Ducati Panigale 899
The new Superquadro engine is more powerful than the old 848 and smoother than the 1199.
"So it's less of a challenge to live with," says Warren.
That's helped by all the electronic riding aids - the traction and stability control, and the Race, Sport and Wet riding modes that let you change the power characteristics, plus a quick-shifter as standard.
Don't be tempted to think the 899's inferior to its rortier sibling, especially on a public road. As helmets came off at day's end the consensus was the narrower rear tyre and a front end half a degree steeper make for noticeably lighter handling than the 1199 Panigale, while it's more comfy than the 848 - thanks to extra seat padding.
We enjoyed the Ducati Monster 1200 on the winding roads of Northland.
As for the Monsters, on paper the $19,490 821's Testastretta engine with its 84kW/89Nm numbers may look modest compared to its big brother, but don't be fooled - that's still ample for the real world, and on our Far North roads it impressed, in part because it's less demanding than the 1200s and therefore its best is easier to access for most riders on most roads.
Add an adjustable seat height, eight-level traction, three-level ABS and three level ride-by-wire control plus the fact - equally important to Ducati fans - it also sounds fabulous and looks as good as you expect. As for the 1200 Monsters, they get the latest-generation liquid-cooled 1198 Testastretta motor, with the $29,990 S adding 7kW and 6.5Nm to the $24,990 standard bike's 100kW/118Nm recipe thanks to changes to engine management.
The new Diavel is a power cruiser featuring some notable visual tweaks.
It also takes the format further up-market with Ohlins suspension that delivered a noticeable advantage on the Far North circuit, plus lashings of carbon fibre to help trim weight, and high-spec Brembo brakes.
Both 1200s get loads of low- and mid-range grunt starting from around 2000rpm and modes that are easy to use while riding, though some at the event felt the gearing was a tad high for our roads.
Either promise adjustable seat height, three-level ABS and three-level ride by wire.
Throw in the $15,990 659 LAMs bike and a Monster buyer now has three capacities and four flavours to choose from - the 1200 and 1200S for experienced thrill-seekers; the 821 for real-world performance that might please an experienced rider who enjoys the challenge of wringing the best from their mount, or someone new to the hit this format delivers; and the 659 for learner riders, or those whose home roads deliver the tightly twisting challenge best suited to lightweight agility.
The Diavel has heaps of punch.
The $29,990 Diavel takes 30 per cent of Ducati sales here with a lighter (at 205kg) and more wieldy format than the traditional cruiser. It now uses a version of the Twin Spark engine from the Multistrada, so there's still the punch you expect, but it's smoother, and torque delivery's more useable for those round-town day-to-day rides. Visual tweaks include an upgraded LED headlight and a restyled exhaust to impart more visual aggression.
Warren Lee says Ducati NZ's had its best year yet just from changing its Auckland dealer, with sales up 50 per cent and the Diavel, 899 and Monster driving those figures.
The sporty Panigale is a slightly scaled-down model of the popular 1199 Superbike
In the coming year, the 1199 is to be replaced by a more powerful 1299 that will include wheelie control and clutchless up- and down-shifting, and a new Multistrada with a Desmodromic V-twin engine with variable valve timing on both the inlet and exhaust camshafts, the first time it's been used on a V-twin.
But the big news will be the Scrambler, with three variants all designed for a contemporary take on a 1960s flavour with fuel injection, ABS, and an accessible price likely to start around the 659's $15,999 tag.
