#Ducati899Panigale

When racing organizations around the world ushered the end of the 750cc superbike era circa 2003 by allowing 1000cc four-cylinders to compete, it wasn’t long before almost every OEM dropped 750cc sportbikes from their lineups, focusing instead on developing new 1000cc beasts to comply with the revised racing rules.

While the Polar Vortex is spinning temperatures across the country in a downward spiral, motorcycle magazines in Southern California are busily testing this year’s crop of weaponized two-wheelers. The recent launches of Ducati’s 899 Panigale and MV Agusta’s F3 800 has ignited the middleweight class for 2014, and everyone’s aflutter to figure out which OEM has the best package.

There’s no doubt about it, the Ducati 1199 Panigale is one sexy motorcycle. Its elegant curves and sharp lines make it a bike worth lusting after. If you’re up for it, the 1199cc Superquadro engine will exhilarate the soul unlike anything else we’ve ever ridden, just look how much we gush about the thing in our track and street portions of our 2013 Exotic Literbike Shootout.