So What Was The 899 Like On The Track For A Year?

Morning Bob,

In a word different.

The KTM is all about torque, point and squirt. That said I've not ridden it in anger since racing at National level so my mentality and skill level has changed. I may find I can push the bigger bike harder now. It's not even overly powerful but certainly entertaining.

As you have pointed out the 899 didn't impress me to start with. It felt flat, gutless and lacking. Mostly because I'd come from a bike that would pull hard from low down in the revs and keep pulling until I got to a corner or got scared. The 899 isn't like that. It requires a bit more effort to make it go. Not that it's lacking in the power department it just needs to be ridden in a different way. It needs to be revved and if it's below 8k revs it feels like it's not pulling. It is pulling but it really comes alive between 8k and 10.5k, that's where it needs to be on track to be working at it's optimum. Once I realised that I started to enjoy riding it.

Gearing is crucial if you are going to race one but then you are probably used to that after owning the 848. Suspension set-up is more important but then that is probably because I'm pushing harder too. I can't comment on the stock suspension as I never used it but the Ohlins kit is great. I keep comparing it to the KTM as that's all I know really in terms of racing but having owned the RC8 from when they first came out in 2008 I was impressed by the way the orange bikes handled, I'm seriously impressed with the way the 899 handles.

Appreciated my race bike has got £3k worth of Ohlins on it but it wasn't until I rode my race KTM and the 899 back to back at Donington on the trackday you were at that I realised quite how good the Ducati is.

With the right settings the 899 is , dare I say it , almost impossible to crash on fresh rubber and a dry track in terms of grip and lean angle. I have done 3k miles on it since February and I still haven't got the balls to push it any further. It is precise, stable and will hold a line all day long. I would never have dreamed of pushing as hard on the KTM but I have pushed the 899 thinking it would let go and it never has, to the point where my toes, exhaust and elbow have been down. Some of that is to do with set up too and as I have got quicker and braver I have had to raise the bike to prevent further damage to the exhaust.

In terms of fettling I doubt most people will need to do much. Mine has obviously been converted to a race bike but it's had minimal non-cosmetic work. The engine is totally standard with the termis and Ducati up-map installed. I've not even removed any of the emissions control stuff such as the secondary air system. I've added a sigma slipper clutch as Spalders did a good deal on it. Initially I didn't feel like I needed it as the electronics work well to control engine braking, in truth it probably is required at race pace and I'd notice now if it was taken away. Suspension has been changed as I've mentioned but again there are cheaper options instead of the top end Ohlins. The ABS has been disconnected and it's got Hel Lines directly connected to the calipers. The ABS unit is still in place.

In terms of consumables I've been running Fuchs Silkolene fully synthetic oil which has been changed every 600 miles or so with OEM filters. Fuchs brake and clutch fluids, EBC GPFAX brake pads which are brilliant and that's about it.

Only issue I've had in 3200 miles is the the quick shifter went tits at Cadwell. An easy fix but not cheap to replace, not sure why it failed but the little micro switch inside got pushed to one side by the lug that comes out of the shift rod. It worked ok at slower speeds and on the stand but once I got up to race pace and started putting full force through it the gear changes began to fail with the throttle open.

Overall I am impressed with the 899, took me a while to get used to it but it works well. In terms of a track bike or a road bike for anything less than National level it's ideal. I went back to Thruxton for a club race meeting mid season and did really well on it. I just need to up my game in the National paddock and start pushing on a bit now, racing at that level has opened my eyes and the beauty of a one make series is that I can see what's possible on bikes the same as I'm riding (not withstanding the shenanigans that go on) so there's no reason I can't go faster. Bike is capable and I'm physically capable, I just need to get my brain in the right place.

I reckon you could get a decent road bike for less than 10k, wouldn't cost much to convert it (i've got a set of CRC fairings you can purchase :wink::wink: ) or you could just buy Danny Hill's race bike that is on eBay at the minute. Good package for 14.5k

All being well I'll be running another season on mine, just need to find a couple of sponsors to help out and I'm good to go with the same team.

 

Oh and to add to the above, if you are considering one then drop me a text. You are welcome to ride mine anytime, bend it you mend it rules apply.

 

Yes, a very good write up. Better in fact than some journalistics efforts I have read. Andy

 

@El Toro @Android853sp Thanks both, like to tell it like it is and only based on my own experience rather than hearsay. I feel like I know the 899 fairly well now, will see what next season brings. Maybe @comesunt could come and join us in the Tri-options to balance the number of riders in front and behind me

 

@comesunt decisions decisions? Not quite sure about your bottom end grunter comment but each to their own. I'll have a Guinness and Lamb Madras :smile:

 

I agree with @scrawnsenior I've done two seasons on the 899 now and I've really got dialled into it. I wouldn't say its impossible to crash though I've done a bit of that this year... But to be fair it was mainly down to track conditions than the handling.

I've had a lot of mechanical issues and niggles this year despite throwing the kitchen sink at it in terms of maintenance and preparation. They are not bomb proof like a jap bike or a trumpet, and they are also expensive to crash as they quite literally fall to bits.

In terms of power it takes a lot of getting used to in order to squeeze the max out of it but that makes is all the more fun to ride in my opinion.
If I wasn't running in the cup and regulations were not an issue I would put some lightweight wheels on it and a light weight subframe - these would transform in terms of handling and power to weight.

My personal opinion but I wouldn't go for an 1199 over an 899. For me the 1199 engine simply doesn't work, the power is not usable.

 

Fair point @Nicky Wilson I've obviously not been trying :smile: otherwise I would've crashed. Suppose a second season for me will bring me into that territory. Hopefully I'll not have as much bad luck as you in terms of mechanical issues. I'd do the same with wheels if I could, the difference a few kilos less of unsprung weight makes is impressive.

 

Lightweight wheels and subframe make a huge difference on the 899,would be interested in Nickys or Scrawns opinion if they wanted to do a few laps on my bike at the Ducati days next year,obviously they are restricted in what they can change on their bikes so it's good to hear I am going in the right direction.

 

I part exed my standard rims against the oz rims,so it cost £900 to change,because my 899 is a road bike there is no lightweight subframes that support rear lights so i went for a 1199 ali subframe,they are about £180ish second hand,the standard wheels and subframe are very heavy,i also have a li ion battery fitted along with a few other weight saving bits.To put things into perspective i am pretty new to sports bikes and trackdays and was a knee down virgin,my first trackday after fitting the above second lap out right and left knee down,the bike is so agile and inspires confidence,have now moved up to the inters so imho mods well worth doing along with a set of super corsas.

 

I wouldn't need to ride it to know @simmytt, I spent 2k on a set of forged wheels for the RC8 and the difference on that was clear. They were just over 1kg a wheel lighter. The 899 standard wheels are heavy so I imagine the difference would be even more noticeable.

Not sure on the 848/899 front wheel compatibility @comesunt. Next time you are passing drop it in and I'll try and throw it in the 899.

 

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with the standard con-rods - certainly nothing that would trouble a trackday rider or club racer.