Ah ha Ian, I see you have discovered the joy of Panigale ownership in that everything has to come off in a specific order!! Never a problem on the 748/916/999 but this bike is as frustrating as it is challenging to work on.
So is it that flat plastic bung on the inside that will be stopping it coming off ? It looks like it has a hex head but it is not deep enough to get an allen key in. I hit my finger with the damaged nerves so had to leave it without finishing it as I was too busy rolling around the floor for half an hour, hence why I didn't look further into removing it ! Is that bit of plastic that covers those cables part of the air tubes as I cannot see where that comes off either. Rod, your the expert, you have had every nut and bolt off so what's the simple method. I will look on your website to see if there are any tips.
Got the cable cover back off my neighbour who gloss clear coated it, the weave shows up much more now. Now to fit it !!!
Ian looks as though I am too late to the party as you have already removed it. The cable cover (or "Fairlead" cover as Ducati call it) is partly obscured by the RH electrical support. You cannot remove the foremost bolt, until you have removed the upper fairing, so you can access this bolt a little easier. Unfortunately, unlike the LH electrical support, the RH support does not have a removable rear section, which is only provided on the left, to allow you access to adjust the nut for the ride height on the front of the rear shock absorber. The three bolts that hold on the fair lead cover are (apart from the rear ABS cover bolt) unique on the bike. Not sure what you mean by 'cable part of the air tubes'. Anyhow looks good in gloss mate.
Sorry Rod, I didn't clarify what I meant. I got the original cover off ok apart from the front section that had the two plugs and what appears to be a sensor behind it. After a little fiddling about I did get it off but the carbon one will be much easier to fit if I remove the mid section fairing but even though I have removed the top 4 bolts, the bottom 3 bolts and the bolt holding it onto the black plastic bit that appears to be part of the air tubes, or maybe the electrical cover the mid section will still not come off and the only thing I can see holding it is that flat plug on the inside of the inner side fairing. Are you saying that the nose cone needs to come off to remove the side fairing ???
No the nose fairing can stay. You only need to remove the RH air duct cover, the mid-fairing to nose top bolts, the mid-fairing to lower fairing bolts and the small bolt holding the rear of the mid fairing to the back of the electrical support. I think the plugs you a referring to are the ones up under and to the sides of the headlight.These are the same as on the 1098, in that they just clip off, with the aid of a small flat bladed screwdriver, however all these do is attach the mud flap to the radiator shroud and don't have any part in retaining the mid panel. It is worth investing in the 899 parts PDF catalogue which you can download from Ducati's website for free (Ducati Maintenance as seeing the parts this way helps enormously in terms of familiarising yourself with what goes where and how it goes together, without ripping it to bits to find out. Hope this helps
One other thing Ian, don't forget that there are also three hooks moulded into the back of the mid-fairing that hook into the electrical support. Two on the bottom edge of the support and one at the rear. You will need to slide the mid-fairing forwards to release these hooks from the support and you should be able to free it from the bike. Be careful to ensure they have fully disengaged from the rubber-lined slots they hook into before you pull the fairing outwards or you risk snapping them off !! Just take your time. When you come to re-fit the mid panels, I strongly recommend you buy a spray can of silicone lubricant and spray the rubbers the hooks slot into, else when you come to try and engage the hooks into them, if they offer any resistance, you will simply end up pushing the rubbers through the hole they fit in and you'll have to fish them out, re-fit them and start all over again. The silicone makes the job ten times easier. Any decent hardware shop (ie not B&Q), will sell it or try a search for "Ambersil" Silicone Lubricant, which is what I use. This stuff works great on things like the master cylinder boot rubbers, if you are fitting aftermarket clutch and brake levers for example and are having trouble "persuading them" over the actuating pin and not deforming instead, as they usually do. Its also good on squeaky boots, zips, visor seals and more.
I got the cable cover fitted by just easing the mid panel off a little. Couldn't be arsed to remove the key guard and air tube covers just to get a side panel off, bloody stupid idea if you ask me. In this day and age they should make it even easier than the old 748 etc to remove panels instead of having hooks, bolts, plugs and god knows what else keeping it together.
Mine is from Carbonworld in Germany. They are quite pricey for what they are. I picked mine up from someone who bought it and sold his bike before he fitted it so got it cheapish compared to new. Will add a picture tomorrow.
Here's a question for you..... 2 carbon parts purchased from the same company. Both supposed to be satin finish. One is lacquered and one is not. This gives them a different appearance ... would you be happy?
