DUCATI 959 PANIGALE vs HONDA FIREBLADE SP | InterviewsRoad Tests | Motorcyclenews.com
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
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I got my 899 Panigale 3 weeks ago, man! its the stuff dreams are made of. The exhaust note!!! Oh the exhaust note on idle just resonates with my heartbeat. The ride-by-wire throttle is so crisp, the bike feels like it has neural connection with me. Quick shifter, baby!! that thing want me to get into trouble. When I am stopped at a light the only thing I can think of is going braaaap bang! braaaap bang! braaaap bang! through the gears, and lo! I am doing double, sometimes triple the speed limit. Its so light, narrow and nimble, I can throw it around like a mountain bike. Looks wise, I feel its the best looking bike ever made (in white), and ladies notice too. I get compliments from random strangers all the time, a lot of them women.
I have already put 400 miles on it. Can't stop myself taking it for a ride everyday when I get back from work.
My last bike (first big bike) was a 2006 CBR600RR, when I bought it, I was probably the 4th owner, and it was sub-optimally equipped. Front tyre had no grip and rear tyre was too wide and had the wrong profile, it gave me no confidence in corners or while braking. I didn't have the extra cash to fix those problems back then. Even with those problems, I'd say it still had more performance than any non-supersport bike. Afterall, it made me feel like Superman flying low.
If I compare the two (older bike was sold 2 years ago, not a back to back comparison), I first notice how much smaller, narrower (I4 vs L-twin) and lighter (Ducati's frame-less construction) the 899 is. Ergonomics/(Dis)comfort levels feel similar, but I am the kind of guy who is not too uncomfortable supersport for 2 hour trips (173 cm, very conductive height for supersport riding). The tucking position on the 899, however, is more ergonomic. BTW, tuck is important guys, tuck is comfortable, cuts out the noise and wind fatigue, how come I don't see any other rider tuck on the freeway doing (barely) legal speeds? 600RR was easier to stall. RBW FTW. New super-sharp handling bike makes old sharp handling bike feel like a cafe racer with under-inflated tyres.
Technology moves fast and its not fair to compare a design from 10 years ago to a year old design. But, my expectations have been exceeded. I never thought I would experience the same awe as the early days of my first big bike, but I was wrong. I am even more awe struck with the Panigale right now.
The blade is butter smooth. zero vibes, highly refined and super reliable.
+CycleCruza everyone i know with a Panigale has trouble with things rattling loose, they are def known to be a bit harsh, crazy to think how much my friend paid for his Ducati 1299 to have more problems then a Kia. Exotic is nice but not for everyone, some people just like to ride.
RevToTheRedline I've heard that a lot over the years.
***** All I know is I'm happier than a pig in shiz with my $8,999 left-over new cbr1000rr, best deal I ever got on a motorcycle. I admire ducati's designs but don't trust their reliability and don't feel their bike offers any better utility value, overrated and over-priced in my book.
+Mal Reynolds my dad has a 2001 Ducati Monster 750, never a problem, and of course a Japanese bike is easier to drive, but people don't buy a Ducati to ride an easy smooth vehicle, they do it for the Desmo, for the sound, for the power, for the design, per il sangue rosso Ducati, things that other bikes probably will never have.
+CycleCruza I'm Ducati rider and I'm here to testify that I hang out at the shop very often, they all know me by name now!
I didn't like the 959 exhausts when they first announced the bike, but I now like them. They are something a bit different and sound great.
+Gary Lowe For the record, Ducati did not originally elect to throw the new exhaust on the 959, and in fact, the American version will be excluding that new exhaust because it won't be necessary. That particular exhaust was designed to comply with EURO 4 laws in England, London and the rest of the UK, and also to extract what remaining performance is left to be had with those specifications installed on the bike.
Of course though, I admit- Ducati has done a wonderful, marvelous job extracting that sound out of that exhaust.
Cheers!
+Gary Lowe there will be tons of aftermarket cans you can pick.... the Austin Racing GP2 will look and sound amazing
Best and most sensible reviewer on the market. PERIOD! and thanx :)
The Ducati is a sweet ride nice to see it evolving, the Blade may be old school now but still a proven platform for many years and they are a bargain now.
Hopefully some other manufacturers will get in on that new class, I'd love Honda to make an RVF 800 or something once they've got a new Blade out, single sided swingarm, left mounted exhaust, 150-60 hp... would be amazing.
60-150hp*
i think he meant 150-160hp
+chook poo ahhhh yeah, you're right
Liam J yes! Ive been asking Honda for years to make an RVF800 super sport, i reckon they would sell well
Shockingly I fancy the Fireblade more, on looks alone.
gotta be honest id take either without a doubt both look amazing both are more than quick enough just comes down to personal choice in my opinion there is no right or wrong
Nice comparison.
The Duke is no longer a "middle weight" by any means... but I gotta say, on looks alone that 959 would be my choice!
I don't understand why people compare the 959 to liter bikes. I get that it's nearly the same displacement wise, but it's still meant for contention with the GSX-R 750. All facets are nearly identical; weight, power, all of it. Does it have a larger displacement that the GSX-R? Yes, but that's because it has 2 less cylinders. Gotta make up for that somehow. Kinda like 450cc 4-strokes racing 250cc 2-strokes in MX. The 959 was never meant to fight in the liter bike class. That's what they had the 1299 (now V4) for.
didn't expect the ducati to make better times with 20 less HP... and talk about throw-backs...that Euro Ducati exhaust takes me back to the 90's
+krissrock x Not really that surprising, 600s with the right gearing can smoke 1000s set up for the wrong track.
Wow, I did not expect the 959 to beat the Blade SP, seeing as John McGuinness rides that bike to victory in the Isle of Mann TT, and I've seen no Ducati's there. I've ridden the 959 and it was the bike I would probably most want to be on if I were being chased on the road. Very nimble. It cooked the nuts a bit, and was a bit too leaned over for me, but I almost want one just to sit there and look at, haha. Can a sportbike be a good investment if I just keep it in pristine condition without adding many miles, I wonder? These Ducati's aren't getting any cheaper, the 959 might be the last of the reasonable used Duc's out there.
More power and taller gearing will make the 959 sound more appealing when being reviewed on the track but I wonder how much its road characteristics were compromised. I purchased my 899 knowing full well that I only go to the track a handful of times a year and the rest of the time I'm just enjoying my commute to work or blasting the twisties.
really nice video! that ducati is looking amazing! what alpinestar suite is that you wearing?
That Blade is a thing of beauty
I'm saving up for that 2017 honda cbr 1000rr
I'd like to see how the 899 stacked up against the Blade. I ride an 899, which I adore, but I have tremendous respect for the Honda. I think the 899 could probably take the Blade on a tighter track, but I'd love to know for sure. Alternately, if anyone rides a Blade (well) and would like to join me for a track day anywhere within reasonable distance of NYC, that would work too!
Great review here!
MCN, I have a question. In the states, Ducati's are very expensive to own, in regards to parts and servicing. Over seas is it the same?
+daniel basantes I am italian, and they are the most expensive manifacturers with Bimota, so i would say yes it is very expensive to buy and is well know that services are pricy (the parts are the most expensive with BMW), i dont know how much is the price difference, here in italy a 1299 cost around 17000 euros, 18500 dollars. :)
+SeraphinoII In California, a 1299 is basically 23k out the door, but they seem keep there value quite well. Honesty, I asked this question out of pure curiosity; because, a teacher came back form a euro trip talking about Mercedes that were taxis, and so on. So it seems Ducatis are expensive everywhere.
Well even mercedes cars are expensive but the old ones (E200) where phenomenally reliable and comfy so they were suitable for taxis. Mercedes made care worth of the money, i dont know if it the same now!
+daniel basantes
In Norway due to heavy taxes, a standard 1299 is 28 K euros or 35.5 K USD !
So I recon whatever you spend in sevice, you will have a pretty worn bike before you hit that.
Lumbago10101 I just paid $24k for my 2018 959 Panigale in the Philippines. Now I don’t feel so bad knowing even in Europe Ducatis are more expensive than in the US.
Honda baby!
Had a 969, have a Multi 1200s. Thought about trading in the Multi for this - but after a test drive, I left thinking what the hell just happened. The 959 Panigale is SLOWER than my 969, it does not want to turn in, it does not want to lean, it has no torque and the ergonomics are just horrid beyond horrid. The Multi will clean it's clock in EVERY respect, and that's saying a lot for a bike that is twice as tall and 100lb heavier. At 15K, this is one horrid little bike. Given that fact that it does not even have a single swing arm, I regret the day I sold my 969.
Think i want the Ducati!!!!!!!!!
"...and you know that's no bad thing, as a sportsbike it's all that you'll ever need, you don't need more power than the 959..."
Fair review sounds like. The 1000’s are now getting in over 200 bhp. Doesn’t make much sense for the street as he said you’re not going tobe able to use all that power on the street and if you can you have live somehwere like Texas where there’s a lot of room.
debatable
+tRRuble
I think that's the stupidest knock on these bikes...200hp doesn't make sense for the street because you're not going to be able to use all that power on the street? Says who?
And so what, 185hp makes more sense? 150?
***** really how can you use 500hp on the street?
***** really? How common do I think it is?
***** oh but of course
how can you use it legally?
I still cant get over how viby the Ducatis are though...... hand go numb after 10 minutes of riding :( .....
+JoeGo101 I had the same issue, you need to get used to it. By "you", I mean your body.
+JoeGo101 Quit whining. I ride a 690 thumper and it's perfectly manageable.
+GenomeSoldier71 do you know who JoeGo is?
+GenomeSoldier71 do you know who JoeGo is?
JoeGo101 : agreed!! But every near liter vtwins with high compression as the new Gen Ducati’s will transfer its vibrations through the chassis.. didn’t tried the new v4 tho probably better in this aspect
hey I kinda like that exhaust on ducati
pokjrrfcvbjnm!?
the fact the blade keeps being included in tests after how many years?..proves how good a bike it is for most people..time is always the test. just take the 1199..its only a few years old..but doesnt get a mention anywhere anymore...
They used the Honda for this test because is the most inferior and cheap of the liter bikes, don't get confused
+maximus10463 you've obviously never owned a blade or watched a bsb or wsbk race in the last 6 years where the Honda has consistently been at the sharp end. you are confused
Yar D Blah don't start with that bullshit, the only category Honda is really competitive is on MotoGP, besides I'm talking about the street, Honda is the most bland of all liter bikes on the market today, period.
Brilliant reviewer.
@3:47 ----- " hey some guys making A video....come check it out "
marcus Rodriguez: lol, i noticed that too. he was like "oh shit, they're recording" 😁
damn, can some one discuss the heat issues the panigales have? does the new 959 have the heat issue ?? i live in texas, so this is a very critical issue for me. it is a deal breaker if the issue persist.
there are no real heat issues is the exhaust that is too close to the seat
Ducatis ergonomics is more aggressive while cbr is more comfortable and performance side no doubt ducati are extremely faster than Japanese machines
Ducati is a high class ho and Honda is your beautiful wife :v
How rich are ya
+Mistre “Buttery Smooth” Flayvor LOL
+Mistre “Buttery Smooth” Flayvor don't really matter....Just don't ever let them see you riding the other....
+Mistre “Buttery Smooth” Flayvor spot on
LMAO! Good analogy.
+Mistre “Buttery Smooth” Flayvor Ducati is your beautiful wife* and Honda is your beautiful wife* lol not all rich people marry "high class ho"s
how shallow are ya
That exhaust! :-( stay with the 899
"...and you know that's no bad thing, as a sportsbike it's all that you'll ever need, you don't need more power than the 959...
...and if you do, then you need to be on track, because something like the new R1 and ZX-10R is so quick, you can't use everything they've got, whereas the Panigale is something like the 750 was, it's just the best of both worlds..."
LOL fine, so test the 959 against the 1299 and then rename each to its laptime in seconds.
Ducati beating Honda in comfort is a big shocker.
Can somebody please enlighten me on how any, I mean ANY, of these superbikes can be considered "very comfortable" (as mentioned several times) by any means, unless you are 1.70 cm tall or less ???
Well they're not comfy like a tourer, but they're fine for long distances and I'm 6" with buggered knees. Neevesy MCN
+Eltargrimm Done 1000 miles in one day across the europe on a 05 R1. I'm 6'2.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. And Daniel, all the glory is yours!
I have a biker friend who is somewhat vertically challenged and I urge him to keep riding sports bikes. But our definitions of comfort are fundamentally different, I guess.
+neevesybikes Hey Neevesy! Don't you mean six FOOT!? Enjoyed the review, thanks for posting. And no vile music... Hooray!
+Eltargrimm I'm 6'1, 40 years old and I commute in NYC traffic on a '15 899. It's actually very comfortable for a sport bike. Thing is that you have to learn how to ride one properly or it'll feel extremely punishing. I cringe when I hear people complain about it putting weight on their wrists, because you shouldn't have any weight on your wrists, or else you'll be giving your bike steering corrections that could well cost you your bike or worse. With that said, when you do it right, it's the difference between a soft couch (cruiser) and a supportive racing seat. Personally, on a cruiser my right arm gets tired very quickly.
Is there a Neeves replica helmet ?
What year is that cbr?
Never liked the blade, compared to the R1 and ZX10r
+UCC Ultimate Car Compilations
they can't those bike's are at the shop getting recall work done...
+Agent0004 LOL, Touché
+Agent0004 Somebody's sharp today... Great comment, Mate, I actually did Laugh Out Loud!
+UCC Ultimate Car Compilations Wow, every single 2015 R1 sold is a loss for the company. Strange, since Yamaha quality is usually very good.
You Toob
I had a 2001 R1 back in the day and the transmission was bad on it also.. if you would go wide open throttle in 1st gear it would slip in to neutral.. and the problem was common.
very hard to believe your racing lap times. ...just look at the blade pull away on exiting the corner at 1:33sec...??? the Ducati seems to be over evaluated. ...embarrassing for the blade sp. to be compared to 959...2 cylinders? !.......with full of electronics. .....show some respect guys....the blade is one of the last real race bikes. .......with no electronic aids...because most people can't ride 200hp motorcycles. ....
The riding shots of the two bikes together are just us playing and getting both bikes in the same picture.. The actual single, fast lap times were done separately. Neevesy MCN
neevesybikes I thought that was pretty obvious. But I guess not. Lol
its time for Ducati to come out with a new supersport bike since they've slowly evolved their ss bikes into superbikes.
i want a bike with sound of Hayabusa and design of Ducati super sport any suggestions
Zx10r may be or r1
Stretched Turbo Busa bb
who'd want a honda when you can have a ducati
Ducati Ninja
Those who are smart.
a lot of people
Hi, i like the video, but i have a quistion some rare.. What do they do for living? i mean, i love motorcycles, and i want to study something like this, but what??, mechanical engineering?. jeje pls anwer me all people, what can i study ? i will be grateful. Bye :)
2020 blade coming!
Damn Honda, guess it's come down to these...glad to see Ducati beat you.
Oh bonjour. Good Xmas?
How much prices ??
Why must we have cheesy music when we really want to hear what the bikes sound like?
I burn the Ducati 959 on my fireblade. there's two of them here in my town. this must be two guys that like Ducati. the gxsr would murder the 959 as well
Blah blah, They said the 959 is faster.
You mad?😂
I really would like to see how 157 hp are useful on the road, really...
+SeraphinoII only about 130 to the wheel
james w
Better than what? If you ride well you don't need a 150 (or 130 with the usual lies about the power specially by Ducati) hp bike, you may need on a track if you are very good.
But if you need to pop a wheelie in third gear at 150 kmh because "it is cool" and you think you cant do any harm to others (it's a well know fact that the cars are indistructable bullet-proof iron cage) doing so on the streets, well you are right you need to blast on a rocket.
p.s. i will wait some heroes which say that he can do that without risking anything plus i am pussy wich haven't ride anything blablabla. I am only trying to make others think about why do you have to ride in a killing way on an open road and if risk to kill someone or lose the ability to walk, make love and ride is worth that "minute thrill".
+SeraphinoII real talk? it isn't. but these are street bikes that you can take to the track! and have a blast with. same thing apples to the 180-200+HP bikes too.
+tracyis300 *applies
This is exactly what i wanted to say. At 3:40 this guy say that you just dont need to have more of 150 hp on the road and if you do you should use on track.
The point is that you not only dont need that 150 hp on the road but you shoul not even use it, so much power mean you can do very stupid thing very fast even if you are a reasonable person, it makes you crave to open the gas you know?
For me those bikes are usable on the road heading for a track. Those 100hp + bikes should be use on the track! :)
Can't folding the mirrors on ducati yeah ?
It's all about what you like,
Or all about what you are trying to
Sell .
Come on the blade is bad ass.....
Would take the blade any day
Seriously, wind protection? Its a god damn bike! Can't really expect anything from a windshield!!!
Aerodynamic flow
Sure, you do not know anything about bikes!!!
Adel Momand
+Nel Edora YOU don't know shit about bikes idiot, if you would, you would've understood what he meant by that
***** you just proved i was right about you
that is stupid man. ducati vs Honda we all know Honda it's a best bicke it's so balance which doesn't need any electronic crab.
What's a bicke? And electronic 🦀? Lmao
The Honda, always
Yeah
If Ducks are such great bikes, why don't the used ones have any miles on them? I'd guess it has to do with the cost of servicing them. When that first service comes up and the owner gets the tab, they have a heart attack. A duck needs a desmo valve train like a frog needs drivers license. It's a long in the tooth gimmick that's not needed for an engine that turns just 10,500, far less rpm than many engines with conventional springs. Steam locomotives used desmo valve actuation. At one point it was useful when valve springs were made of junk metal. Now it's a waste of effort and makes servicing the Ducati a royal pain in the ass.
I'll give up my R/100/GS when they pry my hands off the bars and put me on the back of a Multistrada. Nobody is perfect.
Ducatay panigalaay 😊
I'm not on the search for the fastest bike. both bikes are fast. but ducati the one with the worst sound. imagine, 1 hour on this shit :))))))) BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR fuck me :)))))))))
why r u so calm
fuckin shout
louder
i mean speak
The 959 sucks