The Ducati 959 Panigale has been launched in India at Rs 14.37 lakh (ex-showroom). An updated version of the 899 Panigale, this ‘supermid’ is imported from Thailand as a completely built unit (CBU).
The 959 Panigale is built on a slightly revised chassis and propelled by a bigger and more powerful engine. While one of the main reasons for this update was to make it Euro4 compliant, Ducati has also taken this opportunity to improve the aerodynamics and electronics of the bike. The cosmetic upgrades, which include a wider fairing, windshield and larger air intakes, give the front end an aggressive look. The LED lamp setup is similar to the one in the litre-class 1299 Panigale. The revised split tailpiece design of the 959 Panigale gives the rear section a minimalistic yet aggressive look.
The monocoque frame is made of die-cast aluminium and gets a dual-sided swingarm. The liquid-cooled L-twin Superquadro engine now displaces 955cc, producing 157bhp and 107Nm of torque. The 959 Panigale breathes out of a Euro4 compliant twin-pipe exhaust system. The front end rides on fully adjustable Showa 43mm inverted forks while the rear gets Sachs gas-charged monoshock with spring preload, compression and rebound damping adjustment.
The Ducati 959 Panigale is offered in two paint schemes, arctic white silk and the traditional Ducati red. It competes with other middleweight supersports bikes like the MV Agusta F3 800 and the Triumph Daytona R.
Speaking about the motorcycle, Ravi Avalur, MD, Ducati India said: “Since we first unveiled the model, our dealers have received an overwhelming interest from motorcyclists all over the country. The 959 Panigale is the embodiment of Ducati’s premium sportbike culture and is now on display in Bombay at our Bandra Dealership.”
