EBR dealers have a really tough row to hoe with this bike. There's not a ton of info available on it. Only one magazine has done a literbike shootout with it and it lost by a hair over something that could have been prevented by the factory. I see or hear comments like this one http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=452194 all the time."So yesterday with the grace of good weather I was finally able to test ride the EBR 1190Rx and the Ducati 1199 Panigale S.
After having looked at the EBR for several months and visiting it at the dealer about 3 times, I finally decided to take a test ride. After my return, I realized it was not all that I hoped for. In fact, I was a bit "confused" by it. Not sure if that was because i've been on my '11 r1 for the past 2 years. Nonetheless, I decided to take the '14 1199 Panigale S out for a spin too, of course at the sales persons urging.
Not more than a quarter of mile down the road, I had that feeling. It was the one. That feeling that I had lost on the r1, was replaced by an Italian. Something I thought would never happen, especially considering I had never cared for it a great deal."
When you compare the numbers stock for stock the EBR has more torque and HP at any RPM from 2.5K all the way to 10.5K than any other liter bike on the street, including the mighty HP4 and Panigale R and SL's. The torque curve is doggone near flat there is no hit any where, but a little boot around 7K. The TC as is has so many adjustements that it can be made to feel quite seemless in wheelie and rear wheel spin control. The bike is raw in feel but very well refined in performance. In order to get that manic, on the edge of control feel, you get on say a GSXR 1k, you have to turn the TC nearly off, because the bike is smart enought to recognize that people clearly don't understand how and where it makes power. They test ride it like it's a four and rev it to death not realizing they are skipping the meat of the power, which isn't how you ride a Vtwin. It works on the 1199 because it thinks its a I4 but not on the EBR or RC8 or any other Ducati before now come to think of it. Then there is price verses quality component. Going through this machine and comparing it to others yields two results. Its missing some huge bells and whistle in ABS, Quickshifter and electronic suspension for the price, its got race quality components everywhere else.
Its a tough sell that's going to get harder with the new 2015's from Japan. EBR needs to alter its information and advertising strategy ASAP.
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