After a few Ducati's, a Gsxr an RC8, Rsv4, 748R and an 848 I decided last year to buy a Fireblade and while I couldn't fault the bike apart from always feeling too big for me to throw around I have managed to get back to a Ducati and have bought an 899. Only rode it back from the dealer but first impressions are good. It felt tiny compared to the blade, much lighter and seems to steer much quicker and feel more precise. The way the weather is going it could very well be stuck in the garage until spring but I can always hope it dries/warms up a little before they put the salt down ! I need a tail tidy to get rid of the ugly plastic hanger they fit to everything now and a seat cowl but they will have to wait until I get rid of some of the Honda stuff I took off the Blade.
congrats mate. Which colour did you go for? Get a bruudt tail tidy. trust me they lovely as far as a tail tidy goes.
It was a 2013 Blade, I am only 5ft 8" and I think I was just comparing it to my previous Ducati's, when cornering I never felt truly in control of it for some reason, maybe just me. And yes it still has the 'insect antenna'
Welcome back to the fold, I'm sure you'll enjoy the 899. The last 'Blade I had was on an 07 plate in HRC colours. Being typical Honda, the build quality was nice but it didn't exactly set my soul on fire. However, twice within a couple of weeks, whilst going round shallow bends at fairly high speed the damn thing tried to swap ends. I mean the back wheel swung so violently I thought the thing was going to spit me off. I took it back to the dealer who sent a mechanic out on a test ride and nothing happened. To cut a long story short, I rode it for a few uneventful weeks after taking it to the dealer until one Sunday morning, on an A road, only doing about 65mph, whoosh, the back wheel swung round again and very, very nearly had me off. That's when I decided to get rid of it and bought an 1098S. I've never looked back since and whilst I flirted with an RSV4 Factory, nothing, so far, has had me interested in moving from Ducati.
Did you get it from M&S in Newcastle by any chance? they've shifted a few 899's this year!! Sounds very similar to my experiences :- 899 - New Member, Test Rides Cbr1000rr Vs 899 Panigale | Ducati Forum Got mine backend of September and have got just over 1,300 miles on it now and I'm loving it :Happy: and I'm sure you will as well, pity the weather's not so good now but try and get it used - enjoy!!!!
Yes from Gary at M&S, done me a decent deal. List me the last three bikes I have bought and wanted me back as a customer. They have shifted a few this year he said.
Can you do a comparison of the 899 & blade once you have put a few miles on it. i bought a new blade in 2013 in HRC colours & only done a 1000 miles. I bought the bike after a massive 20 year gap in riding & also wanted to put a tick in the box as i never had a 1000 bike. I am enjoying the blade but also feel like you that it feels too big to throw into corners like my GSX 750. The blade is an easy bike to ride but a hard bike to ride well. Seriously considering the 899 though.
The way the weather is I may not get out on the 899 !!! Like you say the Blade does everything so easily, it was mainly in the fast twisties I just didn't have total confidence in it, I didn't feel like it was planted like other bikes I have had. May just have been something in my head but that didn't stop the feeling that I was sort of too small for it with the big tank and being so wide compared to a twin. As I say I couldn't fault the bike itself, it would pull smoothly in 6th from nothing, the Ducati you need to dance on the gear change a little to do that. I personally just did not get the bond with it like I do with my Ducati's. I only rode the 899 from the dealers but came back via country roads and I immediately felt at home with it. It just fell into corners and was so flickable in comparison, it felt like a toy. If this was on a 15 mile ride I cannot wait to get used to it properly because with a new bike you seem to ride like a fanny at first so it can only get even better. If you are keeping the Blade you MUST need the nearly new Taylormade exhaust I have for sale !
Got an RSV4factory - cant see myself getting rid of it for anything apart from an APRC version which is way out of my price bracket, in fact, im only hanging around in this area cos it makes me feel like I have some money...
