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Mark Hinchliffe·
DucatiMotorbikesSports
··1 Comment·2 min read

Ducati Panigale R World Superbike for the road

Ducati Panigale R

The new Ducati Panigale R is about as close as you will ever get to riding a World Superbike on the road.

Ducati Australia says the Paginale R will cost $45,990 plus on-road costs and customers are already placing deposits for the bike which arrives in August.

The Panigale R has been homologated for WSBK, but it’s not the 1299 Panigale with the1285cc L-twin engine; it still has the 1198cc Superquadro L-twin so it stays within the World Superbike engine capacity specifications.

Ducati Panigale R
Ducati Panigale R and WSBK models

However, it’s not far short of the race bike with 153kW (205bhp) at 11,500rpm and 136Nm at 10,250rpm compared with the WSBK race bike with 157kW (210bhp) at the crank.

It’s also 184kg, which is only 16kg heavier than the race bike.

That’s largely thanks to the weight saving in the engine which comes with titanium intake and exhaust valves, titanium con-rods, two-ring pistons and lightweight crankshaft balanced with tungsten inserts.Ducati Panigale R

Ducati has also upgraded the Panigale R’s electronics by adding Cornering ABS, Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC). They have also updated the Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) to include downshifts and added automatic calibration to the traction control, wheelie control and engine braking control for easier tyre-size changes and final-drive ratio modifications.

It also arrives with race-spec, fully adjustable Öhlins NIX30 fork and TTX36 shock absorber, lightweight forged aluminium wheels and titanium Akrapoviç exhaust.

And to end all bench-racing fibs, it features new colour TFT instruments with a lean angle indicator.Ducati Panigale R

2015 Ducati Paginale R: Tech Specs

  • Price: $45,990 (+ORC)
  • Warranty: 2 years unlimited mileage
  • Engine: Desmodromic, liquid-cooled, 1198cc Superquadro L-twin, 4-valves-per-cylinder
  • Power: 153kW (205bhp) @ 11,500rpm
  • Torque: 136Nm @ 10,250rpm
  • Fuel injection: Mitsubishi EFI, twin injectors per cylinder, full ride-by-wire elliptical throttle bodies
  • Exhaust: 2-1-2 full titanium system with stainless steel exhaust headers, catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes
  • Emissions: Euro 3
  • Transmission: 6-speed, with Ducati Quick Shift (DQS)
  • Clutch: Slipper and self-servo wet multiplate clutch with hydraulic control
  • Chassis: Aluminium monocoque, single-side aluminium swingarm with adjustable pivot
  • Front suspension: Öhlins NIX30 43mm fully adjustable USD fork with TiN treatment
  • Rear suspension: Fully adjustable Öhlins TTX36 unit, adjustable linkage (progressive/flat)
  • Wheels: 17-inch forged alloy
  • Tyres: 120/70 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP (front), 200/55 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP (rear)
  • Brakes: 2 x 330mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc EVO M50 4-piston callipers with Cornering ABS Bosch 9.1MP (front), 245mm disc, 2-piston calliper with Cornering ABS as standard (rear)
  • Fuel tank capacity: 17 litres
  • Dry weight: 162kg
  • Wet weight: 184kgDucati Panigale R