Mar 3rd, 2014
Ok, lets do this! I now have about 1,500 miles on her. I'll start from the top and cover all the gaps in the areas I reviewed prior...
Head lights: I haven't ridden any more high speed mountain roads at nite and I also haven't looked into modifying them yet, so nothing to report here. Although I have gotten used to where the high beam control is and not turning them on and off by accident.
Suspension: My dealer did dial in my suspension for me at the 600 miles service, turns out I'm 200lbs with full gear (**** fast food
). MUCH improved. Of course the rear shock is "broken in" now so to speak but everything feels much more settled and proper now. The guy really knew what he was doing as he has set up more than a few 899s for the UK race series now he said. He did suggest getting the rear shock re-sprung since I weigh so much, but I plan on dropping 30lbs lol. I love doing high RPM full throttle hard exiting coming off corners on high speed (60-90mph) very curvy mountain roads. I tend to not rush corners, then carry allot of speed thru them before blasting out of them. I start accelerating prior to the apex rolling it on easy and keeping it neutral with no engine breaking even going into the turn. I'm usually around 8K right AT the apex as I really start accelerating out of it. The 899 feels like it is made for this style of riding. It's already a handful on the lower speed 2nd gear turns where the front wheel comes off the ground exiting the corner going into 3rd. I feel **** near overly confident on this bike and at first I had to stop accidentally rushing the turns and putting too much force on the front tire effecting it's turn in. Over the last 1,000 miles I've sorted that and gotten comfortable feathering the rear brake a bit to correct if I do it again.
Ergonomics: Not much to add, it's just great. I have attached to this post a pic of me on my 848 the day I bought it and a pic of me on my 899 the day after I bought it. I'm 5.9" and the same weight in both pics, this should give you an idea on the difference in position. It doesn't seem THAT different riding it compared to the 848 but the pictures seem to tell another story. Go figure. The seat on the 899 is more comfortable, in every position. However when it comes to very long rides (300 miles and more) my ass ends up just as sore as the 848, weird. Maybe I'm just outta practice
Power-band: This is the real update in the review! This thing fucking LOVES to live above 7K! In town I never ride it below 4.5K and riding aggressively on mountain roads, I'm always between 7K and 11K, and between 8K and 11K, it is simply blissful! It's so smooth (vibration wise) to the 848. It's like, take an 848 with the 14T front sprocket, remove nearly all of the engine vibration from all RPMs, add 10-15 more HP, and that's the 899. Yes it is a tiny bit less torqy at the lower RPMs but you just don't notice it because you ride at a higher RPM than the 848 all the time because you don't worry about the bloody thing flying apart. Also the fueling at all RPMs is much better sorted than the 848. The 848 I added a FATDUC, the 899 just doesn't need it. Nor does it need a tooth smaller front sprocket. I just can't say enough about how fun this thing is at high RPM and full throttle coming out of high speed corners. You can't do that with the 1199 on public roads, so again like the 848, I have absolutely ZERO getting the smaller bike for the type of riding I do.
Gearbox: Since the first service DQS hasn't missed a single shift. I think it's because now that I can rev higher I am of course shifting higher. DQS really shines with the high RPM shifts with allot of throttle, it just isn't suited for regular in town riding. I also think the gear box has a much better feel to it after the first 1,000 miles it.
Sound: Yeah, **** ear plugs, this thing sounds so sweet at high RPM with the throttle wide open, it's worth going deaf to hear! The sound is SO Ducati and such music. I almost feel like a jackass in town riding a cog low all the time just to hear the sound, like a Harley rider with open pipes does, but screw it
Other things: Forget what I said about the steering damper, it's just fine after getting used to it. If I did track, then yeah I would get the Ohlins like my 848. I've ridden her twice now in the rain. Considering the default settings of the electronic aids in Sport mode, I didn't even bother with wet mode. I even TRIED getting the DTC to kick in (on straits, I don't have a death wish), it didn't. I feel much more comfortable on the 899 in the rain than the 848 just knowing in my mind the aids are there to save my ass. Considering the 1199s wet mode lowers it's HP to what the 899 usually is, I'm just not seeing the need for the wet mode on the 899 unless you are going to run the race wet tires it's calibrated for on a track. It's a very well balanced package.
Styling: It's still continuing to grow on me, which is amazing because I was already in love with it! It's like an amazingly beautiful and loving woman, you just love her more and more everyday for the rest of your life (course I'm still working on finding the woman
)
Upgrades: I'm still not feeling the need. I haven't even gotten any of the ones I said I would yet. Maybe this next winter. I'm spending so much time riding, I don't even have time for fool with "mods" haha! If anything, HIDs, Evotech tailtidy, and I really wanna do the Superleggera decals then clear over everything.
Alex
Ok, lets do this! I now have about 1,500 miles on her. I'll start from the top and cover all the gaps in the areas I reviewed prior...
Head lights: I haven't ridden any more high speed mountain roads at nite and I also haven't looked into modifying them yet, so nothing to report here. Although I have gotten used to where the high beam control is and not turning them on and off by accident.
Suspension: My dealer did dial in my suspension for me at the 600 miles service, turns out I'm 200lbs with full gear (**** fast food

Ergonomics: Not much to add, it's just great. I have attached to this post a pic of me on my 848 the day I bought it and a pic of me on my 899 the day after I bought it. I'm 5.9" and the same weight in both pics, this should give you an idea on the difference in position. It doesn't seem THAT different riding it compared to the 848 but the pictures seem to tell another story. Go figure. The seat on the 899 is more comfortable, in every position. However when it comes to very long rides (300 miles and more) my ass ends up just as sore as the 848, weird. Maybe I'm just outta practice

Power-band: This is the real update in the review! This thing fucking LOVES to live above 7K! In town I never ride it below 4.5K and riding aggressively on mountain roads, I'm always between 7K and 11K, and between 8K and 11K, it is simply blissful! It's so smooth (vibration wise) to the 848. It's like, take an 848 with the 14T front sprocket, remove nearly all of the engine vibration from all RPMs, add 10-15 more HP, and that's the 899. Yes it is a tiny bit less torqy at the lower RPMs but you just don't notice it because you ride at a higher RPM than the 848 all the time because you don't worry about the bloody thing flying apart. Also the fueling at all RPMs is much better sorted than the 848. The 848 I added a FATDUC, the 899 just doesn't need it. Nor does it need a tooth smaller front sprocket. I just can't say enough about how fun this thing is at high RPM and full throttle coming out of high speed corners. You can't do that with the 1199 on public roads, so again like the 848, I have absolutely ZERO getting the smaller bike for the type of riding I do.
Gearbox: Since the first service DQS hasn't missed a single shift. I think it's because now that I can rev higher I am of course shifting higher. DQS really shines with the high RPM shifts with allot of throttle, it just isn't suited for regular in town riding. I also think the gear box has a much better feel to it after the first 1,000 miles it.
Sound: Yeah, **** ear plugs, this thing sounds so sweet at high RPM with the throttle wide open, it's worth going deaf to hear! The sound is SO Ducati and such music. I almost feel like a jackass in town riding a cog low all the time just to hear the sound, like a Harley rider with open pipes does, but screw it

Other things: Forget what I said about the steering damper, it's just fine after getting used to it. If I did track, then yeah I would get the Ohlins like my 848. I've ridden her twice now in the rain. Considering the default settings of the electronic aids in Sport mode, I didn't even bother with wet mode. I even TRIED getting the DTC to kick in (on straits, I don't have a death wish), it didn't. I feel much more comfortable on the 899 in the rain than the 848 just knowing in my mind the aids are there to save my ass. Considering the 1199s wet mode lowers it's HP to what the 899 usually is, I'm just not seeing the need for the wet mode on the 899 unless you are going to run the race wet tires it's calibrated for on a track. It's a very well balanced package.
Styling: It's still continuing to grow on me, which is amazing because I was already in love with it! It's like an amazingly beautiful and loving woman, you just love her more and more everyday for the rest of your life (course I'm still working on finding the woman

Upgrades: I'm still not feeling the need. I haven't even gotten any of the ones I said I would yet. Maybe this next winter. I'm spending so much time riding, I don't even have time for fool with "mods" haha! If anything, HIDs, Evotech tailtidy, and I really wanna do the Superleggera decals then clear over everything.
Alex