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Any idea why?
I've had an MT09 (and have a Tracer 900 with the same engine now) and ridden an 899. The 899 is so much nicer to ride as a Sunday sports bike. Feels special.
Totally understand if they were after something for the commute...
Soul-
Our group now only has one rider on a sports bike, we all ride MT10 / MT09 / Street Triple and he rode an MT09 SP and found it easier to ride fast than the 899 - he was continually being dropped before - bit embarrassing for him with 35bhp more on an Italian thoroughbred superbike.
Yes they do feel and sound very special but I think it was an itch he needed to scratch rather than something to live with long term. Ironically he's sold it a month before the group head over to mainland Europe on an 8 day / 2,000 mile trip incorporating Italy!
Most of our rides are 250-350 mile days - blasts of fast A and B roads and I think the idea of 8 days of them on the Panigale were enough for him to get rid
Having followed him since he got the MT09 SP he's definitely quicker and more confident
I also have an MT09 and they're a cracking all round bike once the suspension is binned and replaced, aren't many bikes that'll lose it in the real world
hudsoncjnr
My mate sold his 899 Panigale to buy an MT09 SP after 3 months