959 Returning Rider...959 A Good Or Bad Choice?

hello and welcome dude. I've no experience of the 959 so can't comment. I did used to ride through London daily on my 748 and although the clutch was a bit heavy and throttle a lil snatchy low down it, was,all good.
I'm sure some one will be along with some info for ya, but id say get some test rides in if ya can.

 

Firstly, welcome. 23 years is a long time to come back to riding, especially looking at a superbike. I would have thought the new Supersport would be right up your street. Engaging when the roads allow but easy to handle in town. I know many do it but London is the last place I'd ride a sports bike in rush hour traffic. My advice would be to test ride your top 5 and do real world riding. Good luck with your search and have fun. Andy

 

The 959 is so well behaved, compared to earlier Ducati's that I don't think you'll need to drop the power. It was the bike I chose after a 5 year break and it is really easy to ride (took a few rides to to remember the basics!... but no rush, take it easy).

You can adjust all of the modes, so you would be better playing with the sport mode and backing that off, then slowly as each week goes by, up/lower each individual setting one by one. The only setting I would say not to have too high is ABS, because it can feel a little odd on the higher settings and gave me unpredictable stopping distances. So keep that on whatever it is in Sport already. That way, you'll end up getting sport where you need it, yet you'll still have wet for when it is wet.

 

It strangely doesn't feel like a 150+bph bike because it is so smooth in its delivery. It is quick, but it feels quite flat compared to older bikes. I'm sure Ducati have tunes it this way. You have nothing to fear, it really is rider friendly. Sport already has the lower throttle response setting whilst you get used to it. I'm sure that you can set the lower power engine setting in sport also. Forget that they are called Race/Sport/Wet, essentially they are just three preset modes and you can change all of the settings in all of them. So, just stick with sport, back it off, and slowly up it.

 

Every modern bike is rideable if you respect it and the road. My question would be if it's comfortable. I wouldn't wanna commute more than 30 mins each way on my 899.

 

I got my 959 after a 5yr break (literally) from bikes and find it ideal for what I wanted.

It's surprisingly comfy, handles and goes well and is super easy to ride. Wind protection is excellent and would commute fine. Turning circle is poor Though but it's a sportsbike...

The electronic systems are good but I found the feeling too strange and at times inconsistent so dropped them right down after some messing around and experimentation. Reducing abs and TC makes it feel much more confidence Inspiring for me.

In sport it basically does everything you will need it to out of the box, is not intimidating and works with you. Again I don't like the abs in 2 or 3 but otherwise there's no reason to come out of sport.

I've used the wet mode occasionally and it's not entirely neccessary but is a decent safety net. More phycological than anything.

To answer your question the 959 would be a great bike to get you back into it.

 

Great bikes and very friendly

Wouldn't say it's exactly a commuter though. People do use them but each to their own

 

I skipped the commuter part of the question. The 11 miles in London could get interesting due to heat from the exhaust and the gearing. You would probably want to go one tooth lower on the front sprocket to remove the chugging along at anything below about 19mph (or whenever if starts).

 

Was just going to say pretty much this

 

Take a look at the new Supersport. It sounds like it might be more of what you are looking for, although to my knowledge nobody has actually ridden one yet so reviews are a bit thin on the ground.

 

The supersport will probably be even more capable for your needs but you have to want the bike and TBH I find the panigale really nice to commute on. The 959 has a super light clutch and the wet mode is useful in crap conditions.

A few things to be aware of is just heat of the bike in traffic which will likely be the case with all Ducati sport bikes.

The only other thing Is that the mirrors don't fold on the 959 which some commuters moan about.

Otherwise do it!!


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I'd imagine that a panigale would look pretty bollocksed a short time commuting...

Rain, salt etc

 

What Andy said!

 

I've always thought the most dangerous things about bikes is the attitude of the rider and not how powerful it is. An idiot will still hurt themselves on a 125 after 23 years... take it really seriously and realise how quick things can go wrong and I think it's fine.


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Welcome to the gang.....

I think it will be down to how comfortable the bike is for you...How its fits your stature.. Whats like a glove for one rider is a pain for another.... We are all different shapes and sizes and have the odd ailment etc.... Bad knees, Back, Neck and elbows.... I suggest you blag a good test ride on the model you think you'll like.... Take off the rose tinted and take it for a good slow ride around a town and follow some traffic... 10 miles in London traffic would be like a marathon for some riders. A Scrambler would be my choice for town/London riding...JMHO..

Good luck in your search,, and keep the rubber side down....

 

Yeah, go for it!!

 

Life's short. Just go for it and enjoy it. I'm 47 and my 996 is, shall we say, not very comfy. So I decided to get fit, rather than compromise by not riding sport bikes. But then I am a masochist.