Okay here goes, I have a collection old classic bikes and for work use a Scrambler Classic I have been reading these and other forums for months now and have decided to invest in a superbike! for hot Sunday's and occasional weekdays out. I'm looking at either a 749R or a nearly new 899 Panigale I don't want nothing bigger, either of these will be plenty enough for my size and power wise. So should I go down the route of an investment bike at least it looks like the 749R is not going to drop any lower than prices now or should I be looking at the 899Pan which will have all the bells and whistles and be a better bike to ride.
You need to ride both before making a choice. If depreciation is a big concern, the 749R is already rare in both carbon and non carbon specs whereas I do not believe the 899 will become enough of a classic to retain any significant 2nd hand value. Andy
interesting I just had a call around some dealers none had 899's used or new old stock but plenty of 959's which would be obvious as the 899 stopped production on October 2015 but what they all said they wish they still had the 899 cause they could sell more!
Hi Andy, I did not know that the 759R was not only a carbon version how can I tell if a non carbon has been made up to look like the carbon? would it be on the logbook or in the documents.
As Exige has already explained but in addition the 749R had a face lift in 2005 and the nose cone went from 4 to 2 vents. Andy
I think u need to work out whether you need the bike to be more refined as a priority or more 'special'. I haven't ridden a 749r but I know they are all exceptionally well thought through and my mates 748r is a totally different beast to its standard model. The 749r I would say would be a little more focussed and the 899 with its Tech a little easier to live with, as has been said though, ride both. If it's an investment, the 899's won't appreciate much, sold too many. Fwiw I am absolutely devoted to my 899, I think it ticks all the boxes!
899 will drop like a stone in value as a 749R will go up. 899 will ride easier and be a "better" bike to live with.
Thanks guys, trouble is nobody in there right mind will let you test ride there bike I could probably get a test ride of a dealers 959 which I don't like but nobody's gonna let me test the 749r without money in there hand first.
Moto Rapido in Winchester currently have a nice 2005 749R for sale, speak to Andrew, 01962 877998 option 2. Andy
think I'm going to purchase an 899 cannot wait around driving all over the country looking for the 749R so looked on Ebay last night found a 14 plate close to where I live to view my first one in the flesh. Described as mint 2000 miles well there mint and mine must be different, brake ends scraped where it's taken down an alley scuff on a front fairing edge and just not how a 2000 miler should be in my book BRAND NEW. What I was surprised at was how loud the standard exhaust is why fit a Termi?
You could nip down the M3 to Winchester and at least take a look at Moto Rapido's 749R. The R is a fantastic bike - much nicer than a mass produced Audi 899!
If you get a non carbon R, the bodywork is nasty see through plastic crap. be sure to buy some nice original R carbon fairings.
