899 feels same in sport or race in my opinion. 1199 was totally different in terms of throttle feel and response
Maybe someone had changed the modes then as 'sport' uses medium throttle sensitivity and 'race' uses high, which sharpens up the first 1/3rd of openings nicely, and also doesn't feel like it's retarding a cylinder, although both make the same outright power. I use race mode and sport mode both with the high output, it's just so much nicer to ride in traffic etc
As Matt says each engine mode (Wet, Sport, Race) can still have the power output adjusted independently. Off the top of my head I'm now set to: 195hi (I've only ever had v-twins so I like big lumpy power) TCS 3-4 DQS Off EBC Off ABS 2 Suspension - Sport default although Wet defaults seem nice for the rubbish Cornish roads (I'm about 110kg with all my kit on)
Hi Matt, the 899 looks a good 'un. Out of curiosity, can I ask what bikes you've had previous to the 1199. I think your viewpoint on the change you've made is perfectly reasonable but I'm interested to here your bike history balanced against my recent dilemmas which ended up in my 1299 choice :thumbsup:
It's not particularly glamorous... Yamaha Thundercat (600cc) Honda CBR 600 F Sport (600cc) Yamaha R6 (600cc) Ducati 1199 Panigale I think the 1299 is a whole different bike from the 1199 going by reviews/owners reports. It's apparently a little more forgiving and slightly easier to ride quickly, with the added benefit of the anti-wheelie and auto-blipper.
Haven't spent a lot of time on an 1199 OR my 1299 yet but yes I think they are quite different bikes, especially for use on the road. It certainly has nicer road manners than my previous 1098. It was quite a jump in power/torque & character from the four cylinder middleweights to the 1199 so I think the 899 might be a really nice balance for you. It took me years to really get into big twins but as much as I've tried to change tack to three or four cylinder bikes I keep getting hooked in to the big thudders for better or worse :smile:. I've committed to the 1299 and a year to get to know it but I wouldn't rule out the same kind of change if I didn't think I wasn't enjoying the ride. Here's looking to a good summer eh !
Probably a bit old school and just so stuck in my ways after 30 years of riding. If my next bike has clutchless up and down shift, I'll adopt it straight away. I did see a new R1M on the track with clutchless up and down shift controls on the bars, simple push button to change gear. Now that's cool.
It's looking so much better now. I've given it a decent clean, removed the shitty wheel stickers, removed the yellow coloured in Pirelli logos, fitted the Nitron, rear pegs, carbon heel guards, R&G bobbins front and rear, Techspec knee grips and comfort seat. Feel like it's actually mine now...
Excellent work Matt. I've never seen a Panigale without the yellow rear spring, looks very nice. What did you use to remove the wheel stickers?
Cheers. Yeah the Nitron titanium coloured spring looks really good. To get the stickers off I had to use a heat gun - and they really did take some heat too, they were stuck on solid but got there in the end!
Looking good Matt ,had my first outing on your old 1199 yesterday,had to ride with 25 other bikes in a funeral cortege,well i say bikes they were lambrettas and vespas and its was snowing,195bhp with slushy roads was not my ideal maiden ride,but it was all good.
