Regret... And a sticker?

Chud777 · May 31, 2014

New to forum and Ducati.

had posted a thread about being between the 899 and fhe 1199 and while most posts were in favor of the 1199 over the 899, I listened to reason (went against my gut) and got the 899... Already regretting and it is not even in the garage yet.

What did it? Walking past the 899 when i left the dealership I noticed the "899" on the fairing was actually a sticker. Really Ducati? 15K for a STICKER logo?!

Price was not the reason for the choice but now I feel like I bought the baby "budget" brother. Not the best feeling when you are supposed to be excited!?

Suman99 · May 31, 2014

You can pretty much set your 1199 panigale to behave like 899 with a few tinkering with the setting.

Prince Albert · May 31, 2014

"Wet" Mode on the 1199= 899....sort of

warlord · May 31, 2014

Chud777 said:
New to forum and Ducati.

had posted a thread about being between the 899 and fhe 1199 and while most posts were in favor of the 1199 over the 899, I listened to reason (went against my gut) and got the 899... Already regretting and it is not even in the garage yet.

What did it? Walking past the 899 when i left the dealership I noticed the "899" on the fairing was actually a sticker. Really Ducati? 15K for a STICKER logo?!

Price was not the reason for the choice but now I feel like I bought the baby "budget" brother. Not the best feeling when you are supposed to be excited!?

What's your issue, really? It sounds like the price really the main concern the way you're complaining. The 1199 has stickers on it too, just with clearcoat over them!

Personally I was between the 899 and the 1199S; I didn't feel that the stock 1199 was worth it. That said they behave quite differently and I found the 899 to be much easier to handle on the street. It requires much less modulation of the throttle for enjoyable and spirited everyday riding. I see no point in paying more for a bike that I'll rarely use the full potential of... although the extra high end bits did tempt me.

Because I can afford it, it doesn't bother me that my bike has a double sided swing-arm or decals on the fairings. Odds are I'll be on the next new thing a couple years down the road anyway.

Suman99 said:
You can pretty much set your 1199 panigale to behave like 899 with a few tinkering with the setting.

No, you really can't... you can approximate what you think an 899 behaves like but it is more well rounded street bike. The 1199 is just not happy unless you're really on the throttle, by comparison it doesn't feel as nice in the low rev range. Telling people that they can set their bikes to act like an 899 might make you somehow feel better like your bike is more versatile but its just plain not true.

The best argument I've heard for the 1199 over the 899 is the inclusion of all the nice little bits. If that's what the OP is after then there really isn't anything else to say. I'd recommend the 1199S myself, and skip the base -since money isn't an issue.

tcelano · May 31, 2014

Chud777 said:
New to forum and Ducati.

had posted a thread about being between the 899 and fhe 1199 and while most posts were in favor of the 1199 over the 899, I listened to reason (went against my gut) and got the 899... Already regretting and it is not even in the garage yet.

What did it? Walking past the 899 when i left the dealership I noticed the "899" on the fairing was actually a sticker. Really Ducati? 15K for a STICKER logo?!

Price was not the reason for the choice but now I feel like I bought the baby "budget" brother. Not the best feeling when you are supposed to be excited!?

You could have spent $22k and gotten stickers that were clearcoated over

Xbox · May 31, 2014

Pointless to talk about worth and value, when it relates to premium luxury toys.

Pay your money, make your choice.

If you're not happy, then repeat, "pay your money, make another choice".

warlord · Jun 1, 2014

Xbox said:
Pointless to talk about worth and value, when it relates to premium luxury toys.

Pay your money, make your choice.

If you're not happy, then repeat, "pay your money, make another choice".

True enough, it's all relative.

ryanfavro · Jun 1, 2014

The 899 is arguably a better overal package than the 1199 for most riders. I've ridden the the 899 and 1199S back to back on several occasions. The 899 is hands down a better bang for your buck. It sounds pretty much the same as my 1199S and is also a lot easier to live with on the street and feels less on the edge most of the time. Anyone telling you the 899 is equal to the 1199's wet mode is full of ..... They are not comparable. I also found the 899's dash easier to read in bright sunshine due to less glare. The 899 has a superior seat even when compared to the seat upgrades ducati already offers. And best of all I got just as many gawking looks from people, feeding my ego riding the 899 as I do with my 1199.

Xbox · Jun 1, 2014

ryanfavro said:
The 899 is arguably a better overal package than the 1199 for most riders. I've ridden the the 899 and 1199S back to back on several occasions. The 899 is hands down a better bang for your buck. It sounds pretty much the same as my 1199S and is also a lot easier to live with on the street and feels less on the edge most of the time. Anyone telling you the 899 is equal to the 1199's wet mode is full of ..... They are not comparable. I also found the 899's dash easier to read in bright sunshine due to less glare. The 899 has a superior seat even when compared to the seat upgrades ducati already offers. And best of all I got just as many gawking looks from people, feeding my ego riding the 899 as I do with my 1199.

Sounds peachy.... but then you twist the throttle

So, once again, this shows that some guys buy bang with their buck, while others buy more civilised packages

BrisDuc · Jun 1, 2014

Chud777 said:
Price was not the reason for the choice but now I feel like I bought the baby "budget" brother. Not the best feeling when you are supposed to be excited!?

You're right...when I see the 899 ride past..the first thing I think is "Baby"

Not really... I'm sure you'll love the 899. If you continue to get the baby blues then lesson learnt and go and buy the "big boy" but in all honestly I think your worries will fly out the window after a top day on the twisties :d

zvez · Jun 1, 2014

In real terms for me, tho I prefer the single sided swingarm, I think the 899 would be more ideal for me.

The 748 always was considered the baby duc next to the 9x6 bikes, but ask people who know what they're talking about, Charlie Mc, loved his 748.

Send your fairings out to a paint shop and get the decals clear coated, would be pretty inexpensive.

Either bike is incredible.

DANGER CLOSE · Jun 1, 2014

Prince Albert said:
"Wet" Mode on the 1199= 899....sort of

Agreed...

BTrain5489 · Jun 1, 2014

I was shopping for a liter bike. It was either the HP4 which I had a deposit down for and was intended to buy or the 1199 which my friends all insisted I should buy instead of waiting.

1199 vs HP4 is similar to the 1199 vs 899 debate.

The 1199 is brutal and raw. Unless you are particularly good the HP4/899 is a faster bike. The HP4/899 are relatively refined and significantly easier to ride. The HP4/899 is more of an everyman's bike. They don't snarl, bite, and buck like the 1199 does.

That's my bottom line on the two bikes. If you wanted brutality, a beast to tame, and in general a challenge, you bought the wrong bike. If you want a bike to hop on and ride however you like whenever you like the 899 will be just fine.

jarelj · Jun 1, 2014

You guys crack me up. The bottom line is that you can't make a bad choice with any of the Superbikes, they all have something special that you don't get from any other brand of motorcycle. You can say all you want about the 899 not having enough power, and then you ride one next to a 999 and realize that the 899 would have been the fastest production Ducati ever built in 2006. So it's all relative.

Chud777 · Jun 1, 2014

OP here - yeah, still mulling it over. Feel like I'd have regret which ever one I chose. Choose the 1199, feel over my head with power... Choose 899, feel a little underwhelmed across the spectrum.

Truth be told, I had a hesitation about the 1199 because it is just a beast. You feel it the second you sit on it and start it up. Could i ride it? Yes. Could I ride it better than the 899? no... Did it scare me? Indeed. Could I have gotten used to it? Perhaps. But that is an ongoing debate I see rehashed over and over again both on thie forum and others.

Rode both and tbh, the 1199 in WET did not feel like the 899 at all. It bucked and had a very sensitive throttle and I actually preferred riding in sport/race on the 1199 because I felt the response was more predictable. In fact, both bikes felt similar on torque up to 7-8k rpm (albeit more sesitive on the 11), which is mostly where I'd ride anyway. Not looking for jailtime, just a nice bike to enjoy when the weather is nice and I feel like riding.

However - and this is a BiG however - I do feel like I chinced out and just feel underwhelmed and just seeing the sticker so obviously on the 8 really hit it home. It was a $1800 diff between the 899 and 1199 as the 11 was a new base leftover so that is why I mentioned money not being a factor. Plus, the cost to insure is exactly the same as is maintenance. So I feel like for 15,000 bucks, I upgraded my 600 only a wee bit. No fancy extras... Just a nice bike and a modest upgrade. I mean who doesnt like fancy extras?!

I just shouldnt already be thinking about wanting to trade for an 11 in a couple years... Where I am sure the difference would be a chunk more than $1800.

Eleven 99 · Jun 1, 2014

Chud777 said:
OP here - yeah, still mulling it over. Feel like I'd have regret which ever one I chose. Choose the 1199, feel over my head with power... Choose 899, feel a little underwhelmed across the spectrum.

Truth be told, I had a hesitation about the 1199 because it is just a beast. You feel it the second you sit on it and start it up. Could i ride it? Yes. Could I ride it better than the 899? no... Did it scare me? Indeed. Could I have gotten used to it? Perhaps. But that is an ongoing debate I see rehashed over and over again both on thie forum and others.

Rode both and tbh, the 1199 in WET did not feel like the 899 at all. It bucked and had a very sensitive throttle and I actually preferred riding in sport/race on the 1199 because I felt the response was more predictable. In fact, both bikes felt similar on torque up to 7-8k rpm (albeit more sesitive on the 11), which is mostly where I'd ride anyway. Not looking for jailtime, just a nice bike to enjoy when the weather is nice and I feel like riding.

However - and this is a BiG however - I do feel like I chinced out and just feel underwhelmed and just seeing the sticker so obviously on the 8 really hit it home. It was a $1800 diff between the 899 and 1199 as the 11 was a new base leftover so that is why I mentioned money not being a factor. Plus, the cost to insure is exactly the same as is maintenance. So I feel like for 15,000 bucks, I upgraded my 600 only a wee bit. No fancy extras... Just a nice bike and a modest upgrade. I mean who doesnt like fancy extras?!

I just shouldnt already be thinking about wanting to trade for an 11 in a couple years... Where I am sure the difference would be a chunk more than $1800.

If you're already feeling buyer's remorse then you probably should go ahead an switch to the 1199. This is similar to debates over on the gixxer forums with people deciding between a 750 and the 1000. Actually, when I bought my 750 I was offered a 1000 for the exact same price. I choose the 750 because it's easier to use more of the bike's potential. I think a lot of 899 buyers also feel that it's easier to use more of the bike (thus maybe have more fun at the same time) compared to the 1199. It's really up to you and what you want out of a bike. I will say that I feel my 1199R is overkill on the street... that said coming out of a corner and just riding the wicked wave of torque puts a smile on my face and has on more than one occasion forced out a giggle.

When you adjust to riding the 1199, playing with the excessive power is incredible. It's really up to you how you want to ride the bike. The 1199 in Sport - 195Hi gives you the power but smooths out the sensitive throttle vs having it in Race mode. Sport - 195Lo is even better for smoothly rolling on the throttle, but you have to keep it revved up.

Alleykat · Jun 1, 2014

Sorry to hear about your buyers remorse.

I've rode my friends 899 and its a nice bike - however I wouldn't pick it over my 1199.

I LOVE my 1199 more than any other bike I've owned.

Charliem90 · Jun 1, 2014

Chud777 said:
OP here - yeah, still mulling it over. Feel like I'd have regret which ever one I chose. Choose the 1199, feel over my head with power... Choose 899, feel a little underwhelmed across the spectrum.

I love small(er) displacement bikes. Truth be told, if the 899 had been available when I bought my 1199 I probably would have come home with the 899 instead.
If you do a lot of tight twisties riding, that 899 is going to shine. Qucker steering geometry, shorter wheel base, a less agressive throttle (which means you can be more aggressive without having to fight the bike - which seems to happen on the 1199 when the road gets *really* tight/twisty).
People used to rag me on my choice of a 748 over a 916 (only $1k difference in those days) as a "Baby Duc". But the 748 was infinitely more suited for the riding I do - mainly because of the quicker geometry and the shorter "888" transmission.
If I had the funds I'd have an 899 in the garage. And I suspect it would be ridden more than the 1199.

transdesigner · Jun 1, 2014

Chud777 said:
However - and this is a BiG however - I do feel like I chinced out and just feel underwhelmed and just seeing the sticker so obviously on the 8 really hit it home.

The 1199 label isn't painted on either, it's still a sticker. The big difference is that the 1199 has a clearcoat over it, and the 899 doesn't, as someone else also pointed out. What you really get ripped off on is a lack of clearcoat on the whole bike, not just the sticker.

1stduc1199 · Jun 1, 2014

Street= 899 better choice
Track= 1199 better choice
According to at least one magazine editor.
Makes sense as 899 is easier to ride.
For me personally, I didn't have a choice in 2012 but if I did it would have been tough.That being said however, the guys I ride with all have liter bikes so I would have felt inadequate riding with them on the 899.

Regret... And a sticker?

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