2014 Ducati 899 Panigale Spied

Spy photographers have snapped images of what is reportedly a pre-production version of the rumored 2014 Ducati 899 Panigale.

At first glance, the motorcycle pictured appears to be the familiar Ducati 1199 Panigale until you look at the swingarm. This sportbike has a double-sided swingarm instead of the single-sided swingarm found on the 1199 Panigale. Instead, we have a banana-curved swingarm similar to what you’d see from other manufacturers.

The wheels are also different from the 1199, with what looks like a split five-spoke design while the front suspension appears to consist of a Showa Big Piston Fork instead of the 1199′s Ohlins suspension.

As for the engine, the popular rumor is an 899cc version of the Superquadro V-Twin engine producing somewhere around 150-160 hp. As with the 1199 Panigale, the engine is expected to be a stress-bearing part of a monocoque chassis.

We expect to learn more about this new mini-Panigale as we draw closer to the 2013 EICMA show in November where Ducati will reveal its 2014 models.

[Source: Ilmagnifico Giuseppe (Facebook) via Motociclismo.it]

By Dennis Chung