I do like the rsv4 except for the ugly looking three light nose and the in your face Aprilia splashed all over it on the new bikes.the 2014 plainer looking bike is more pleasing to the eye as less is more.performance is neither here or there with the big 4 manufacturers really, and that's the same will reliability nowadays. ive got to say taking my 1299 on a trackday has made me more as one with it which is the main thing.
And in terms of road manners I presume the 899 / 959 is the best of the bunch? Suspension adjustable enough etc? I had to cancel today's test ride on the Aprilia due to having to look after the kids, my plan now is to try and get a test ride on the Ducati and Aprilia same day next Saturday. Might also try and get a test on the newer 2015+ S1000rr just for reference. I really want the Ducati to work out as ultimately I prefer the look, unfortunately though nowadays I need to think a bit broader and build quality, reliability and other boring shit like that comes in to it
I'm a little over 6'5 amd it's the best sports bike for comfort by a long way. I dwarf the thing but I don't care, it's amazing to ride!
I'm 6ft4 and don't feel particularly big on the bike. It's very comfortable for a sports bike. My r6 on the other hand felt tiny and I dwarfed it
The odd thing about the 959 is that it doesn't feel fast. My 848 with lots of work was 142bhp at the rear wheel. My 959 with no work (switched exhaust) is 147bhp at the rear wheel.... However, the 848 felt bigger/heavier/agricultural and more of an animal. The 959 has perfect manners, and don't forget it has the revised swing arm pivot point and slipper clutch the 899 don't have. I was considering 899/959/1199/1299/rsv4 in May. My own personal conclusions were: 899: not much cheaper now, will be worth considerably less in 3 years 959: as quick and good looking as I need it, with full warranty and not worrying about previous owners. I figured if I could ride it to its limits (which are currently beyond mine) I could keep up with anything. 1199: price not too bad, but more difficult to handle and out of warranty. 1299: not worth the extra money for me. RSV4: just doesn't look as nice. Exhaust can be sorted for £700.....
Supposed to make it more stable. It made enough difference that Ducati decided to do it to the 1299/959..... you might need to be a Ducati test rider to notice though!
Well having gone from the 899 to the 959 today (and having done 150miles this afternoon) here are my initial thoughts. 1. The 959 actual ride is not too dissimilar from the 899. Perhaps there's a bit more grunt but I'll only really find out after I can properly cane it after the first service. Though 6k revs in 5th and 6th will (allegedly) take you way beyond the maximum speed limit. 2. I seemed to be sat in the 959, whereas on the 899 I sat on it. 3. The wider front meant I got less wind blast on my chest. Which is nice. 4. Though I was disappointed that the 959 mirror stalks are fixed (the 899's fold in) the actual position of the mirrors are superb. This is the first time ever on a Ducati that I've never had to do the chicken dance! All in all I'm rather pleased I made the change
Strange @El Toro as my thoughts were the exact opposite that i sat in my 899 and on top of the 1299,i parked up my 1299 along side my 899 in the garage yesterday and the 1299 is a bigger bike for some reason it even sits approx a inch or so higher, i find the mirrors on the 899 good but the 1299/959 are viby and blurred and its the chicken dance to see anything other than my shoulders,you are obviously Ducati size.
You know what? You're right, I must be, because I have found all the Ducati's I've had super comfortable. Even with the scrambler. Loads of people complain about the suspension and the seat being rubbish but I think they are just right. For me at least
So what are the other notable changes from the 899 to the 959? More power - check slipper clutch - check wider fairing - check Swing arm pivot - check MASSIVE UGLY EXHAUST - check What about geometry, turn in, comfort, ride height etc? Are they all largely the same as the 899? Ive currently got both bikes sorted in terms of 'a deal', ones a white 899, the other a red 959, the latter however having nigh on 20 months warranty left and so obviously worth something. Obviously (@Jolley aside) the 959 exhaust is a bug bear for me, ok its 'possible' to sort for circa £700 to under belly, but thats entirely dependant on whether you can find either a US version 959 standard exhaust for sale , or indeed a 1299 standard exhaust for sale (i presume both the same). Then its finding 2nd hand panels or buying them new for the 899. So not only is the 959 already more expensive , I'd have to immediately go out and buy the SC project exhaust - https://www.scproject-shop.com/ducati_panigale_959_crt_e.htm Or maybe get racefit to make me one up using his S1000rr HP4 black edition can - S1000 RR HP4 Black Edition Im test riding the 959 at the weekend, can't get a ride on the 899 anywhere without overly committing to buying the bike and i don't want to mess people about.
I have seen 3 other full US systems for sale since mine. All for the same price. If you don't want to pay Ducati £400 for new belly panels (a majority of my cost), get some second hand or carbon ones for £200. I have considered buying up the exhausts I see to sell them as a set (I noticed someone was doing that last week on eBay). Just remember you need the y-piece as well as the under belly cans (yes, UK 1299 would fit the same - though under belly cans are a different part number, so must be some difference - though that could just be stamping of standards it meets on the side). You will be able to do a deal on a 959 to get that £700 knocked off the price so that it isn't really costing you anything (man maths).
I would get the 959 purely from a warranty perspective. My mate just got one and was convinced he wouldn't even pick it up from the dealer with stock exhausts, so ordered the Akrapovic under belly pipes (which is a good shout as they are lovely, if a touch pricey) and then they didn't arrive so he had too, I think weirdly he has got used to the shotgun pipes a little.... I 'almost' don't mind them because I have a perverse love for the old 250 2-strokes with the stacked pipes so it kinda pulls at my heart strings! However there are some nice alternatives. The SC Project being my fav, that thing looks lovely! Overall the 959 will be a better bike, it's that simple, but, the trick is to do the sums... When I bought my 899 it had 700 miles on, with termi's, seat cowl etc (you get it, had all the toys) and was £11250 with 18 month warranty left, the list price at the time was £12500 I think. It's been the most expensive bike I have ever bought so 13k was out of reach really so do the maths Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nobody can make the maths of £4K for the akrapovic on a 959 work! It is a third the cost of the bike on top!! you would be better off with a second hand 1299.
If you happen to see what I need whilst perusing eBay just let me know, I'll pay you a finders fee (at least a curley wurely or yorkie bar) Obviously let's wait until I ride the thing first, I might not even like it
Make sure you put it in Race, because I'm fairly sure the Sport setting has the slower throttle response setting....
Depends if you pay 4K for it (it's actually £3400 I think) and most dealers have been playing around quite abit on pricing which brings them inline with termignoni costs on the old 899 (when not on promotion) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Exactly.... You could pretty much get Termis for free, but however you play it you're going to pay at least £2k on top of the RRP of the 959 for something you'll struggle to get on a lot of trackdays. Is the £3,400 for the system without the panels? Just the cans are £2,700 or something daft! Personally, if I wasn't bothered about trackdays I'd go for a discount on the bike and get the Carbon Termis.....
