WE’VE known for some time that the 2020 Ducati 959 Panigale was getting a facelift, following the lead of the V4 Panigale along the way.
But this is the first image that shows the bike in its near-completed form. The image shows a heavily camouflaged test bike, with the distinctive dazzle-camo wrapping doing its best to hide the shape of the machine.
The big news is – as it seems the bike is in near finished-spec – it’s losing the double-sided swingarm of the old 959 and gaining a sexy looking single-sided item.
We’ve seen test bikes in camo being ridden with the single-sided setup, although until now we couldn’t confirm if this was a V4 with a 959 engine or not.
What's new on the 2020 Ducati 959 Panigale?
What’s also clear to see is the final exhaust setup of the machine, showing a small and stout, shotgun-style silencer emerging from the lower engine fairing. Other different features seem to change to the exhaust heat shield, the V4 has a shield that includes ducting to help cool the system.
The test bike seen in the pictures here has a smooth item fitted, it’s possible the smaller capacity machine needs less cooling effect around the pipes. The suspension on the bike pictured looks to be Marzocchi forks and similar Brembo stoppers as the outgoing 959 Panigale.
The lack of carbon trinkets on this machine is a clear sign this will be the base model, almost certainly getting launched at this October’s Rimini product range launch. We’ll then see the bike in the flesh at the EICMA show in November – we’ll be at the event to bring you all the news.
