Panigale 959 or Monster 1200?

13679 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by DarR, Mar 10, 2018

RexD

Discussion Starter · Jan 2, 2016

Hi, everyone. I have enjoyed eavesdropping in the forum here for a while and have gotten a bunch of good input.

This post is to hear your experience with Panigale 959 or Monster 1200 as an only bike for riding around town as well as long rides and weekend trips in the country side.

My next bike will be a new Panigale 959 or a new Monster 1200.

I will be testing both before deciding which bike to go with; but with bad weather and salt on the roads, that won't be for at least another month.

Here is what it will be used for:

- I'm 6'1. I am 44. Fairly experienced on the road. No track experience (apart from a few times on a leisure track day).
- I ride in town and around town during the week for meetings.
- Once a week, I go on 3hr highway trips away for a meeting and 3 hrs back. And I need the bike to get me to the meeting without being too worn out.
- On weekends, I take trips to the country side with the GPS on max winding roads.
- 2-3 times a year, I go on longer trips. Some of these with longer autobahn stretches.

It appears that a Monster would be more wise and functional. I just really like the looks of the Panigale and would love it on the highway going fast and on countryside roads - BUT: Is the everyday city traffic going to be too annoying on the Panigale? I imagine that the Monster will excel in traffic for the two.

I appreciate your input.

Thanks
Rex

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

CBR_PC

· #2 · Jan 2, 2016

Good luck with your decision. With just about any motorcycle you are looking at a compromise if you want to ride it to work and have fun on the weekends. I have yet to own a Panigale but I did a couple of long test rides on the 899 and it was OK riding around town at slow speeds. Obviously, being a sport bike, the riding position is not as suited to commuting as some other bikes but I found I could still see around me safely and the mirrors were useful. The engine produced plenty of torque at lower rpm and the 959 has even more. The downside was the heat from the rear cylinder and exhaust when you don't have the high speed airflow to take it away. The engine and exhaust noise might be an issue but the European model you would be getting has been modified to reduce this.
As you say, the fun will be on the highway and fast country roads.

Reactions: 1

ASM

· #3 · Jan 2, 2016

Based on your list, the decision is fairly obvious which of the two would better fulfill your requirements - as you already realized yourself. Nobody can help you with your decision really other than pointing out his/her preference but nobody will ever have the same circumstances as you do.

In general, the Panigales are running hot...so stop-and-go (a.k.a. city traffic) will not be comfortable. The seat position itself doesn't really help much either by putting more pressure on your wrists. The more upright position of the Monster also helps with keeping a better overview over the traffic situation. Highways on a sport bike are plain old boring - period. While I wouldn't necessarily quality the Monster as the highway eater either (no windscreen), overall it will be a bit more comfortable based on seating position. Out of your list, the only item where the 959 would shine would be on the weekend trips. However, the Monster is a more than capable to hang with the 959....

Looks are always subjective...some people value form over function and some do the reverse. The best thing you can really do is to test ride both of them and form your own decision. Ultimately...whether you go with the heart (959) or the brain (Monster) is completely up to you...

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Reactions: 4

BBBingo

· #4 · Jan 4, 2016

A coworker of mine rides his 848 into the heart of downtown. What he told me is that the heat is quite nice during early/late season rides, brutal in the summer. On his bike (not sure about the 959) he's pitched so far forward onto his wrists that he can't even ride with one hand on the tank or his knee.

Reactions: 1

DarR

· #5 · Apr 6, 2016

Panigale 959 or Monster 1200? That's an awesome question that I have faced. However, I'm looking at buying two bikes...and that makes a difference as I don't have to compromise as much.

Having always ridden a naked, I yearned for a SuperSport. Consequently, I have bought the Panigale 959 first for fear that if I bought the Monster first, I might never have the chance to own what I've always dreamed of riding.

If I were to own only one bike, it would have been a naked.

levigarrett

· #6 · Apr 6, 2016

Easy call. For what you describe, Monster.

0v3rc10ck3d

· #7 · Apr 6, 2016

I already have the Panigale 959. I'm similarly debating a more comfortable second bike as a Monster 1200 or the BMW S1000R / S1000XR

bucfan444

· #8 · Apr 7, 2016

I'm 45 yrs old and can tell you based on your scenario, I would go with the Monster, if you value comfort, good ergo's, and a general cruiser attitude.
Now if you prefer the sexiest thing on two wheels and people constantly looking at you in traffic the 959 is your baby. Oh and the 959 comes with a 200+ degree right hamstring cooker FREE of charge. It also includes a free on the job training on treating sore wrists, and sore backs. People might think Im critical of the 959, but I'm not as I want the mystique it generates. That alone will cause me to overlook my 1st degree burns, sore wrists, sore back

Reactions: 2

Dingo

· #9 · Apr 7, 2016

RexD said:
...
- Once a week, I go on 3hr highway trips away for a meeting and 3 hrs back. And I need the bike to get me to the meeting without being too worn out.
...

That statement alone screams for anything Other than a 959

the answer is clear

Reactions: 1

mike in o.c.

· #10 · Apr 7, 2016

My experience with owning both bikes is that there are some specifics and some cross over. Cross over is that both bikes are good for canyon runs and highway. Monster is best for city riding and the 959 is best for the track. If I had to choose one to keep it would be the Monster. It's more comfortable and better for what I want a bike for. But I do like more the looks of the 959 and LOVE the quick shifter. Fortunately I don't have to make that choice between the two other than deciding what bike to ride that day ...

Reactions: 1

levigarrett

· #11 · Apr 7, 2016

Dingo said:
That statement alone screams for anything Other than a 959

the answer is clear

Dingo wins.

Reactions: 2

DarR

· #12 · Jul 24, 2017 (Edited)

RexD said:
Hi, everyone. I have enjoyed eavesdropping in the forum here for a while and have gotten a bunch of good input.

This post is to hear your experience with Panigale 959 or Monster 1200 as an only bike for riding around town as well as long rides and weekend trips in the country side.

My next bike will be a new Panigale 959 or a new Monster 1200.

I will be testing both before deciding which bike to go with; but with bad weather and salt on the roads, that won't be for at least another month.

Here is what it will be used for:

- I'm 6'1. I am 44. Fairly experienced on the road. No track experience (apart from a few times on a leisure track day).
- I ride in town and around town during the week for meetings.
- Once a week, I go on 3hr highway trips away for a meeting and 3 hrs back. And I need the bike to get me to the meeting without being too worn out.
- On weekends, I take trips to the country side with the GPS on max winding roads.
- 2-3 times a year, I go on longer trips. Some of these with longer autobahn stretches.

It appears that a Monster would be more wise and functional. I just really like the looks of the Panigale and would love it on the highway going fast and on countryside roads - BUT: Is the everyday city traffic going to be too annoying on the Panigale? I imagine that the Monster will excel in traffic for the two.

I appreciate your input.

Thanks
Rex

Hi Rex,
Don't know if you pulled the trigger as I'm reviving an older thread out of interest. After buying the Panigale 959 early in 2016, I followed it it up with a Monster 1200R purchase in the fall. I now ride both and can honestly say that neither of the two will truly satisfy your uses base solely on needs. That said, what you should consider in the Ducati line-up is a Multistrada which screams to satisfy all the uses you described. Notwithstanding, we always buy the bikes we want, not necessarily the ones we need.

Curly

· #13 · Jul 25, 2017

DarR said:
That said, what you should consider in the Ducati line-up is a Multistrada which screams to satisfy all the uses you described. Notwithstanding, we always buy the bikes we want, not necessarily the ones we need.

I second that.

The Multi is amazing. It's a bit of a large bike but it's as comfy as a couch, way faster than you can use (my experience is with the 1200, not the 950) and was a whole lot of fun. You could ride that thing at 150 MPH all day long without being tired. That was my impression.

If I could have two bikes, I would have a Superbike and a Multi.

DarR

· #14 · Jul 25, 2017 (Edited)

@Curly What you said!
Moreover, everyone I know without exception who had the opportunity to ride one on various surfaces were totally amazed. I was privileged to be lent a demo with panniers to ride for a full day and half....what a machine! With that Skyhook electronic change-on-the-fly suspension, it's the ultimate do-it-all road warrior. What it's not however, is a gorgeous thoroughbred like the Panigale or a badass hooligan like the Monster.

DarR

· #15 · Mar 10, 2018

RexD said:
Hi, everyone. I have enjoyed eavesdropping in the forum here for a while and have gotten a bunch of good input.

This post is to hear your experience with Panigale 959 or Monster 1200 as an only bike for riding around town as well as long rides and weekend trips in the country side.

My next bike will be a new Panigale 959 or a new Monster 1200.

I will be testing both before deciding which bike to go with; but with bad weather and salt on the roads, that won't be for at least another month.

Here is what it will be used for:

- I'm 6'1. I am 44. Fairly experienced on the road. No track experience (apart from a few times on a leisure track day).
- I ride in town and around town during the week for meetings.
- Once a week, I go on 3hr highway trips away for a meeting and 3 hrs back. And I need the bike to get me to the meeting without being too worn out.
- On weekends, I take trips to the country side with the GPS on max winding roads.
- 2-3 times a year, I go on longer trips. Some of these with longer autobahn stretches.

It appears that a Monster would be more wise and functional. I just really like the looks of the Panigale and would love it on the highway going fast and on countryside roads - BUT: Is the everyday city traffic going to be too annoying on the Panigale? I imagine that the Monster will excel in traffic for the two.

I appreciate your input.

Thanks
Rex

On Jan 2, 2016 you posted the above.
However, you haven't told us what you ended-up buying. Have you pulled the trigger on a 959 or are you still looking? 0

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

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