996s or 998bp?
 

Hi everyone,
I've been a member for a while now but have only just managed to get the cash together for my first Duke, and was wondering if anyone could give me advice as to wether to go for the 998 biposto (which is what I had intended) or a 996s which is priced just below (about £400 difference)
Thanks in advance,
Illya.

On the information you've provided the 998 is what I would go for.

having owned a 996s, and enjoying it, the power output would be compareable i believe, however the 998 is a newer model and therefore probably the better option, the 996s should come with the ohlins rear shock which is better than the showa unit, however i have seen some 998bps with ohlins also just not sure if they all have them? I would personally try to streach to a 998s, which IMHO is head and shoulders above the other 2, although the cost may appear preventative for you, i dont think you would regret it!

Ils,

I was in the same boat as you last year. I took out a 998 for a test ride and felt I needed the extra power, me just been greedy. However, I had to make a deal with the wife that this was going to be the last one...! After reading all the reports I went for the 998S. I bought one through this web site and I'm delighted with it. I would definately recommend you get one. Be patient, one will come up. There're worth every penny.......

Having ridden a 996S and owned both a 998bip and now the 998S I'd say the 998S is the one to go for - last time I looked On Yer Bike had about 4 of them for sale - all bips I think.

Thanks for the advice guys - the 998s was out of my reach financially but I have eventually settled on a Y reg 996s from P&H Crawley .. the termis + originals / ohlins / carbon bits / new pirelli diablos / 12 month warranty / free 4 hour advanced rider training was more temptation than I could bear! Only downside is that I have to wait until 7th August before I can pick it up - bloody hell, what am I going to do until then? Start smoking again, that's what.:eureka:

Welcome mate - you'll enjoy it no end!

Enjoy the bike, join the club, enjoy the club too. :)

You know you want to ...

get a 748 R or SPS in yellow!!! in fact any 748 !!! the best things come in small packages :D:D:D

not that i'm biased or anything ;);)

IMO you've made the right decision. I was in the same position 3 years ago when the 998 had just come out. I was told by a friend who worked in a Ducati dealership that the 996 was a far more robust eengine as Ducati had spent years developing it and I have seen a fair few broken down 998's in my time. They're all great bikes but I just think that the 996 is more robust. My 996s is my only road bike and I ride it all year round. I have ridden it down to the SoF from London on numerous occasions and the only problem I've ever had is a rundown battery!!!
Good luck:sing:

I would say the 996 engine is the better engine too, the new 998/999 Testastrata engine is the result of ever tightning EU emissions laws.

The 996 engine has a longer stroke and IMHO, it sounds better.

Either way, you`ve got a Fantastic bike, Enjoy the summer....

Hi Ils,

and welcome.

Last year I went from a 996S to a 998Bip.

After a period of acclimatization, I am certain the 998 is better.

Mine came standard with Ohlins rear shock.

With 998 there is less worry of flaking rockers and some other issues affecting the earlier model. There is also vastly more potential for tuning with the 998.

Please pardon me for trying to flog you something, but I have a set of low mileage Termi carbon cans and the appropriate ECU (which ups the rev limiter to 11,200) for sale for a 998 Bip. Everything is in excellent nick. Make me a half sensible offer and they are yours. I will post some pics this evening, in case you have any interest.

Good luck with your choice.

Spinoli

[Edited on 22-4-2005 by spinoli1]

Having owned a 996, 998 and now a 999, if I had to choose between the 996 and 998 I'd always, ALWAYS pick the 998, 996 good as it is is just to lazy and lumpy, the 998 motor spins up far quicker, power is shocking in comparison, plus non of this flaking rocker mallarky

Owned a 996BIP and a 998. No contest the 998 has the more powerful & flexible engine. The brakes are better and the ride is better (my old 996 didn't have nitrided showa forks)

Despite what the fashion victims might think the 998 engine is the same as in the 999, probably better as it isn't being gagged with a cat in the exhaust system.

The 996 models of all types are still a thing of beauty.

I can't tell the difference between nitrided showas and Ohlins Forks.

A 996s will be a great bike to enjoy, just don't test ride a 998!

Ray.

I own a 996S (from new for nearly 4 years) and have test ridden then 998S bip. First of all there is some difference between the models people are talking about 996 bip, 996S, 998 bip & 998S. If you read the models in this order they SHOULD get better from left to right.

996 bip ~116bhp, 996S ~124bhp, 998 bip ~124 bhp (testatretta) & 998S ~132 bhp (testastretta)

Now with this in mind, testing a 996 bip with a 998S gives you a winder margin for sensing the improvement. The 996S/998 bip is more subtle. Apart from the engine, there's not much difference in the 996S/998 bip. I'm not sure if the 998 bip has 4 pad brembos because i did notice a marked improvement in the brakes on the 998S which has got the 4 pad brembos. Did the 998bip have a 45mm exhaust - the 996S has a 50mm throughout.

I do love my bike but i've made it my bike by adding so much to it and will probably never sell it. I have also had no probs with mine (I bought mine new from P&H :) too )

So my choice for either of these models would be on condition, mileage, service history and price - whatever comes out best from these criteria then buy that.

998 cans & ecu pics as promised

Thanks for all the advice & encouragement guys, but Redrocket 996 has picked this thread from mid-July of 2004.. The bike is blinking fantastic! I have added an oversize clutch slave cylinder, uprated clutch & changed sprocket sizes (both courtesy of Nelly at Cornerspeed).
Spinoli1 - thanks for the offer mate, but I already have 50mm Termis that shake our bedroom windows when the bike is idling!! - (wife & neighbours not happy) - I'm currently looking for some db eaters to get her through the looming mot.
No problems with her yet at all (996S, not the wife) - although I'll be keeping my fingers crossed when the 12000 mile service comes up in August for flaky rockers.
-illya.

August is too long to wait!!!!

Sell something else to fund it, a lung perhaps!! ;) and go get a 998S - you won't regret it.

Now if you sell a lung and a kidney you might be able to stretch to a 996R or 998R - now you're talking!!!!

Whatever you get - enjoy!!
Tim

Ils,

No worries - I'll put them on ebay when I sort out a paypal account.

You won't be dissappointed with the 6S - and I think you'll get an 11K rev limit as standard (I'm sure mine did). Best value ever mod - lower the gearing - 1 tooth off the front will cost you £15 and make the bike much easier to use.

DB eaters for 50mm cans - from AA16 Road Race - £28.00 a pair plus VAT.

I had to mod mine a little, to get the spout angle correct.

They still sound good, but take away the "I could hear your all the way from Scotland" edge. One of mine even came with a British Standard approval number!

If you can't find them, give me a U2U and I'll look up the Website.

Spinoli

Spinoli1,
That sounds like a good deal - I've looked at the other links for db eaters from e-bay but it's mainly a German company & I can't understand the text.
I can't find any site for AA16 Road Race - any chance of a link?
Cheers, illya.

Here you go Ilya,

http://www.aa16.co.uk/

Spinoli

Ils IMO you chose the right bike:frog: I love my 996s and with 50mm termis they sound awesome and go like stink. I was recently riding with a friend down to the SOF who was on a new K5 GSXR 1000 and had no trouble keeping up. We were hitting 130 for long periods but nothing more and taking the slip roads and sweepers at a fair pace. So the 996 is a very capable bike and still the prettiest by far.
Good luck with the MOT I've found that as long as the can doesn't have a "not for road use" stamp on it a lot of places will let it past.:sing:

have heard 998 rockers . more prone to flaking. than the 996.:puzzled: