Was chatting to scottish guy, Ducati Glasgow bike, and he ended up on a rented s1000 after gearbox...
I got it wrong earlier it's actually guaranteed for fifteen years which sounds crazy. The bike should be getting plenty of daily use when I get it so I'll let you know how it goes.
I'd be interested in hearing further in depth you thoughts on the s1k vs your 1199 mate as I've not ridden the bigger Panis. 1299 will likely be my next bike, but the s1k is so hard to beat as a tool!
Well I'm off down to Cornwall in the morning so should be able to give a good comparison. My immediate feeling is that 'tool' and 'weapon' are about the right words for the BMW, whereas the Panigale is 'something special' and a 'weapon'. I'm obviously excited about being on a new bike but my immediate thoughts are that despite getting the BMW for more everyday and bad weather riding, the Panigale is probably a better long distance traveller due to it's slightly longer wheelbase and hence better stability. I'm just not keen on abusing the Panigale in bad weather commuting and such like.
Keep us informed on the trip the bike and how the protection you had done is fairing up in the british weather , pics before and after are always appreciated
Just got rid of the naked(ish) version with an MRA screen on. Got to say the easiest bike to go fast on ever. A bit lively on bumpy roads but every time I thought me and the bike were at the max, the S1 had more to give. In the end I realised I was the limiting factor and would prove so one day at high (very) high speed, so it had to go! It was also the only bike I have ever had the rear wheel in the air while tipping the the bike in to a corner. The farewell ride was a riot with the front tyre seeing very little wear as it was mostly airborne. Would have another in a flash when the Captain sensible head comes off again.
More details if poss mate? And, how does that new 2016 colour scheme look in the flesh? Could you ever see yourself trading your 899 in for one?
No problem buddy. The black and red isn't for me although it looks a lot better in the flesh! Everyone's views will differ but this is my thoughts. The suspension is sublime, the semi active units ride very well. The brakes are good as you'd expect, I was backing the bike in to bends today it's got that much on the front end. The quickshifter with autoblipper on down shifts is an absolute game changer! It's laughable how good it is and you find yourself changing up and down for fun. The motor is smooth as silk and pulls like a missile. I'd like to add that the throttle is very progressive and smooth. The standard exhaust note is the best in line 4 I've heard. The short rake of the bike means it turns in very quickly but not skitishly. The chassis is very confidence inspiring, egging you on to give it more. Heated grips are very welcome. Display is nice and clear. All controls are easy to use however I did keep hitting the lap timer when trying to cancel the indicator lol. I also found the levers too large, as in far forward.. and I have massive hands.. Plenty of grip on the standard race tech RR rubber. They didn't seem to get that warm surprisingly, even though I was pushing it. But plenty of grip. The pegs are pretty high, however I am 6ft3 + and had no issues. The bike is fairly roomy and not hard on your wrists either. I wouldn't sell my Panigale for one personally, despite the fact that I'll openly admit that I think the s1000rr is probably the best all round sports road bike on sale. It doesn't have the same 'specialness' to it. It is a very, very good bike though. Hugely capable and goes like the clappers. Any further questions I'll happily answer ?
No worries mate. As said if you have any specific questions or want comparisons i will happily answer as best I can.
It's funny because I still believe that my Daytona 675r was probably 'technically' the best bike I've ever owned. However that just isn't enough for me also... I need that character, maybe its vanity? Btw. I've ridden a 1199s and at the time I didn't quite get on with it but I was expecting something totally different. I still think the power delivery would get on my nerves on the road, the 1299 however would just be too easy to miss behave!!!
I'd agree with what Advikaz has said as well. That said it's a completely different kettle of fish to an 899, it's only really comparable to the 11 or 1299 imo. I can't see me ever choosing an 899 over the S1000RR, you'd have to be placing a lot of love on the sexiness of the Ducati and perhaps prefer the smaller engine? I've had a blast riding from London to Cornwall yesterday and then around Penwith today. The thing that makes the most difference to me so far is the wheelbase is slightly smaller on the BMW so it turns a little sharper but is less stable than the Ducati. For that reason and also because the seat is lower in the bike, surprisingly, the Panigale travels better over long distance in my opinion. The BMW is definitely better for short slow trips as the engine is so so smooth and there's torque available in just about every gear due to it being a four pot. Stock exhaust sounds amazing especially with the quick shifter, although the feel of the shifter isn't the greatest and I can imagine it not working so well when under pressure on track braking hard into a corner. It's definitely comparable to the 1199s and the only other bike that has really done it for me. If I had to choose just one then it would still be the 1199s but it's very close and the BMW is definitely better for an all round bike. A big part of that is simply the Panigale being £5k more expensive though so I don't feel like commuting in bad weather and ruining the finish and putting loads of miles on it. One thing that might balance the two out even more is taking it on track. It's not so noticeable on the road as the Pani turns so well anyhow but the BMW turning like a 600 will be interesting to experience on track. When I took Miss Pineapples Triumph 675 Daytona on track is turned much sharper than the Panigale and it will be amazing to feel that with a 1000cc engine.
I'd compare it in an odd way to a Nissan gtr. It's utterly fabulous. But it's not as raw and doesn't make you fall in love with it like the duc does. And that's me comparing a 899 to an s1000rr which as above mentioned isn't in the same category. I've mentioned on this forum previously that there is simply no other bike for me at the moment than my 899. If I sold it I'd probably end up with a 1299. If they didn't exist I'd go for the s1000rr. In my opinion the s1k is probably a better bike. But it doesn't have the same effect on me. It doesn't make me moist when looking at it. It's more of a tool than a companion.
The one I hired would quite often not downchange on the blipper, which was a bit disconcerting when you were depending on the engine braking. Amazing when it did work
