Well after starting out looking for a 1098s (thanks to those who responded) a work colleague pursuaded me to take out a 899 Panni. I obliged and test rode a demo bike at Riders. What a bike! On returning to the shop a customer had just arrived on his 899. I had a long chat with him and basically questioned him on ownership. He only had positive things to say, and funnily enough had owned a GSXR 750 K7 before the 899, the same bike as i have just sold. As a result of the above i have now purchased a red 14 plate 899 with 4k miles on the clock, never riden in the wet. Its a tidy bike, needs tyres but Andy at Pro-Tyre in Bristol has assisted there with competitive prices - recomended. Sticking with Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsas for the time being as i tend to use my bikes all year round - the bike has apparently never seen rain, so i guess it's going to have to get used a different type of ownership!! Has a R&G tail tidy already fitted - small plate ordered and on its way. Do other owners notice the brake and clutch fluids go black really quickly. I bled the clutch last night and will do the fr and rr brakes tonight. Hideous dark colour when i picked it up - why do people leave the fluid like this?! Needs to be clear and clean to operate at its best?! Anyone got a solo seat unit they want to sell - in red? Also anyone got any other trick / carbon / upgrade parts they are thinking of selling? Drop me a pm.. Looking forward to getting a few miles on it now - where is that sunshine of the last month or so????
Congratulations on the new bike. Apparently its the seals that make the fluid go black and according to the dealer doesn't affect the performance of the fluid. I changed mine in any case cos it looks wrong as you say.
Weird though as most other manufacturers dont suffer to the same level. To be fair i tend to change all fluids annually as a matter of course
COngrats on the bike Webby, im also the same had a K7 750 too but once I bought the 899 it sat in the garage for over ayear so I sold the GSXR a few months ago. Im sure you will have loads of fun, and don;t worry about the fluids as others have said they all do it and it makes no difference
GSXR was a great bike. 899 is also proving to be pretty good fun! Done 50 miles this morning. Gotta go home yet, all on scratching roads! Fluids all changed so now happier
My new bike. Same as most red 899's really! New rear tyre fitted awaiting new front fitment tonight. The std wheels are really heavy... What do the race track guys use on the 899? BST?
Yeah the wheels are quite heavy, some have BSTs and some have OZs that are really nice. Sponser on here Conquest has them listed but they aren't cheap.
Right then, went out for a blast tonight. Fuel light came on and then a new trip started on dash of miles done after light comes on. Question is what mileage does this leave, I managed to get 18.5 miles and then filled up, but what's the best people have done?? Is it a gallon after the light comes on?
A guy on the Ducati Manchester to Scotland trip saw 33 miles on reserve at the weekend. He ran out of fuel a mile before the next petrol station
Not quite the mileage quoted on a tank full then as I believe Ducati quote 150 range. With reserve I am getting closer to about 115. I was getting concerned I may have to push last night! The more miles I do on it the better I like the bike. Handling is great, engine characteristics are great, albeit take some getting used to after the GSXR, especially on tipping in as the throttle (fly by wire) has weird slack in it? Done about 500 miles in just under a week and lovin' it. Bring on the sunshine...
Is this after the fuel light stayed on? Some report that it comes on and goes off a few times before it really stays on and that they can get 25 miles from a reserve. I know on my 848 it used to flicker and mess about for about 10 miles then used to actually stay on! Realistically if u are pushing on, I imagine 115 is probably going to be about it! The demo I road was doing 39mpg so I guess u can work it out based on the mpg it's showing u? Many have said they can't get more than about 13ltr in it though, without sitting the bike dead upright (and the usual tricks). I never noticed the throttle slack on the one I rode but again it's a well noted 'issue' tbh I just think it's for safety and to stop u getting whiplash on bumps! I'm really wanting to get an 899 and looking for another couple of test rides so I'll look out for the throttle slack etc
Hi Phil I would highly recommend the 899, albeit its only my second Ducati (had a 916 in 2000, so too long ago to compare!). I am not too worried about the fuelling apart from having to stop all the time to fill up. Means you need to plan a bit more and fill up when you see a petrol station! 115 gives enough mileage and let's you stretch the ole legs. It's certainly more comfy than my GSXR seat so allows more miles without a numb arse. Get a test ride, but arrange funding beforehand as its a hard one to walk away from!
I read a review somewhere, i think it was Visordown actually.... He was either on an 899 or 199, cant remember. BUT, he came off the m/way and ran out of jucie. Ther was some old trick he was told and he tiped the ibke all the way over as far as he could to the right or left side. A moment later he fired it up, he had managed to squeeze more juice out of the tank and make it another couple of miles to the garage...
Well another 100 miles done this morning. Cracking weather and cracking roads in s wales. 93 miles to a tank though?!! Can't fault the bike. Handling is awesome, engine very tractable and torquey. Fantastic bike
