I'm usually the first person to say buy what you like. But honestly the Panigales bite like nothing else I've ridden. The 1299 doesn't like going slow, the brakes are very sharp and it's got enough power to restart a small planet. A lot of the people I've seen riding them, wobble about on them and are hardly moving. I honestly think they're scared of them. In fact I saw a 16 reg today that matched the above description. Honestly they're the only current bike I'd say 'hell no' to a newish rider/relatively inexperienced.
The difference was with sorted exhaust on the 959. It is about £7K if you can live with the 959 stock exhaust. Which is impossible. As mentioned, it is not my first bike. I am not a full newbie, but I have a LOT to learn and I figurer it would be easier to learn on the 959. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
the 1299 power is smooth low down then it goes smoother and mad higher in the rev range. the power is easy to handle but as we all know the faster you go the more you have to be aware of the speed etc. ive had no issues with it being planted to the road and track and it gives you loads of confidence. but it took me a while to feel as one with the bike coming from the esy to ride 899. its not the smoothest around 30mph but its a big v twin, to be expected really. its an awesome bike but its not for the 50 mph brigade. ive had no warranty issues as of yet 2700 miles and nearly 1 year in. mines got Akras if you can afford it get some ,they are great.
The fear factor is a mental thing, and some people just shouldn't have a bike. However, if you are happy riding you can ride anything. Just please do some training (California Superbike School). The brakes are as sharp as the throttle is quick... as quick as you make them.
I'd rather have a 959 and £7grand left to put towards a hypermotard or R nine t. If it's on the Pcp then go for the 1299 as the monthly payment won't be much different but I don't like finance so bought mine.
If your season on the XSR has been a good few thousand miles in various conditions & you consider yourself ready for the 959, then in my opinion, the 1299 should absolutely be a consideration. The riding modes are useful, but I absolutely hate wet mode , makes everything feel disconnected, unnatural and actually jerky. For everyday riding, stick one in sport & just ride it confidently ( doesn't mean thrash the f**k out of) , just descent amount of throttle and a couple of fingers on brakes. Once your confidence builds ( and it will) & you get that dry traffic free day when you have got a bit of a pace on , everything will make sense. I don't think the argument is as simple as 959 for the road & 1299 for the track, both bikes are great for both disciplines. @Advikaz has a fair amount of experience, and I believe has ridden a 1299 for the day ( apologies if I've got this wrong) so I get where he may be coming from. His general advice is sound & after my initial 1299 test ride I may have given you the same advice , but once the modes are slightly customised to suit ( check out @burndownthediscos brilliant rider mode vids on YouTube - under belter) clutch & brake levers tweaked, suspension has been set up, the power and riding manners are faultless on the 1299. The demo bike I rode the first time was almost impossible to get off the start (clutch needed adjusting from factory settings) , jittery between 2-4K & had a sudden surge of power straight after. Even the mechanic on the day said I 'might not get on with it'. Strange, but the way it was. I don't want to tempt fate, but mine is the polar opposite of the above. Good luck with your decision pal, exciting times.
The 1299 vibrates a bit more and has slightly sketch tyres in the wet (though much better in the dry) and if pushed will accelerate a lot faster. Beyond that they are fairly similar. I only held a licence for 3 years, then had 5 years off. The 1299 would have been too much for me to start back on because I'd completely forgotten how to ride a bike. The 959 was a (mentally) safe intro back to biking, but if I had been riding anything at all in those 5 years I could easily and safely have gone straight to the 1299. Yes, you have to give it some respect, but that goes for the 959 as well. Regarding the £7k difference.... that is more like the difference between a new 959 and a new 1299s. A new base 1299 is £17k and a new 959 £13k, so only £5k. You can get a second hand S for less than £17k, which is a relative bargain when you consider the wheels and active ohlins. Alternatively, a second hand base 1299 can be had for less than £14k, which becomes almost equivalent to a new 959 once you factor in an exhaust. If you are even thinking the 1299 is an option, do it.
Used ones are coming down to the price of new 959s but I wouldn't buy a used bike personally. My mate just part exes his 2016 MV r3 rc - looks lovely in the showroom but in 1200 miles he never lubed or adjusted the chain and 'washed it' with a damp cloth. Not a bike I would like to buy second hand but if you didn't know better would think its mint. I'm sure the 1299 is better than the 959 in many ways and last year with the free akrapovic on the base model on pcp was a great deal but 5 or 7 grand in real money isn't to be sniffed at. As I said though had I financed it I may have gone for the 1299. For me (and 99% of the population) the 959 is more than enough bike. I also had 5 years off so decided this was a good bike to get back on.
Would you believe, a Grammar school. With an Engineering Degree to boot!! (Obviously mind on other things! .... and was specifically thinking you can buy a 959 for £12k... )
Haha. Actually the 959 is about £21K and the base 1299 is about £27K i Norway. Exhausts on the 959 would be around £3K if I do it like i want to (Akra under belly). But with all this talk I feel that the 1299 is a bargain now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A couple of questions for guys who have had the smaller Pani's and moved on to a 1299 :- What sort of range are you getting from a tank of petrol on your average "quickish" road riding? the 899 will do about 110 - 120 miles before the fuel light pings on, what can you expect from a 1299? Do you think the smaller section rear tyre of the 899 / 959 makes them slightly more nimble in the handling department than the 1299 - 180 sect on 899 vs 200 section on 1299?? This thread has sparked my curiosity a bit !
Fuel is terrible! I ran out on reserve after 10miles at Oulton!! My 959 had similar figures to you, but I would say the 1299 probably does around 80-100 before coming on (depending on how you are riding, because it is fun to spend most of you time on the 12 in 2nd/3rd, which isn't very economical).... although I haven't done any long journeys and have just been blasting around on the 12. Also worth noting things like brake pads are more expensive (for some reason about 50% more), but then most people don't have to replace these very often. Although the 959 rear is marked as a 1800 section, if you measure the tyre it is actually 190 (from memory). Also, the profile on the SC the 12 comes with is more rounded than the flatter 959. Someone with a base needs to comment though, because my S with the lighter wheels actually turns MUCH more easily than the 959.
this thread has ruined my life !!!!!!!!!!!!! i have a 749s which i intended as a keeper (act wish now it was a 999s ) i have a harley 1200 sportster which i intended as a keeper ( for taking wifey on pillion ) but have now seen a 1199 panni in a local bike shop ( not Duc dealer ) and it has totally changed my perspective !!!! ( they also have a 899 but not interested ) i have spoken / arranged about a test drive,, but i know that i dont have to ride it,,i want it !!!!! act i dont want it,, i want the S model ... got to get that Performance bike magy now for full comparisons,,,,,,, OMG .
Fuel light comes on after approx 85 miles with spirited riding & the 1299 handles & flicks better than the 899 in my opinion. I guess the suspension has a part to play but there is no handicap from the slightly larger cross section.
The temptation is always to stretch to the bigger bike so you won't get bored of the one you have now in a year and lose money on an upgrade. My arguments for buying the smaller bike are thus: 1. Cheaper 2. You will use more of the available power/performance 3. Look the same 4. Gives you some where to go after
