I'm very tempted with an 899 but I'm also tempted to see if they launch an 899s. What are the usual timescales before launching an S version ? And what do people think it will have over the standard bike. I know they never did an S model with the 848, only the later evo (and corse) but that was a fair few years from the original 848.
Reckon they will follow same pattern, why have an S which costs same as a Pani when you can sell all the 899 you can make Plus people who want am S will buy one with ohlins etc from Ducati anyway
Jeez never happy ;-) I don't think they will do one tbh, I don't think the market is there. It's £12500 for the standard bike, the standard 1199 is £15000. I can see an Evo course limited run though maybe in the future but I wouldn't think they would put another perminant model in there.
When people start fitting the BPF to their bike, ohlins will start appearing on 899 as there will be a market for the used bits. Remember they are racing them this year too, so fork kits etc will be ready pretty quick for the punter to upgrade to
K-Tech have just listed shock and fork internal kits and Harris Performance called me today saying Ohlins are measuring up the 899 vs 1199 to list a shock and I'd guess fork cartridge kits.
It's a pity they won't offer the smaller engine (which is plenty for road use) with top spec kit - including single-sided swingarm, of course ;-) That would be more attractive to me than a 'non-S' 1199 at the same price.
Many would consider the BPF's to already be 'top spec' and the latest Brembo's, and all the electronic aids.
Does anyone remember the price differential between the 999 Bip an the 749R? As I recall, it wasn't much. So there could be a market for a "specced out" 899 for the same price as a Pani. Why not?
Ducati have marketed the 899 as a mid size sports bike, rumour is that they might be planning a smaller version. A "799" with around 115 bhp would be a belter of a bike, a true successor to the sorely missed 748.
