Invited by Ducati to buy a 899?

yeah but there is more difference between 899 and 1199 than there was between 848 and 1198!

TricoloreSF said:

"Uh"...easy there tiger.

My point is that the bike hovers between standard engine cc-based classes i.e. 600 and 750. Sure, there's open classes that it can race in but do you really think 899's are going to show up to AMA and club races and start beating s1k's and zx-10s for championships? The key word was competitive, not hanging with liter bikes.

Yep, there's plenty of fast guys on 600's racing open classes, and that's because the ones that are actually competitive are trying to race at a higher level on a 600...not because they chose an R6 over a s1k because they thought it was going to be faster.

Click to expand...

Dude... Do you even know what the "B" level classes are? I didn't say anything about "A" classes... I also didn't say a damn word about racing it in AMA Superbike...

Do you even know the racing structures? The majority of B SB and B SS are 600s. There are ZERO 1000s as they are illegal for the class...

Also, the bike actually meets AMA DSB rules. But is not homologated and thus not accepted... But it meets the rules like the 1125R does...

Finally, 600s are running faster lap times because the tracks are technical. Not all tracks will provide a faster 600 time than a 1000, but take a close look at the venues like Barber where Hayes was less than 2 seconds faster than Cameron on the R6. The 600s are fast, dude. That's crazy... In fact, he would have qualified in the top 1/3 of the superbike field!

Point is simple... The 899 is a 750 style machine. The 750s used to be a favorite choice and due to being a more manageable than a liter bike and more powerful than a 600, they were great for track day riders and many racers...

I think the 899 is a great choice and due to the fact that it is NOT a 600 class bike, it is VERY capable of winning against an 1199 at set tracks that cater to it's ability. Like Barber...

Denver Rick said:

Jesus. There is clearly a market for a middleweight bike. I believe the 848 did very well. The bike looks awesome. Many people don't want a liter bike for a host of reasons, so comparing it to the 1199 seems ridiculous. What is with all the negativity for a simple notice to buy some bikes, and what looks to be an awesome bike? Is this constant negativity an internet thing, or have people really gotten that negative about every little thing?

Thank you Ducati for the email. Thank you for making a cool 899. I look forward to some head to head comparisons with the Daytona 675R.

Click to expand...

Excellent response, man. I just do not get the negativity. I see the one guy who posts every thread he can due to his negative experience but inability to simply sell and be gone. But everyone else makes it sound like it is a .... deal. I liked the presentation and it had me going to the site and checking things out. I'd call that a marketing success...

The local dealers here are starting to sell the 899, even to people without the "exclusive invite".

Red Dawn said:

Dude... Do you even know what the "B" level classes are? I didn't say anything about "A" classes... I also didn't say a damn word about racing it in AMA Superbike...

Do you even know the racing structures? The majority of B SB and B SS are 600s. There are ZERO 1000s as they are illegal for the class...

Also, the bike actually meets AMA DSB rules. But is not homologated and thus not accepted... But it meets the rules like the 1125R does...

Finally, 600s are running faster lap times because the tracks are technical. Not all tracks will provide a faster 600 time than a 1000, but take a close look at the venues like Barber where Hayes was less than 2 seconds faster than Cameron on the R6. The 600s are fast, dude. That's crazy... In fact, he would have qualified in the top 1/3 of the superbike field!

Point is simple... The 899 is a 750 style machine. The 750s used to be a favorite choice and due to being a more manageable than a liter bike and more powerful than a 600, they were great for track day riders and many racers...

I think the 899 is a great choice and due to the fact that it is NOT a 600 class bike, it is VERY capable of winning against an 1199 at set tracks that cater to it's ability. Like Barber...

Click to expand...

"Dude"...you talk about negativity, read the majority of YOUR posts, they're filled with negative remarks and know-it-all attitude. You start posts with "uh", "dude", etc. as if exasperated by all the forumites in this community that aren't as smart and knowledgeable as you. Yep I can open up the WERA rulebook. And yep, you were the one that brought up the B classes. Again, I was talking about CC-based general classes. But it's cool, you can be the interwebs master of racing class structures and resident condescending know-it-all if it makes you feel awesome.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the 899 will make an awesome track bike. I haven't really seen anyone say otherwise. I've mostly just seen people make fun of the "exclusivity" marketing strategy of an 899 to 1199 owners as ironic...and I agree. I'll leave it at that.

Funds don't let me consider the idea of taking advantage of the 899 invite. But I'm going to try and talk my dealer into a test ride - just to satisfy curiosity.
Given that I already have the 1199, there's too much similarity to justify getting an 899 as an add-on to my current bikes. But if I didn't have the 1199, I'd certainly put the 899 in the "deserves serious consideration" column. And if I was still racing (just too damn old and broke these days...), I'd take a look at it for club racing.
Could be a fun bike.

TricoloreSF said:

"Dude"...you talk about negativity, read the majority of YOUR posts, they're filled with negative remarks and know-it-all attitude. You start posts with "uh", "dude", etc. as if exasperated by all the forumites in this community that aren't as smart and knowledgeable as you. Yep I can open up the WERA rulebook. And yep, you were the one that brought up the B classes. Again, I was talking about CC-based general classes. But it's cool, you can be the interwebs master of racing class structures and resident condescending know-it-all if it makes you feel awesome.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the 899 will make an awesome track bike. I haven't really seen anyone say otherwise. I've mostly just seen people make fun of the "exclusivity" marketing strategy of an 899 to 1199 owners as ironic...and I agree. I'll leave it at that.

Click to expand...

I was being negative towards you because you like some others that say that the 899 has no place to race are being plain ignorant. I don't mean that in a condescending tone, I am just saying that if it were allowed in C based classes, it would have 4 classes plus the Twins classes. Yes, you lose the 2 C based classes to race, but plenty of opportunity to do so elsewhere.

I was also negative towards you because you were saying it couldn't compete against the open class bikes and I never once stated they should or could.

The bike also fits the rules for DSB in AMA Pro Racing. So it does fit the 600 class in AMA. The issue is Ducati not getting it homologated to do so...

If you opened the rule books for CCS and WERA, you'd know it has plenty of racing available. And, to top it all off, racing sells such a small amount of bikes that it is really not an issue...

I don't know anything. I just know a few things and I get tired of everyone making comments that are generalized, but not accurate. The bike IS a 750 also. It doesn't "hover" between 600 and 750. Weight and HP lends it to be BETTER than a 750... We have seen solid numbers from dyno results stock that lend it to be stronger than a stock 750 is. The bike is a weapon for the B classes and should be a solid bike to race. All I am saying is that the bike has serious potential. But few even race and therefore it isn't a huge topic of conversation. Track day guys will love it because like the 750, it isn't as powerful as the open bikes, but stronger than a 600. Perfect.

Well I have to say I just ordered an 899 to keep state side. I wanted something close to what I'm riding with the road in mind. I will track it when home, if time and the weather permits, but I personally think it is going to be a phenomenal bike, with better realiability and fun on and off the track!

Where's my Email?

I would have loved an Email.

I recently pointed out to my local dealer that (he) Ducati never does any CRM (customer relationship management). He told me that wasn't correct. (So it's just me he ignores then.) I never got invited to the 1199 Launch (not that I believe he had one) and I'm guessing I wont be invited to the 899 Launch (even though I WILL be buying one) And he sure as hell wont be invited to my 'new bike' launch, when I unveil my 900SS (one of the most modified in the world) which, when I finish it, will have cost me as much as an 1199. Yeah...really!

Anyway, if there's anyone out there who wants to sell me their second hand 899(probably a Dealer on the West Coast) and freight it to me in NZ (after fitting $10K+ worth of Carbonvani goodness to it), let me know! I'm saving now.

I also got the email. I bought a new 2012 848 Corse so I get emails pretty much daily from Ducati or the dealer. Gotta say, Ducati's communication with its customers is pretty good.

The 899 is ...... gorgeous!

Got the mail, same as you all did for the Superleggera too. Not interested - too many mods being budgeted for the Pani - Akra FS+map, SICOM rotors, BSTs, mo' carbon, you know.

Oh, and I already have a 899 any time I want one by simply clicking into WET mode ;-)