1299 Base vs. 1299S

Keilaz · May 20, 2015

magzx12r said:
I decided to go with the 1299 Base since I only ride the street and the $5700 price difference. I will upgrade some of the parts over time though. If I hadn't bought a GTR earlier this year, I would have bought the 1299S.

fzr100098 said:
It's actually $6k, plus extra tax. The base 50 mm Marzocchi fork is good and the Sachs rear is easily swapped if needed for $600 - it's a no brainer for the street

I faced the same dilemma when ordering my panigale in late 2011. I spend most of my time riding twisty costal roads and the occasional track days at Phillip Island. I choice the base model in the end for budget reasons, then spent the next 6 months agonising over my choice while waiting for the bike to be delivered.

Once I finally got my hands on the bike I wasn't disappointed. The marzocchi forks are awesome ( replaced under warranty with the new part number). The sach shock,meh!. I have now started customising the bike with DP parts I want on the bike.
The bloody dangerous pegs and the slippery blank of a seat where the first to go.
Honestly, the only parts I miss that the S had are the LED lights and the rear shock.
It takes me less the 5 minutes to adjust the suspension for track and road with the Allen key.
Would I buy a base again.....hell yeah!

JDBeretta · May 20, 2015

shakazulu12 said:
It wouldn't surprise me, but it's just a number at the end of the day. The comparison is useful since it was all the bikes at the same time.

MCN reported 198 RWHP for a stock 2015 S1000rr a few months ago

New BMW S1000RR: 198bhp on the dyno! | MCN

Here is a built one done by EDR Performance thats been racing in OMRRA. Still 1000cc, but a LOT of work into it. Edit: Actually the dyno notes are that it still has the stock velocity stacks, stock airbox, stock crank and stock clutch. So more probably possible. Again, on THIS dyno.

Yes, I understand that dyno readings in this test came out as they did, and I wouldn't even pay much attention to those readings, as I have had various dyno read outs at different dynos on my bikes and car. And I know we can make WAY over the dyno figures posted here with 1000CCs. Absolutely definitely way more possible than in that dyno readout.

What I was commenting on is that the mfg claimed output on these models aren't consistently higher or lower.. I have typically seen all numbers reason either high or low. BMW is reading 13 over (at the wheel vs crank), Duc reads 4 under, and the Aprilia is almost bang on.

Another reason I find the motorcycle magazine reviews to be flawed, biased, and with no control group to set the pace. All good though, I wasn't trying to come across as challenging what you were posting or anything like that.

shakazulu12 · May 20, 2015

Oh no worries, BMW has been implying the engine was underrated ever since they announced it. There is some sort of gentlemens agreement amongst the big 4 not to get too far over 200hp figures on road going machines. I suspect we will see a lot more of this, or bikes that are neutered via the ECU going forward.

JDBeretta · May 20, 2015

shakazulu12 said:
Oh no worries, BMW has been implying the engine was underrated ever since they announced it. There is some sort of gentlemens agreement amongst the big 4 not to get too far over 200hp figures on road going machines. I suspect we will see a lot more of this, or bikes that are neutered via the ECU going forward.

I'd be shocked at what the stock bikes would make with ECUs completely unleashed by the designers.

jonbishop · May 21, 2015

Hello all! I just joined this amazing forum and I've been trying to find this discussion what seems like forever because I'll be getting a 1299 November-January time frame(waiting for wife to finish up school and get her job) so I really didn't know the difference of the two... I'm not much of a crazy rider and it'll be almost all streets and highway, maybe once or twice on the track so I'm thinking the base will be my best choice, if at the time of purchase finances are looking good, I'll go with the S but we shall see. This post helped tons right now! [emoji4]

love2ride · May 28, 2015

SecretlyaFish said:
I too am having a big issue with this... I've always been the guy that's saved more for that bit extra. Some of you might remember my thread about the 1299 as a first bike. I honestly do believe I could get onto a 1299, and ride it just fine without killing myself, I'm very responsible and cautious, and don't like taking risks. Realize when I say ride, I mean, riding like a poser, not giving it huge throttle and riding it like a hooligan, I mean riding it like its a cruiser lol.

But I have decided that, I may not even like riding, so either sometime this year or next, depends on how things go, I will get the KTM RC390, I thought I might for the duke 390 because its 500 bucks less and looks less cheap, but the RC has the more aggressive riding style which I might wanna get used to if I ever want a 1299.

Still, realistically, unless a miracle happens, I will not be able to buy either the base or the S model with cash. I would probably put down 5k DP and then finance the rest. 6k is a huge deal when it comes to a bike. Especially when the base here in Canada will likely be 23k+ OTD. I guessed maybe 30k retail OTD for our pricing here.

Its such a tough decision, because I am always that guy who looks back and things, "I shoulda got the better". That said, I'm not rich at all, and buying this bike is more to just get something that I know is gonna make me really happy, rather than a smart financial decision. Either bike will knock me back for the term of the finance, and I may have to make some serious sacrifices, such as taking the bus in the winter time (easy sacrifice to make for the bike of dreams).

What do you guys think, I've got it down like this.
Just as a baseline, in case I can't get good interest or deals, I've set everything fairly high I think. Obviously I could probably get a bit better than this but ya never know.

Base, 24k, 5k down, 60 month, 9% interest. 394.40 a month.
S model, 30k 5k down, 60 month, 9% interest, 518.95 a month

It may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but thats 5 years you're making those payments for, a lot can happen in that amount of time. Sorry for my rambling haha. Cheers guys.

How much will the 390 cost you?

topendz · Mar 31, 2016

Buy the S for the same reason you are considering both today. If you buy the base you will always wonder if you should have bought the S. If you buy the S I doubt you will ever wish you bought the base

Rogue · Mar 31, 2016

Almost a year later....I bet he has decided.

Slowdive2 · Mar 31, 2016

Rogue said:
Almost a year later....I bet he has decided.

True, but I bet there is someone else contemplating the exact same question now. This thread may save us all a redundant post.

Rogue · Mar 31, 2016

Slowdive2 said:
True, but I bet there is someone else contemplating the exact same question now. This thread may save us all a redundant post.

You're right. 11 pages wasn't enough. We needed one more.

tinus675 · Mar 31, 2016

Only 6 pages on my phone, if it was an S it would all fit on 3 pages or so.

Rogue · Mar 31, 2016

Your phone must be better than mine.

Phl · Mar 31, 2016

Rogue said:
Your phone must be better than mine.

in the settings you can adjust how many posts per page you want....

http://ducati1299.com/profile.php?do=editoptions#top scroll to "Thread Display Options"

with 40/page you get 3 pages

Rogue · Mar 31, 2016

Dammit Phil. I've been sitting here silently bitching about the amount of posts per page for 3 years...

Rogue · Mar 31, 2016

Life = Changed

This thread was a reminder of how nice it is to not have fzr around anymore though.

Phil · Nov 11, 2016

Sorry for posting on that "old" post, but i also have difficulties making my mind on which one to go for.

The main question is about if the S is really worth the price difference, just talking about the Ohlins suspensions and leds (i don't really need the forged wheels and carbon stuff).

Are those Ohlins suspensions really different compared to the base ones ? Meaning that if you would try both bikes, base and S, without having any visual difference, would you feel the difference ?

Thanks for the enlightenment !

Rogue · Nov 11, 2016

Phil said:
Sorry for posting on that "old" post, but i also have difficulties making my mind on which one to go for.

The main question is about if the S is really worth the price difference, just talking about the Ohlins suspensions and leds (i don't really need the forged wheels and carbon stuff).

Are those Ohlins suspensions really different compared to the base ones ? Meaning that if you would try both bikes, base and S, without having any visual difference, would you feel the difference ?

Thanks for the enlightenment !

Cruising around on the street? No.

Phil · Nov 11, 2016

Rogue said:
Cruising around on the street? No.

Interesting, that's the opposite of what my dealer told me, that the ohlins gets really comfortable in street use, with "smooth" setups, but that on track as it only has presets, it could be less interesting than the marzocchi or a non electronic ohlins fork.

Rogue · Nov 11, 2016

Why wouldn't your dealer try to up-sell you? When I went to pick up my S my dealer kept trying to tell me how I needed the R, even though I told him it would rarely be tracked (my 675R is my dedicated track bike). I'm sure if I went in for an R, he would push a Superleggera.

The only time I've really noticed the EC suspension is on the track. I came back and had it professionally set up for my weight in fixed mode. We played with it for a few sessions, but I ultimately ended up putting it back to dynamic. It really is amazing. I don't regret buying the S model for a second, but to say you need the EC Ohlins on the street is dumb.

Phil · Nov 11, 2016

Rogue said:
Why wouldn't your dealer try to up-sell you? When I went to pick up my S my dealer kept trying to tell me how I needed the R, even though I told him it would rarely be tracked (my 675R is my dedicated track bike). I'm sure if I went in for an R, he would push a Superleggera.

The only time I've really noticed the EC suspension is on the track. I came back and had it professionally set up for my weight in fixed mode. We played with it for a few sessions, but I ultimately ended up putting it back to dynamic. It really is amazing. I don't regret buying the S model for a second, but to say you need the EC Ohlins on the street is dumb.

Thanks for sharing your experience, i don't think he's trying to up-sell me as he doesn't recommends me one or the other, actually it's more like myself changing my mind everytime lol. Taking your advice in consideration, thanks a lot !

1299 Base vs. 1299S

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