Bargain 1199s

[Blade]

I like your thinking Duke, you've got me sold

[D6]

the sssa is enough of a reason for me. do it.

[Perkles]

Buy an 899 and you will always wish you had bought the 1299

[Blade]

I would tend to agree but I m also wondering how much of a handful the 1299 might be on the road.

Its makes 40 bhp more than a zx10r at 8000rpm

I would like to test ride an 899 and 1299 back to back

[duke63]

Test riding them back to back is my plan.

[kiwikrasher]

I would tend to agree but I m also wondering how much of a handful the 1299 might be on the road.

Its makes 40 bhp more than a zx10r at 8000rpm

I would like to test ride an 899 and 1299 back to back

But as Duke says, just because it's there doesn't mean you have to use it, but you can when you want too!

[Blade]

I totally get what you and Duke are saying kiwi but why bother buying a 200 bhp motorcycle and limiting it to 120-130 bhp ?

[Monty]

You could also argue that 200 BHP on a bike is totally pointless unless you are going to take it on the track. Even then there arn't many tracks in the UK us mortals would actually use the full fat

[Blade]

I agree Monty.

I tend to find myself using power mode 2 on the road on the ten.

It has a softer throttle response but still gives full power but only when throttle open past 50% which seems a good solution IMO. Progressive power coming out of corners but full fat when / if needed on straights.

[duke63]

I totally get what you and Duke are saying kiwi but why bother buying a 200 bhp motorcycle and limiting it to 120-130 bhp ?

Because technology means you can.

Its the choice that is appealing. Something we would not have had just 5 years ago.

Some roads (probably most roads) i reckon most of us would be faster with 130bhp than 200bhp.

If i'm honest i'm hoping they might revise the 899 this winter with much of the gizmos of the 1299 and a little more torque.

[Blade]

What tech is on the 1299 over and above the 899 spec Duke ?

Are there any rumours of an 899s / 899r as there were with the 748/749 bikes ?

Or perhaps like the 848 an se or evo version ?

[Kwacky]

Foggy says you don't need more than 100bhp on a bike unless you're a racer. It's a bit arrogant of him but I see his point.

I'm a big fan of lower powered bikes. 200bhp is a ridiculous amount of power for 2 wheels.

But if someone wants a bike with that power then go for it.

[C00kiemonster]

I have a similar view these days. I've done my time on a very powerful bike and frankly it's less involving and enjoyable than being able to use most of a 'lesser' bikes abilities.

Fun to open the throttle from time to time yes, but overall your guarding the throttle too much of the time.

I can understand wanting to own something that's a bike at the pinnacle of the range, but there is always going to be something better around the corner. I'd want to find a pinnacle bike that was a keeper. MV F4 or HP2 for me but can't justify keeping one tbh.

Totally understand duke as a Ducati fan wanting the 1299 if possible.

[Blade]

As the owner of a 200 bhp motorcycle being completely honest its too much.

My Blade had 160 bhp and that was a very nicely mannered road engine with stacks of torque which allowed it to be very flexible in any gear at any engine speed and therefore a great machine and engine IMO.

The ten is a racer and wants the throttle opening wide and feeding revs constantly which is completely different in the way it delivers power compared to the Blade. On the road the ten in full power mode is too much where as the Blade was awesome. Admittedly the ten probably have 35 bhp more as well as the different power delivery.

For me the middle power mode as described here is the best option for the road on the ten and gives the best of both worlds.

https://www.kawasaki-cp.khi.co.jp/techn ... vmm_e.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Monty]

I want one of these

Radical Uno - based on a Ducati 999, 140kg and 140bhp

[Blade]

Perkles will be along soon to tell me to man the fook up

[Kwacky]

I want one of these

Radical Uno - based on a Ducati 999, 140kg and 140bhp

Looks like something from the latest Mad Max movie.

[Blade]

Some.beautiful Ducati specials around.

Something I would love to do one DAT, buy unfortunately just don't have the time or space to do such a project.

My youngest is bike mad so maybe a project we could so together and share the experience of building and riding when he is old enough.

[Perkles]

horses for courses
I like the full phat power mode on my zx10 its ace and makes me giggle ,it doesnt intimidate me in any way and I know ive got the TC to back me up when needed.Been said before but you right hand ultimately controls what you do or dont do on the bike

[Blade]

Very interestingly Michael Rutter says he can lap the new 2015 Yamaha R1 round Mallory Park quicker with the bike in the lower power mode of level 3. Apparently its still full power but the softest throttle response so I'm guessing similar to the middle power mode I'm using on the zx10r.

I totally agree with Perkles though and its horses for courses and a very personal choice, but just goes to show when a BSB and TT race winner of Micheal Rutters calibre finds these new 200 bhp missles too aggressive even on track that things really are at the limit of what is useable for us mere mortals.