We let you on a little secret last July when we said the Ducati 899 Panigale would be just around the corner (see our story here) – and here it is. And what a beauty she is.
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The looks are pure Panigale, aping the bigger bike in almost every respect. The one obvious omission is the single sided swingarm, replaced by the double swinger on the 899 – and reverting back to the controversy of the Pierre Terblance designed 999. But there shouldn’t be too many complaints here are the styling certainly doesn’t suffer.
Numbers-wise, you’re looking at the motor pumping out 148bhp and 73lb-ft of torque. With a dry weight of 169kg, these should combine to create one hell of a machine. If that’s not enough, you’ll get the Panigale electronics package too – meaning traction control, RBW, DQS shifter, and EBC engine braking control.
Ducati’s engineers have mirrored the Panigale’s Superquadro motor, but call the motor a Super-Mid. It uses the same gearbox of the 1199. The chassis also copies the big brother, while Showa BPF forks are introduced to Ducati for the first time. A Sachs shock is used at the rear. We’ll be on the launch at the start of October, and we’ll also be looking at the 899 in more depth on www.mortonsdirect.co.uk/fastbikes, but in the mean time just gawp at this beautiful creation.
Ducati 899 Specs
Engine
Type: Superquadro L-twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled
Displacement: 898cc
Bore x Stroke: 100 x 57.2mm
Compression Ratio: 12.5:1
Power: 148hp (109kw) @ 10,750rpm
Torque: 73lb-ft (99Nm) @ 9,000rpm
Fuel injection: Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system. Single injector per cylinder. Full ride-by-wire elliptical throttle bodies.
Exhaust: 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes. Twin stainless steel mufflers with alumimum outer sleeves
Clutch: Wet multiplate clutch with hydraulic control
Chassis
Frame: Monocoque aluminum
Wheelbase: 1,426mm (56.14in)
Rake: 24°
Trail: 96mm (3.78in)
Steering angle (total): 52°
Front suspension: Showa BFP 43mm fully adjustable usd fork
Front wheel: 10-spoke light alloy 3.50″ x 17″
Front tyre: 120/70 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa
Rear suspension: Fully adjustable Sachs unit. Progressive linkage Cast aluminum double-sided swingarm.
Rear wheel: 10 spoke light alloy 5.50″ x 17″
Rear tyre: 180/60 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa
Front brake: 2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc M4-32 callipers with ABS
Rear brake: 245mm disc, 2-piston calliper
Fuel tank capacity: 17l (4.5 gallon US)
Dry weight: 169kg (372.5lb)
*Wet weight: 193kg (425.5lb)
Seat height: 830mm (32.48in)
Max height: 1100mm (43.31in)
Max length: 2075mm (81.69in)
Instrumentation: LCD
Ducati electronics: DTC, DQS, EBC, Riding Modes
Warranty: 2 years unlimited mileage
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