Ducati unveils limited edition 1299 Panigale S Anniversario

Ducati unveiled the limited edition 1299 Panigale S Anniversario during the 2016 World Ducati Week (2016 WDW) to commemorate 90 years of its existence. Former MotoGP champion Casey Stoner and Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali took the wraps off the bike at the Santamonica Stadium in Misano Adriatico during the riders presentation at the event.

The 1299 Panigale S Anniversario gets a host of technical and electronic improvements to closely resemble the factory World SBK machine. Limited to only 500 units, each bike will get an individually numbered headstock to denote which one of the 500 the bike is. The bike will slot in between the standard 1299 Panigale S and the Panigale R.

Headlining the differences over the rest of the Panigales is an all-new Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system. Called the DTC EVO, the system is essentially an electronic nanny that allows the rider to have a little more fun, compared to the previous DTC. Ducati says that the DTC EVO permits drifting out of a corner while on the power and steering the bike on the throttle.

The DTC EVO is based on new software algorithms that make it more precise in its intervention. The system interacts with the Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), sensing the bike's lean angle at all times, and uses that information to ascertain the accurate amount of intervention. This in turn results in an ideal amount of slip for the rear tyre, irrespective of the riding conditions.

Ducati also adds that the system has the ability to intervene on the butterfly valves in bike's throttle bodies, in addition to altering spark advance and fuel injection. This helps in instances when high-speed intervention of the DTC EVO isn't required, and the butterfly valves can be closed, allowing the system to manage traction whilst maintaining optimal combustion parameters. This results in smoother intervention and engine response.

Swathed in a lovely paint combination of red, white and black, inspired by Ducati's MotoGP and WSBK machines, the bike looks stunning. The gold-coloured wheels are typical of Ducati anniversary motorcycles, and this Panigale S Anniversario gets a gold-tinged titanium exhaust by Akrapovic.

Ducati has used a new steering head insert that pushes the front wheel forward by 5mm, exactly matching the chassis geometry of the range topping Panigale R. The 1299 Panigale S Anniversario also sheds weight (2.5kg over the S model) by using a special lithium-ion battery, carbon-fibre heel plates, carbon-fibre hugger and a different rear shock absorber unit.

The new Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO uses information from the Bosch IMU to sense the pitch of the Panigale to control front wheel lift while allowing maximum acceleration. Besides these electronic systems, the 1299 Panigale S Anniversario features Bosch cornering ABS and Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) for clutchless upshifts and downshifts.

The bike is powered by the same 1285cc, Superquadro L-Twin engine that develops 205PS and has Engine Brake Control (EBC) which improves stability during turn-in. There's Ohlin's smart EC suspension too that aids the overall stability and control of the motorcycle. Ducati has not altered the chassis of the motorcycle which continues to use the engine as the stressed member.

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner with the 1299 Panigale S Anniversario

Since it's limited to only 500 units, it's obvious that the Panigale 1299 S becomes an instant collector's item. It can be yours for £23,995 or Rs 21.48 lakh (pre-tax), approximately.