Rennie Scaysbrook | September 22, 2016

Subtle upgrades to Ducati’s base model superbike.

The Ducati 1299 Panigale looks set for a slight revision for 2017, if this spy shot from BMH Images is anything to go by.

Ducati has four models in the 1299 Panigale superbike line up, the latest release being the gorgeous, limited edition Panigale S Anniversario earlier this year, but that bike is out of financial reach of most riders so it looks like it’s time to give the base model 1299 a facelift.

The biggest change appears to be the black Öhlins forks, which now bear a striking resemblance to those used on the Monster 1200 S with base of the fork legs now chrome instead of black. The Sachs monoshock rear suspension also looks like it has been swapped out for an Öhlins unit. The base model 1299 has not yet come with the DES (Ducati Electronic Suspension) system of the 1299 Panigale S, and it doesn’t appear the system will be gracing this new model, either.

The exhaust muffler appears to be the same titanium unit found on the 1299 Panigale S, and the bellypan and tail section appear to be slightly revised.

Alongside this new base model superbike, Ducati is rumored to have a couple more Scrambler models planned for 2017 including a CR (café racer) and DS (dual sport), and a return to the air-cooled 900 SuperSport in a trellis frame.

Cycle News contacted Ducati about this mysterious machine but the company declined to comment.

You can expect more from Ducati at the coming Intermot Show in Cologne, Germany, over October 5-10.

Photography by BMH-Images