The 2016 Ducati 959 Panigale carries on from the 899 Panigale with a host of changes to the engine and bodywork. The 959 Panigale was reworked to pass Euro 4 emissions and noise limits, which resulted in some major revisions over the 899.
Most noticeable is the double-barreled exhaust, which was needed to pass the very stringent Euro 4 noise regulations. While many riders may like the howl of a straight-through V-twin exhaust, Euro 4 says no, at least not for road bikes.
While the 899 Panigale managed to convey a svelte profile echoing Massimo Tamburini’s earliest iteration of the 916 Desmoquattro, expect to see more road-going machines with similar bulbous exhausts moving forward as manufacturers try to keep the noise down without sacrificing too much.
What’s new for 2016 is the now regulation compliant Superquadro engine. The V-twin displaces 955 cc, producing 157 hp and 107.4 Nm torque. The additional 57 cc and 9 hp over the out-going 899 Panigale’s 148 hp was achieved by stretching the stroke from 57.2 mm to 60.8 mm. The bore remains the same at 100 mm, retaining the massively over-square design of the Superquadro.
The short stroke of this engine is important, as it reduces the amount of friction internally, and allows the engine to meet regulations and reduce emissions.
Ducati’s new Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating on the piston pins and a reworked piston top, combined with new cylinder heads and covers reduce engine noise, along with an all-new timing chain.
The fly-by-wire throttle activates twin oval throttle bodies that now sport twin fuel injectors positioned above and below the butterfly. This helps maximise the efficiency of the fuel burn, while emissions are controlled with Ducati’s secondary air system.
Ducatis have always been famous for their slipper clutches that prevent wheel hop during aggressive braking, but were never known for their “light” pull.
The 959 comes with a new “self servo” that greatly reduces clutch effort without reducing the neccessary force required to transmit the engine’s power to the gearbox.
Other changes to the 959 include a wider and taller fairing, based on feedback received from Ducati’s World Superbike team. Redesigned air intakes allow more air into the engine while the rear seat design now mimics the 1299 Panigale, as do the mirrors.
The rest of the 959 Panigale follows Ducati’s MotoGP technology, including an optional data analyser. The LCD dashboard comes fully functional and track ready, including riding mode and stopwatch. The full suite of track gadgets comes standard, including ABS, traction control and quickshifter.
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Ducati no more red or yellow, now white.
Nothing hurt with the exhaust, akrapovics termignonis are always available
When was the last time ducati won worldchampionship gp??