Base Models Finally Rollin In...

I'm sure it's a question of degree, but I was very impressed with the Base in the steering/handling category. More people need to try the Base, no S snobs allowed haha

fzr100098 said:

I'm sure it's a question of degree, but I was very impressed with the Base in the steering/handling category. More people need to try the Base, no S snobs allowed haha

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Or, as some of us have always said "Base is Best".

Right Phil?

A few pics...

Charliem90 said:

Or, as some of us have always said "Base is Best".

Right Phil?

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Or, "Base is Beast"!

wilkson said:

I can't ever really feel the difference between the base and S wheels .

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ditto, I've taken magnesiums, the forged aluminums and base wheels to the track and didn't notice a noticeable difference between the 3. At track pace, it all just feels fast.

fzr100098 said:

Tell Chris I said hi, he was very nice to let me try both bikes

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Ha I missed this post. Just got back from testing the 1299 base. It's weird. I felt like I just lost my virginity again. The experience was totally awkward but I know I want to go back for more.

The DQS took some getting used to. Wasn't exactly like a video game, but I think under normal conditions it works decent. I think you need more time to trust it and I suspect at the track it's bang on.

The bike gets hot as ..... My balls were on fire in traffic on i77. The engine was 220. It was ok up to speed.

The bike is wild. My RC51 was smoother. The duke definitely feel choppy at low revs.

The stock exhaust isn't bad. Honestly I think I'd hang on to it for a good while before upgrading.

The electronics are overwhelming if you try to understand all the settings. I wish I had more time with it. I just put it to race and let her eat. I didn't push the bike to test any limit but I did get the front wheel up a couple of inches.

I would have loved some track time but I guess I have the buy it... Oh well. It felt like in low speed turns that I could have pushed it more. Falls over easy and feels comfortable. Just need to get more acquainted with it.

Didn't try the BMW because I think it's ugly so even if it felt good I wouldn't buy it.

....... 21k out the door. Think I might wait for a Panthers player to sell one in December for 17k

elements018 said:

ditto, I've taken magnesiums, the forged aluminums and base wheels to the track and didn't notice a noticeable difference between the 3. At track pace, it all just feels fast.

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Same .I'm swapping wheels all the time at the track between magnesium,forged R wheels and base wheels really don't notice it at all more concerned about the rubber that's on them .

She's not cheap but she's pretty! I got tons of thumbs up on the Ducati and disapproving stares on the evil black BMW haha - both are fun in their own ways, not an easy decision

wilkson said:

Same .I'm swapping wheels all the time at the track between magnesium,forged R wheels and base wheels really don't notice it at all more concerned about the rubber that's on them .

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Exactly - I think we can throw the bs flag on the "dramatic difference" claim

White13Pani said:

Do you have any idea what youre talking about?

Suspension, steering damper, forged rims, headlights, carbon fender, the list goes on for what you get with the S over the base....

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All of this plus the S comes with the auxiliary buttons on the handle bars to change settings. I considered this a big plus.

Rogue said:

All of this plus the S comes with the auxiliary buttons on the handle bars to change settings. I considered this a big plus.

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That can be added to the base it's just plug in it's a base option and really not that much of a cost .

Base is becoming more and more attractive. Didn't know about that wilkson, thanks for the info.

wilkson said:

That can be added to the base it's just plug in it's a base option and really not that much of a cost .

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I saw that they were available. Just out of curiosity, what's the cost?

I was told approx. $250 but I'm not sure .

Charliem90 said:

Or, as some of us have always said "Base is Best".

Right Phil?

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If I was at a point where money wouldn't matter, I'd really like to turn some hot laps with either a base and a base with those magic wheels everyone is talking about or a base vs. S comparison.

If that wouldn't give me a 0.53s advantage I'd be outraged...

The fact that I run a 1:41 on a ...... (sorry Gunny) SV650 and a 1:45 on a freaking 1199 at barber says it all.

The SV must have lighter wheels


Yes, mechanics/dynamics and feel is on the side of
Lighter wheels but hey, where's the REAL advantage besides knowing that it is like that?

Glad to hear that most of you don't think that the base wheels make a difference. I'm going to pick up an extra set of base wheels for track rubber.

Another thing to consider is depreciation. It's a percentage thing and 30% off the Base MSRP will be way less than the S or R. Just sayin....

Every single review I see online says to buy base and save the money for the Akrapovic exhaust. And I agree.

After seeing both bikes at the dealer yesterday and riding the base, the only thing I'd want from the S are the LED headlights. I had the guy turn the lights on for both, and the LED headlights look a lot better.

Since the beginning of all Ducati forums the "Base" vs "S" discussion always comes up. No right or wrong answer here.

Different strokes for different folks. Dont settle or you will never truly be happy and always come across trying to justify and defend your purchase when the next thread comes up for whatever reason.

fzr100098 said:

Test rode 1299 Base and 2015 S1000RR today.

1299: tons of grunt down low and mid range, but the power didn't really blow me away like I thought it would (and has been reported), I rode it in sport mode and got it up to about 10k rpm. Strong, yes, but not terrifying at all, which is what I was expecting. Handling was great, felt very nimble and agile, although you sit up higher, more like you're on top of the bike, with BMW you're lower. Heat cooked my right leg, and it wasn't that hot out.

S1000RR: of course less power off the bottom, but once you get past 6k it feels like someone hit the nitrous button, super quick, love the "hit". I've been riding inline 4s for about 30 years and my current bike is a ZX-10, but this is a new level of acceleration. Comfort (can I live with this bike every day?) factor and ergos generally feel better to me, and heat is a non issue on the BMW. Shifting on the BMW is superb, but both bikes are good.

Decision for me (at least right now): BMW, but I want to try the R1 as well

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Very surprising that the power wasn't all you thought it would be. This is contrary to every other post I have read. Some say it's even faster than the S1000RR.

I've never ridden with lightweight wheels but perhaps on a quick steering bike like the 899 / 1x99 the difference isn't as noticeable.

I have heard that on the slow steering bikes such as the 848 / 1x98, the difference is quite pronounced.

Finally, on the base vs. S discussion. People will always defend what they have. Nature of the beast. I don't think one can go wrong either way.