Went to test ride the 899...... Ended up on the multi skyhook instead, go figure!

Decided to pop over to Italia Moto yesterday as I really wanted to at least give the 899 a try, if you don't know the boys over there in Lincoln they're a cracking bunch.

John (sales) is a really sound and down to earth bloke, kinda just leaves you too it. I know he's not on commission so isn't interested in just selling you anything, it has to be right IF at all.

So, the Pani 899.

first thing that struck me was its a matt/satin white and not lacquered like the 1199 white. I'll be honest, It doesn't look as nice to me. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty, but the paint finish gets on my nerves. Possibly the red would be the better option for you polishers out there

Matt paint is all very well but it's really shit to clean, I've had it on a few bikes and I really wish they'd just drop it. Problem is if you clean it too much in one area you can actually start to make some areas smooth and then they stand out against the other Matt areas. Using normal polish is very risky with Matt paint as its likely to be too aggressive and polish it in to a semi gloss, it's just a nightmare if you like to keep things clean.

the other thing which I can't explain is that it felt TINY....ok I'm not the smallest of blokes at 6ft 3 but when I was sat on it literally felt like nothing was there. I've sat on the 1199 before and that didn't seem as small, maybe the white paint didn't help and it was just an illusion but honestly it felt that small I just didn't bother taking it out as I knew immediately it wasn't for me.

i used to think the Rsv4 was small but I think for a tall bloke it's a better fit and you can get away with it, the seat height on the aprilia is higher and the tank/frame/nose seem wider so when you look down you actually see some bike, in afraid on the 899 (especially in white) it's just too small in stature for me as a rider.

So that was that, no 899 test ride for me, kind of boring I know but sometimes you just know not to bother.

but wait, it didn't end there.

john came over and knew what I was going to say, as soon as he saw me stood next to it he immediately thought it was way too small (probably as he saw me pick it out of my arse crack)

So instead he told me to get out on the new multi skyhook.

ive ridden a multi before but that was over a year ago, it wasn't this new skyhook version or the twin spark engine so I was quite intrigued to see what difference there was.

first off I don't like the silver/grey

apologies to owners of that colour, we all have different preferences. To me it does nothing for the bike, its dull and boring, very GS like.

First impressions (well 2nd impressions as I've ridden a multi once before) is that for me its a great fit. Yes its a biggish bike but not too big. Get some momentum going and it's nearly as nimble as a supermoto in the slow stuff. Obviously it's when you get a wriggle on things start to amaze.

for a big bike it's bloody quick, ok it's no superbike but I reckon its as near as you'll get in an upright seating position, just wind it on it 3rd and before you remember there's no quick shifter you'll be doing triple figures (if that would be legal officer). However saying that it's just as happy to trundle around in 4th at 30/40mph.

the tyres it was fitted with however aren't the most confidence inspiring for me. I can't remember what they were but I think they're scorpion something's?

Anyway, they lack feel and on a cold day with slightly greasy roads it all felt a bit vague. Now I'm not sure if it was the skyhook suspension causing this feeling or not. You see the previous S model I rode actually felt better from what I remember and so the only thing I can think of would be the skyhook.

it just seemed to be more reluctant to tip in to bends and hold a steady line, the back end felt skittish and the front not very planted. In my mind it was as though it was battling with itself.

i thought skyhook was meant to sort all this out? Maybe I was pushing it too hard but I doubt it.

also this new twin spark motor didn't feel too different to the S model from what I recall. I've owned 2 RC8's in the past, one twin spark and one not, now they felt massive different , but to me the multi engine isn't different enough for it to be a factor so I can only assume the original engine wasn't that bad to start with.

So did I like the multi 2nd time around?

Well yes, very much. If I was to own one I'd have to make it much more sporty looking, I'd probably have a small screen, dump the stock mirrors and go with some crg arrow type ones, try to remove the rear grab rail thing (if that's possible), get a ferociously loud exhaust and fit some decent rubber.

basically the nearer I could turn it in to a supermoto the better but still keep the comfort there for any distance rides.

overall I really like it and as long as I had my track bike I can see me getting used to a nicely modded multi.

 

I'm just not sold on the electronic suspension particulary, I'm not sure how much adjustment there is on the abs models but I think I'd rather go that way as it's also more in line with my budget