Ducati just unveiled a super exclusive special edition of the 1299 Panigale S. The motorcycle is called the Anniversario and Ducati will be making only 500 of them. This high-tech motorcycle comes with a few new features and a limited edition serial number which makes it more of an investment than a regular purchase.
The motorcycle comes with a red, white and black paintjob and gold wheels. This colour/style scheme is exclusive to this bike and appears to be inspired from the WSB and MotoGP bikes. In terms of specifications, this Ducati sits between the 1299 S and the R variant. However, in terms of exclusivity, it’s beyond both.
The steering head inserts shift the front wheel forward 5mm, giving the same chassis geometry as the track-ready Panigale R. Moreover, a light lithium battery, carbon fibre heel guards, rear mudguard and shock absorber cover reduce weight by 2.5kg.
Electronics - now this is where the Anniversario starts to make sense. The new DTC EVO and new Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO systems which manage to both increase control and push the limits of what the bike can do in terms of rear wheel slide and wheelies too. In addition to the new DTC and DWC systems are Bosch cornering ABS, the Ducati Quick Shifter (DQS) for bi-directional clutchless gear changes, Engine Brake Control (EBC) and Öhlins Smart EC semi-active suspension.
The motorcycle uses the same 1299 Panigale Superquadro V-twin engine, it remains unchanged and that means 205bhp and 144.6Nm of torque. Suspension duties are handled by the same Öhlins Smart EC seen on the Panigale S. The exhaust system is a bespoke unit made by the exhaust masters Akrapovic.
There have always been instances where a couple of units of these special edition models have made it to Indian shores. However, these collectors rarely use their motorcycles which means seeing them in person in India is next to spotting a Unicorn. Since it is priced between the S and the R in UK, expect it to have a price tag in India of over Rs 40 lakh.
