899 Released

[Duck-Stew]

and looked better doing it.

+1

[duc_fan]

I still lust for an original 1995-'96 916, with the Cagiva-font graphics.  Getting hard to find one that hasn't been trashed, though.  It appears the serious collectors with clean examples are holding them close.  I just want a clean one to park along the wall of my garage, with a little museum data placard and accent lighting.  I figure folks spend several grand on art all the time... I just happen to want a work sculpted by Massimo Tamburini. 

[mikeb]

I'm not a huge fan of the Panigale's looks.  Slap on a dual swingarm and it looks even worse.  Don't know what it is but the 899 just looks cheap to me. 

Granted its a step up from the 999/749.  But I think it's a step back from the 1098/848.

[Duck-Stew]

I'm not a huge fan of the Panigale's looks.  Slap on a dual swingarm and it looks even worse.  Don't know what it is but the 899 just looks cheap to me. 

Granted its a step up from the 999/749.  But I think it's a step back from the 1098/848.

Exactly what I've been mulling over mikeb.  With clean used 848's going for $7K and 1098's going for $8K, that leaves a LOT of lettuce to put Ohlins and other tasty 'bits' onto the last of the trellis framed SBK's.

I haven't mentioned this previously, but somedays I miss the sh*t out of my 848.

[zooom]

while I agree with mikeb on the facia of things, I am holding my overall opinion for when I get to see it in the flesh, as it may change somewhat at that juncture.

it amuses me to point out how this discussion is going in terms of polarity somewhat like the release of the 999/749 with peoples opinions here and other places.

[Raux]

slap a Panigale front end on a 749/999 and you have a nice bike 

[duc_fan]

I wasn't big on the Panigale until I saw it in person.  Then the aero geek in me came out.  It's not so much soothing aesthetic as much as it is an engineering and aerodynamic work.  The F1 cues in the inlets and air directing bodywork appeal to me.  I also love the tail.  The taillights and those through passages in the ear end look cool.  The headlights?  Still not big on.  It doesn't have the attractive eyes of the 916 or the 1098 series bikes.  Now, if you put the eyes of a 1098 on the body of a Panigale, that'd be incredible.

So yeah... If there was $20k (give or take) sitting in the bank, I still don't know whether I'd put money down on a clean 1098S/1198S, or the Panigale S Tricolore they have at the local dealer (used, with 900 miles, for a hefty discount).

I do know I like the Panigale much better than the 749/999.  I'd buy one of those on the cheap (maybe salvage title) to put track skins on and go thrash... but it sure as heck isn't gonna be displayed as a work of art.

[Triple J]

is the twin that down on power that a 300cc allowance is needed?

Up to 850cc twins are currently allowed to race with I-4 600s in WMRRA (Wash.) & OMRRA (Oregon), and I believe AFM (N. Cali.)

The 848 is definitely not down on power compared to the 600s...it takes a built 600 to match relatively stock 848 power (i.e., the Duc is just tuned and mapped with a full exhaust, the 600 needs that plus head work).

It will be a shame if club rules are adjusted to allow the 899 to run with 600s. The twin will kill them on power. They should be stuck racing the 750s and liter bikes IMO. Probably won't matter much though, as not a lot of people race Ducs...they're too expensive to keep going for most racers, despite Ducati paying a very nice contingency for podium finishes.

There's another HUGE flaw with the Pani (1199, and assume 899) from a race standpoint. The electronics are based on the stock Pirelli tires, which are not true race rubber. I think it works with Pirelli race rubber, but everyone I know that has tried a different brand (i.e. Dunlop) has had trouble with the TC system due to the different tire profile. Ducati didn't build a "calibrate" function into the ecu to account for different race rubber, which I find unbelievable on a race bike. My RSV4 has that function so I can run any tire I please. Being limited to Pirellis is a big deal, as tires are a very personal thing.

Oh...and the DSS is f'ing ugly. Makes the bike look fat.

[Speeddog]

~~~SNIP~~~
Oh...and the DSS is f'ing ugly. Makes the bike look fat.

That's like saying bell-bottoms make Lauren Vickers look fat.

[Triple J]

That's like saying bell-bottoms make Lauren Vickers look fat.

  You may have a point.

[Raux]

hold your horses


Ducati CEO says there are FOUR new bikes coming out

899 Panigale
Scramble
Super Monster
and.....

I have two guesses
New Supersport based on the Bruce Meyer's deepsump air cooled previous gen sbk
750 Panigale qualifying it for WSS

[nickshelby500kr]

hold your horses


Ducati CEO says there are FOUR new bikes coming out

899 Panigale
Scramble
Super Monster
and.....

I have two guesses
New Supersport based on the Bruce Meyer's deepsump air cooled previous gen sbk
750 Panigale qualifying it for WSS

They are really starting to step on their toes as far as how close their models are to each other.

[Triple J]

New Supersport based on the Bruce Meyer's deepsump air cooled previous gen sbk
750 Panigale qualifying it for WSS

Neither. No way in hell they'd have a 750 and 899 Pani...and the Supersport is long dead.

Maybe the 1199R is #4.

[nickshelby500kr]

1199R has been out...

[Duck-Stew]

Ducati CEO says there are FOUR new bikes coming out

899 Panigale
Scramble
Super Monster
and.....

[scoots to edge of seat]