By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Ducati 1198 (MY2009) vs 1199 Panigale Tricolor (MY2012)
Ducati 1198 vs 1199 Panigale Tricolor: one garage spot. Here's what should decide it.
Turn the Ducati 1198 into a fast sweeper and it's planted on its line, the stiff frame talking you through the entry. The Ducati 1199 Panigale Tricolor drops in the instant you ask, and it's turning before you've finished the thought. It snaps from one lean to the other.
So which one do you buy?
The 1199 Panigale Tricolor has the edge if…
Racetrack use
A touch ahead: 1199 Panigale Tricolor
The 1199 Panigale Tricolor pulls a nose ahead on track. What tips it: more suspension adjustment. Don't count on it doing the work for you.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: 1199 Panigale Tricolor
On a twisty road, the 1199 Panigale Tricolor edges ahead. Thank better suspension for that. Not by enough to settle it alone.
What makes each one tick
1198
Out of a slow corner, the Ducati's V-twin slings the bike forward on a thick slab of torque that keeps swelling into a fierce rush near the top. Mid-bend at speed, a bump barely stirs the suspension, and there's clear detail coming up through the bars the whole way. In tight corners it's hard work, since the bars need real muscle and the seat sits high and narrow. The Brembos bite clean and haul it down square.
1199 Panigale Tricolor
The 1199 Panigale Tricolor's Superquadro lives on revs, and it's at its wildest on a track. High pegs and a firm seat start to grind on you once a street ride runs past an hour. Low in the revs, the throttle doesn't get much of an answer from an engine that feels flat in town. Wound up, it rushes for the redline.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 1199 Panigale Tricolor has the lower wet weight: 414 lb (188 kg) vs 432 lb (196 kg).
- The 1199 Panigale Tricolor makes more peak power: 195 hp (143 kW) vs 169 hp (124 kW).
- The 1199 Panigale Tricolor has the larger fuel tank: 4.5 US gal (17 L) vs 4.1 US gal (15.5 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Look elsewhere
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
For commuting and running costs, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
1198
What owners say
Strengths
- Monstrous, characterful V-twin engine
- Sublime chassis and high-speed stability
- Timeless, exotic Italian design
- Powerful, race-spec Brembo brakes
Trade-offs
- High ownership and maintenance costs
- Punishing ergonomics and heavy steering
- Snatchy stock fueling and no electronic rider aids
1199 Panigale Tricolor
What owners say
Strengths
- Advanced electronics package
- Monocoque chassis agility
- Searing top-end power
Trade-offs
- Weak low-end torque
Known problems to check before you buy
1198
- Fuel line leak at injector connection Recall 09V170000 A recall (NHTSA campaign 09V170000) affects 2009 1198 and 1198 S models where the plastic fuel line fitting at the injector can warp or crack, causing a fuel leak and fire risk.
1199 Panigale Tricolor
- Wiring loom and electrical gremlins Multiple reports of wiring faults leading to instrument panel resets, indicator malfunctions, and engine cutouts, particularly on early 2012 models. Some bikes required complete loom replacement.
- Starting issues due to charcoal canister The emissions charcoal canister, located near the lower radiator, can cause hard starting, especially when the engine is hot.
- Gear position sensor failure The gear position sensor can fail, resulting in incorrect gear display on the dashboard and erratic engine behavior.
What they share
- Displacement
- 1198 cc
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 330 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 1198 | 1199 Panigale Tricolor | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 432 lb (196 kg) | 414 lb (188 kg) |
| 1198 | 1199 Panigale Tricolor | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 90° V-twin | L-twin |
| Power | 169 hp (124 kW) | 195 hp (143 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,750 rpm | 10,750 rpm |
| Torque | 97 lb-ft (131 Nm) | 97 lb-ft (132 Nm) |
| 1198 | 1199 Panigale Tricolor | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.1 US gal (15.5 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| 1198 | 1199 Panigale Tricolor | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 200/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 1198 | 1199 Panigale Tricolor | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
| LED Headlight | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
