Looking for a new bike this year which will be used as my go everywhere bike and hopefully some track days. Initially I been looking at new rs660 which I think is a nice little bike. Looking at rs660 I found that 959 with lowish miles are quite a lot less money. A new rs660 is here in sweden around 12500 pounds while a 959 with about 15 000 km is around 9500 pounds. Since the aprilia would be new I would expect less problems but needs more mods to get to were I want it. A used 959 have pretty much everything right away. So how is the reability of the 959? Any common problems or major issues? Or should I just buy new and have a more carefree life? Also I wonder how difficult is the desmo service to do? See that most people just leave it to the dealership and I find very little info other than the workshop manual. I did it on my 1098 which I did not find very difficult only time consuming.
I've owned both (and done track days on both), the RS660 is a great little bike, but apart from comfort and riding position, the 959 is in a different league, much more refined and lots more power. I cant advise on how hard the desmo service would be, but I'd definitely go and ride both before deciding. I got bored of the RS660 very quickly, the 959 is one of the few bikes I regret selling.
Thanks alot Psenior1 for the response. Will take both for a test ride. Being bored of the rs660 is what I'm a little afraid off. Coming for the 1098 and other faster bikes, I'm afraid the 105 HP on a sport bike will feel to slow even with mods. For a few years ago I had a cbr 600rr. It has about 120 HP and very flickable. I was hoping the rs660 would be something similar after mods but with more style. Did you have any problems with your 959?
My 959 was perfect, never had any issues, I think I did around 10k miles on it in total. Apart from servicing, the only other thing I can remember was the fork seals needed replacing. The RS660 makes a great sound, but it will feel very pedestrian compared to a 1098!
Why would the 899 be the one to go for other than the low slung exhaust? The 899 cost the same as 959 here but comes up for sale more rarely. I could go with either but I think newer is better age wise anyhow. Less stuff being broken just from being old. Sounds good Psenior1. Just regular stuff. From my Google searches there seems to be no major issues.
Had both and the 899 is more fun to ride with your mates at the weekend, feels more like a super sport than the 959 imho. Fine lines though.
Supersport in this case you mean the 899 is more relaxed and better for street riding? 959 is more track oriented? For comparison I think my 1098 is a great street bike. Very relaxing if you don't go full throttle.
Let’s face it the 675 is the greatest sports bike for the road for smiles per miles ever. How you can mod it relatively cheaply to ride it and sound sensational too. Such a shame they haven’t made the765 any less boring to look at and expensive to buy since they released it too.
Wait now, red899, are you on about the Daytona now? This does not help me understand the difference between 899 and 959
The 899 is a little ‘lighter’ than the 959, and tbh I was someone who used to say I preferred it, having owned 2. However I’ve recently been exactly in the same position as you and bought a 959 corse. the RS660 is fantastic, absolutely fantastic and I still want one, but the 959 is more complete, better built and more scope for growing into the bike as such. Speaking of the 959, reliability is absolutely fine, the only weakness with all these bikes 89/1199/959/1299 is the water pump, I know quite a few have had to replace them including me on both my 899’s. Don’t let that put you off but just look for coolant drips on the left side of the bike down the crank case when you stop the bike from hot. remember also the desmo service is a big one but it’s not age related it’s miles, so my 899 for example had 11,500 miles on and I was getting nervous for resale value, but if you pick up a low mileage 959 and aren’t commuting as such you’ll be at standard yearly servicing which is oils and filters, at a good independent that’s not the end of the world im used to my 959 now and although mine has Akrapovic’s, the midrange is great and deffo a step up from the 899, the clutch is way lighter, the fairing is bigger and more comfortable to be sat behind, and it has a slipper clutch. It would be my pick. here’s mine! And a pic of the RS660 I tested which was beautiful as well but as you say for similar money the 959 wins.
Very nice bike phill. I been looking at the corse before. Is it worth waiting for one or are base one just fine? Water pump I don't see as any real issue. As long they don't have any built in bomb that risk the entire bike I'm happy. Is anyone doing their own desmo? As long it's not super advanced with timing and so on I don't really see why not? I do ride all my bikes a lot so I will have to pay/diy it. I yet have to ride a 660 but I think I will agree with everything you experienced phill.
the Corse is nice, but I wouldn’t pay loads extra for it for road riding. Mine is too stiff, even with the damping backed right off its noticeably more stiff than the standard 959. It obv has nice paint and the Ohlins and damper but the main thing for me was that it had the pipes and was only on 1800 miles! So I just had to have it. desmo service can be done, my mate has done his and even after exclusively doing trackdays his clearances were spot on so I don’t think many often need major adjustment. It’s a big job though, the sort of thing you would want to do over a few weeks if it’s home mechanic style. the RS600 is great to ride, it is a little chuggy at slow speed but then sounds great when revving, it’s super light and easy to handle, obv way more comfy than a 959 without feeling like a touring bike, and you can really thrash it as ultimately it’s 100hp. when you get back on the 959 though you immediately notice nicely finished bolt heads and soft rubber grips and nice switches etc that are all more premium, and then power wise it’s a big step up. I wouldn’t do a trackday on a rs660 I don’t think unless it was a really small track, I’d feel vulnerable, it’s bad enough on 600’s with 120hp
I miss my 899 a lot, the only problem it ever gave me was the gear position sensor dying. Think I replaced it twice
100% just look at the side stand on the rs660! But that said even the factory is £12k and a V2 was around £17k before it got turned into whatever the v2 is now, so there is a big price difference
it’s such a class engine, I really think it will be remembered as one of Ducatis finest. Not dissing the desmo engines, but it’s great.
