solution
improves performance, while achieving a weight reduction compared to traditional forks. A steering damper
completes the overall specification.
A fully adjustable Sachs rear suspension unit features a stylish and practical side-mounting, enabling
increased space for the rear cylinder head. The unique positioning renders the suspension unit totally
accessible for spring pre-load and compression and rebound damping and is designed with a progressive
linkage operating through a double-sided swingarm.
Bosch Brembo Braking system with 3-level ABS
Included as an integral part of the Ducati Safety Pack (DSP), the 899 Panigale is equipped with the Bosch
ABS 9MP controlled Brembo braking system, an impressive combination of state-of-the-art security and
proven performance. Shorter stopping distances with enhanced stability is further enhanced with full Riding
Mode integration taking the 899’s braking to the next level of rider feeling.
From the 3-level programmed system, level-1 enables front only ABS, intended for the track-oriented “Race“
Riding Mode, while level-2 delivers high braking performances with reduced rear lift-up prevention for sportoriented road use in “Sport“ Riding Mode. Level-3, used in the “Wet“ Riding Mode, delivers the most braking
stability with maximum lift-up prevention. An option to disable the ABS in each individual Riding Mode is
available via the instrumentation, and the system allows the setting to be saved and memorised at the next
ignition-on.
The front brakes use twin radially-mounted Brembo, four piston, Monobloc M4-32 callipers actuated by a
high performance radial master cylinder. The fronts grip 320mm discs, while a single 245mm disc on the
rear is gripped by a single Brembo calliper.
Wheels and tyres
The 899 Panigale rolls on lightweight 10-spoke wheels in 3.5in front rim width and 5.50in rear, enabling a
fast change of direction and enhanced acceleration and braking performances. They are fitted with Pirelli
Diablo Rosso Corsa tyres with a 120/70 ZR17, on the front and an agility-enhancing 180/60 ZR17 on the
rear.
Designed as a high performance tyre for the road and excellent for track sessions, the Pirelli Diablo Rosso
Corsa profile and structure make it a perfect choice for the 899 Panigale with optimum support ensured
during vehicle inclination and rapid realignment on corner exit. Developed with Pirelli’s latest Enhanced
Patch Technology from World Superbike, the tyre uses a multi-compound composition with three zones on
the rear that optimise the area of contact, ensuring maximum grip on road and track.
Electronics
Panigale technology
The superb electronics package features Ducati Riding Modes, with fully integrated ABS, Ducati Traction
Control (DTC), Ducati Quick Shift (DQS), Engine Brake Control (EBC), and full Ride-by-Wire (RbW) throttle
control.
Ducati Riding Modes
Ducati’s industry-changing Riding Modes effectively offer an optimised set-up appropriate to rider and
environment by selecting from a choice of three pre-set modes. Each Riding Mode is pre-programmed to
instantly change engine character in addition to ABS, DTC and EBC levels - even while riding. The modes
are made possible by combining a number of class-leading technologies.
An electronic Ride-by-Wire (RbW) system administers different mappings to regulate power delivery, while
the Ducati Traction Control system (DTC) uses eight levels of system interaction to enhance control by
reducing wheel-spin and the 9MP generation Bosch processor provides three environment-appropriate antilock levels. EBC monitors crankshaft de-acceleration under heavy braking and administers RbW throttle
opening to maintain optimum grip.
Race Riding Mode
The Race Riding Mode provides the track rider with 148hp with direct RbW throttle response, reduced DTC
system intervention, a race-oriented EBC level and front-only ABS with no anti-rear lift-up.
Sport Riding Mode
The Sport Riding Mode provides the road or track rider with 148hp, delivered with a “smooth” RbW throttle
response, slightly increased DTC system intervention, a sport-optimised EBC and front and rear ABS with
increased anti-rear lift-up.
Wet Riding Mode
The Wet Riding Mode provides the road or track rider with 110hp, delivered with a “smooth” RbW throttle
response, increased DTC system intervention, environment-appropriate EBC and fully enhanced ABS for
low grip conditions.
Instrumentation
The 889 Panigale has a brand new compact instrumentation panel with a well arranged and data-rich black
on white LCD display. The unit displays RPM from 0-12,000 in an easy-to-read bargraph positioned in a
semi-circular shape across the top of the unit with speed indicated prominently in the centre of the screen.
The three riding modes of Race, Sport and Wet are positioned left of the vehicle speed value and are easily
scrollable using the indicator cancel button on the left-hand switchgear. When each Riding Mode is selected
its corresponding EBC, DTC and ABS levels are displayed to the right of the vehicle speed value with
additional tags displayed above them to confirm Stopwatch, DDA or DQS functions when activated.
Further left of the three Riding Modes, the screen also displays a numeric gear indicator, a tag to confirm
actuation of automatic lap-time GPS (if DDA+ accessory is fitted) and a service icon which appears to
remind of scheduled maintenance.
Engine coolant temperature is displayed at the lower centre section of the screen with rectangular windows
of additional data positioned either side, scroll-controlled using two buttons positioned above and below the
indicator cancel button on the left-hand switchgear. The upper button scrolls the left window to present total
mileage, trip A, trip B, trip reserve fuel, trip time, time and lap time, while the lower button scrolls the right
window for air temperature, fuel consumption, average fuel consumption and average speed.
Illuminated icons on the top left of the instrumentation, from left to right, show warnings for left turn signal,
engine electronics, ABS-off and neutral, while from top right of the instrumentation, from right to left, are turn
signal right, fuel reserve, main beam and oil pressure. In the middle of these two banks of warning lights,
and designed to advise via the rider’s peripheral vision, are a strip of red lights incrementally counting-up to
engine over-rev, until finally illuminating also the main red over-rev warning light in the top centre of the
display. Below the main top, centre over-rev bar is a second bar that illuminates orange to denote DTC
interaction.
When the 899 Panigale is stationary, the instrumentation is accessible as a user-friendly control panel to
personalise and save ABS, EBC, DTC, DQS, and RbW settings within each Riding Mode. Additionally, the
stopwatch function, actuated manually by using the flasher button on the left-hand switchgear (or
automatically with the GPS equipped DDA+ available as an accessory) can list the last 30 recorded lap
times, each time also recording the associated lap number, maximum speed and maximum rpm. The
brightness level of the display can also be adjusted from the same control panel area.
Ducati Traction Control (DTC)
Ducati’s highly successful DTC system has been further refined for the 899 Panigale and fully integrated into
the electronics package of the Riding Modes. It uses the same software logic developed and used by Ducati
Corse for their MotoGP and World Superbike motorcycles and offers a choice of eight settings highly
developed for all environments.
Accessible from the left-hand switchgear and displayed on the instrumentation, the system offers a choice of
eight profiles, each one programmed with a wheel-spin tolerance graded from one to eight. While level eight
administers a confidence-building, high level of interaction from the system by activating upon the slightest
detection of wheel-spin, level one offers a much higher tolerance and so reduced intervention for highly
competent riders. The DTC system status and level is constantly displayed on the instrumentation,
reminding the rider of the current interaction level if the Riding Mode is changed.
When the level that best suits the combination of road or track conditions and riding style has been selected
and the DTC system activated, front and rear wheel sensors compare speed differential to sense when rear
traction is being broken (wheel-spin). DTC then decides the best combination of two different types of
instant electronic adjustment, calculated with data supplied from multiple sources. The first 'soft' stage of
system interaction is executed by high speed software that makes instant electronic adjustment to the
ignition timing, administering varying amounts of ignition retardation to reduce the engine's torque. If the
DTC software detects that the first 'soft' stage of system interaction is inadequate to control the wheel-spin,
it continues to administer ignition retardation and, in addition, instructs the engine ECU to initiate a pattern of
constantly increasing injection cuts until, if necessary, full injection cut.
During both stages of system interaction, an orange warning light, which is visible in the rider’s peripheral
vision and situated near the top of the instrumentation, illuminates to signify that DTC is being used. As soon
as the system recognises the gradual return of equal wheel speeds, it incrementally re-establishes normal
power delivery. This seamless interaction is key to the super-smooth operation of the system.
Ducati Quick Shift (DQS)
The Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) system, is supplied as original equipment on the 899 Panigale, providing
super-smooth clutchless upshifts, easily executed without closing the throttle. Normally used specifically for
racing, the system allows the rider to keep the throttle open when changing-up through the gearbox, helping
to save vital fractions of a second in the pursuit of faster lap-times, and providing ride-enhancing
performance for normal road use. The system not only saves time when changing gear, but also enables the
possibility of uninterrupted air flow through the throttle bodies throughout the upward gear-change process.
The system consists of a micro-switch built into the linkage of the gear change lever, which when actuated
in the direction of selecting a higher gear, sends a signal to the main ECU. The ECU instantly understands
which gear the motorcycle is in and the amount of throttle opening before applying a pre-programmed cut in
fuel injection and ignition measured in milliseconds. This spilt-second electronic interruption in drive is
programmed precisely to allow the next gear to be selected without having to actuate the clutch or close the
throttle. As the system only functions for a matter of milliseconds, the 899 can still be ridden using a normal
gear-changing style.
Engine Brake Control (EBC)
The “Engine Brake Control” (EBC) system was developed by Ducati Corse to help riders optimise vehicle
stability under extreme corner-entry racing conditions by equalising the positive and negative forces of
torque subjected to the rear tyre under severe engine-braking conditions. EBC monitors throttle position,
gear selected and crankshaft de-acceleration rate under heavy braking, and then administers precise RbW
throttle openings to balance the torque forces acting on the tyre. EBC has a 3-level operating system
accessible from the 899 Panigale’s instrumentation and is integrated automatically into its three Riding
Modes to provide an additional and highly effective rider aid.
DDA-ready
The 899 Panigale is system-ready to accept Ducati Data Analyser+ (DDA+) which is available as an
accessory from Ducati Performance. It consists of a software download and a USB-ready data retrieval card
and evaluates the performances of the motorcycle and its rider by graphically presenting specific channels
of information.
DDA+ is the latest generation of the system and incorporates a GPS function that automatically records laptimes every time the 899 Panigale crosses a circuit start/finish line. As the rider crosses line and presses the
lights flasher button, the innovative system logs the coordinates of that position and automatically records
each lap time as the motorcycle completes subsequent laps.
An essential piece of equipment for the circuit, DDA records numerous channels of data including throttle
opening, vehicle speed, engine rpm, gear selected, engine temperature, distance travelled, laps and lap
times. An additional channel of information is dedicated to recording the traction control index which can
then be viewed as a graphic trace indicating the amount of DTC interaction during wheel-spin. At the end of
a ride or track session, data can be downloaded ready to compare and analyse the performance of the rider
and motorcycle.