[Fabio Andrade]

Hey all ,

New to this site but would really love some help and feedback. Currently in the Market for a Ducati but confused 848 evo Corse SE, 899 PANIGALE, 959 PANIGALE AND 1199 PANIGALE. I heard the 1199 is a disaster and not to go near it?? I would love pros and cons on the bikes above from the people that ride them

Thanks

Fab

 

[Dingo]

@Fabio Andrade - I guess my first question to you would be:

Why wouldn't you want the newest technology and best ride?

In that case it's the 959 you purchase...

 

[OMG_959]

Hey all ,

New to this site but would really love some help and feedback. Currently in the Market for a Ducati but confused 848 evo Corse SE, 899 PANIGALE, 959 PANIGALE AND 1199 PANIGALE. I heard the 1199 is a disaster and not to go near it?? I would love pros and cons on the bikes above from the people that ride them

Thanks

Fab

Good morning! Hope you're getting the info you need in regards to the above bikes. In a nutshell:

The 848 Evo, the 899 Panigale, and 959 Panigale are an evolution of the same bike: the Super Ducati with a smaller/more street friendly motor. "baby brother" if you will.

848: Mid-2000's baby-brother to the 1098/1198 series bike. The 848 Evo was eventually replaced by the 899 Panigale.

899 Panigale: Baby brother the the 1199 Panigale. Whole new generation of bike from the previous series.

959 Panigale: an Evolution of the 899 Panigale, came out this year, the new baby brother to the 1299 Panigale (Which replaced the 1199 Pani in the same way the 1198 phased out the 1098: same basic bike, but slight bump in displacement/hp basically). Very much the same bike as the 899, but a few upgrades and a new euro-emissions-compliant motor.

The 848, 899, and 959 are the same line, but were never produced at the same time. Hp wise, you're pretty close: 140hp, 148hp, 157hp respectively.

848 uses cam-belts, so your maintenance is going to be pretty high compared to the 899/959, which went to chains. That said, you can find and 848 for a lot cheaper than an 899/959.

Also, the 848 used a dry clutch, you WILL hear a lot of chatter at idle from it. The Pani's went wet clutch.

There is a lot more, but i'd take some time and read some stuff on google. "848 vs 899", "899 vs 959", that'll give you a much more technical overview.

They're all three AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL bikes. the 848 was the first Ducati that I WANTED to own, just wasn't able to buy one until the 959's came out. I'm in a 959 and have no regrets.

Hope this helps a little!

 

[Dingo]

@Charlie_SF_EastBay - excellent!

 

[Sina]

@Fabio Andrade - Welcome aboard! While I wouldn't call the 1199 a disaster, it is the most difficult Panigale to ride on the street. It feels much closer to its predecessors in terms of rawness than the other Panigale bikes. It won't offer the same level of precise corner feedback as the classic trellis frame bikes would (1198 and older), but it has higher limits than the previous generations. Is this something you're after? If you're going to spend more time on the track than on the street for this bike, then the 1199 can be the most exhilarating choice purely based on how sensitive and abrupt it is. It also exerts the highest amount of heat from the bikes you've listed.

The 848 is what the hardcore purists would call the "true Ducati," the most similar bike to the iconic and legendary 916 series amidst your selection. Dry clutch, no electronics, trellis frame, aggressive. Like @Charlie_SF_EastBay noted, you'll also be racking up the highest maintenance bills with the old-school valves, cam belts, etc.

With the 899, Ducati takes in years of disappointing maintenance records and negative brand recognition and moves to a more 'Japanese' setup. Valve adjustments come later, wet clutches are smooth and not chirpy or nudgy, and the powerband is less low-to-mid and more high-RPM, where the inline-4's tend to reside. Along with the introduction of rider aides, all of the sudden the 899 was no longer looking like the Ducati's of old, but something of a feasible option.

The 959 and 899 are likely to have similar, if not the same, maintenance expectations and costs. Due to a new seat and exhaust shield, the 959 exerts the least amount of heat (but still quite a bit as you'd see mentioned around here) amongst the listed bikes. Updating the DTC and RbW mid-2015 also means that all 959's receive an improved electronics package that has been enhanced over the 899. Due to geometry changes, I've felt that the 959 feels lighter to tilt / flick (despite actually weighing slightly heavier) and has a less aggressive riding position. The riding modes are also updated in programming so that the 959 Wet Mode feels far more docile and smoother than that of the 899. Riding an 899 around heavy traffic in Race Mode was something that would be called lunacy, but the 959 Race Mode is quite manageable in town. Overall, it's the most street-able and easiest Ducati Superbike to just hop on and ride, if that's what you're looking for.

 

[Sina]

Moreover, the 959 is actually derived from the technicalities of the 1199 and 1299 (showerheads, engine stroke sizing, generator casing & manifold components). The 899 is a more road-oriented 1199; the 1299 is based on the 899 instead. I hope this doesn't get you even more confused (per the title of this thread), as it's a highly unconventional evolution process.

I forgot to note that you'll also get the SSSA (single-sided swingarm) with the 1199 and the 848, which has been a longtime purist Ducatisti favorite.

A con of both the 899 and the 959 is the lack of clear-coat, if you opt for the Ducati Red colored model.

Also Fab, are you concerned about exhaust noise? There is a vast difference in the sound factor amongst these bikes. If you're in a country not affected by the Euro 4 emissions standards, the 959 with the underslung exhausts has the loudest stock sound of the bikes you're considering. Yes, despite the Euro 4 sound-deadening materials around the engine bay and new air filter (to reduce noise) making their way to the US version (or any other non-Euro 4 market), the muffler internals are widened compared to the 1299 carryover exhaust. That translates into the 959 with the underbody exhausts being the loudest Ducati Superbike from factory if I'm not mistaken, whilst the Euro 4 959 is quieter than all of the bikes you listed. So if that's a concern for you... the order from loudest to quietest would be: (1) non-Euro 4 959, (2) 899 and 1199 [tie], (3) 848, (4) Euro 4 959.