I love riding my connie but I do miss having a true sports bike and I've been jonesing to get back on the track lately. I've been looking at a few options for a stable mate. The middle weights are more on my level and I think they are more fun (especially on the street). So I took two of the ones on the top of my list for a spin today: Ducati 899 Panigale and Triumph 675 (ABS but NON-R). Here are just a few of my thoughts:
Both are fantastic bikes. The 675 was much more bouncey then the 899 but that's probably a setting issue. The bumps just seamlessly disappeared under the 899. The 899 seemed to steer quicker but the 675 felt a little more stable in the corners.
I did find I felt more "at home" on the 675 with its feel and inline engine. Maybe due to my background in Japanese sport bikes? I felt I could get up to speed quicker at the track on the 675. Its hard to judge them with speed as both were brand new and I had to keep them both under 6k RPM for break in reasons. The full digital dash on the 899 worked much better then I thought.
If I were looking for a track only bike, I think the 675R with its upgraded brakes and suspension (well set up of course) would be the ticket. However, 899 had something that is hard for me to describe. It had character or soul or something. It was not more fun to ride than the 675 but..... it was more interesting to ride. That's the best way for me to put it. I now understand what it means when the professional reviewers say it makes you "feel special" when you ride it.
I have not yet made my mind up but if money was no object, I'd buy the panigale.
P.S. I'm also looking into a left over 848evo corse se and may ride one later.
