For the last few years I have been considering buying a 899/1198 Panigale but often change my mind due reports of reliability and running costs etc, however I have been looking at adds again over the last few weeks but have noticed that most 899s seem to have had many previous owners, I have to wonder why they are kept for a short period, a 1198 seen today has had 5 previous owners ! Are owners disappointed with them or are they proving too expensive to own. Blade owners seem to own there bikes for a lot longer
Have you ridden one ? I tried a 1299 which are supposed to be the most user friendly, good fun when properly making progress, but I could not live one as it would have been torture to commute on. So perhaps many others find the same, great to look at and probably great fun on track or Sunday blast, but they are not like a blade to live with. Just my opinion of course
I can understand an 1198 with a lot of owners as it was a complete pig on the road. The 1199/1299 899 are like most Italian cars/bikes and just good looking garage ornaments that most can’t afford to use. If you look at a big service on a blade being £600 ish? The same mileage service on a panigale is 1000+ depending where you take it. I’m still looking at them and thinking how I can make it work for me as I’m on mine everyday
Hiya Brad. I've never had much to do with Ducatis, but as you know, I have an MV and aprilia, both of which seem to fall into a similar category of (sometimes) short ownership. There does seem to be reliability problems with some of these bikes. MV F3s have had clutch and electronics problems; aprilias have had recalls for swinging arm bushes; and Ducati seem to be renowned for electrical gremlins causing more than one bike to self ignite. Some people would not put up with that. In reality, the true enthusiast is aware of, and prepared to accept these idiosyncrasies. Sometimes we can introduce ourselves to a new bike and be so impressed that we want to upgrade straight away. You might have read my post where I had a 1999 VTR for only 6 weeks; sold purely because I wanted to upgrade to an SP1 (VTR). It is now history that I bought the aprilia instead. Interestingly, the owner of the aprilia had owned the bike for only 16 months and sold it to buy a treasured Ducati 916. Perhaps also, the ease of PCP deals can encourage an owner to change over more regularly, especially if he/she is impulsive and unable to resist new models. I would not be unduly turned off by a bikes previous owner history, BUT I would like to obtain as much info as possible. I'm sure you could find similar short-term ownership with Blades. For instance, there are a heap of 2017 -18 SPs on ebay right now. And just to give you a final laugh, I almost fell over when my V5 came back for my NS400R showing 17 previous owners!
I personally would never consider one for everyday use, especially having had 4 blades but each to his own.
I made the choice, do I buy 1 very expensive bike that would not be great as an every day bike or do I buy 2 nice bikes that between them will do everything I need and do it very well, with reliability and easy maintanance. I ended up with a new blade and a new Yam MT10 SP So I don't have a big stable like Nigel full of beautiful bikes, but I have a couple of tools that get used a lot, i commute on both, tour on both, take pillion on both, track the blade and will probably track the MT But I agree if money was no object I would have a couple of Italian beauties in the stable
If it's something you've been thinking about for a while, that urge won't go away unless you take the leap! I say go for it @bradt !! least then you can say you've had one. Once it's out of your system you can sell it and never think about getting one again......bit like me with Aprilia!
and thats exactly why there are loads of low mileage second hands ones with multiple owners but agreed if you really fancy one go for it, its your money.
Mate you've wanted one for ages . If you want one, then buy it. providing the funds are there to be used who cares. If you really want something and have the means to obtain it then give it a go. If you don't like it then you can always change it . Life is for living and a Ducati will always look good.
Not long owned 1199 in 2013 and this is an amazing bike but not for every day. Then I was surprised by its small size. I think the whole Panigale line is the most beautiful bikes.
Brad you need to test ride a couple, I like have always wanted an Italian bike. I tried the Aprilia I found it too small and worried about the backup service, then the Ducati 1299 which was awesome but for me not an everyday bike. I then tried the V4......unless you are serious do not test ride this bike because you WILL move heaven and earth to own one. Note; my last 3 sports bikes have been blades.
I was lent a 848 for 2 months and loved the fast side of it but in the city it made you look like you can’t ride, having to slip the clutch slow riding was awful but I always wanted a Ducati so I brought a blade But I would try one, even buy one and make your own mind up
I think for anyone doing the Euro tours like both you and Brad, you'd need to check the ability for rack attachment. Doesn't look as if there's too much in the way of anchorage points on that.
My mate purchased a white 1199 Pani this year and sold his 09 Big Bang R1 to get it. Spoke to him the other week and in hushed tones (as his wife was within earshot) he said he was sorry he’d got rid of the R1! Test rides are fine but living with one is another thing alltogether!
There is a great sense of irony in watching this after coming from @blink 's post about purchasing one-piece leathers!
