LED headlamps vs. non-LED headlamps

Ahhh....the Base Marzocchi forks versus the Ohlins...yet another critical factor in the decision I must make within 2-3 weeks....

Akshuneer said:

Hmmmm....sounds like the LED headlamps are a HUGE upgrade.

The reason I ask is that I'm THIS close to pulling the trigger on a Panigale. (I already have a deposit down)

I'm trying to weight the pros and cons of the base versus the S. The DES is not a necessity for me personally. What is a necessity is that I'd like to be able to actually see the road ahead of me at night. And I'm not too keen on doing an LED conversion on a base version.

Hmmm...food for thought.

Any other thoughts on the S version's LED headlamps?

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Get the S, you will regret getting the base after. DES is a gimmick, but remember there's Ohlins. Don't ever forget the Ohlins, because it's like riding on a red carpet.

A lot of people are telling me that the DES on the Panigale is, for lack of a better term, a "gimmick." Even my neighborhood dealer is telling me that the DES is not anything to write home about - and perhaps not worth it at all.

However, I really like the LED headlights and the S wheels. These give the bike a cleaner, more sophisticated appearance.

Dammit....what to do? what to buy?

It's a tough choice for sure. I recently faced the same decision and went with the base. I wasn't too keen on the chicken feet wheels or the electronic suspensionon on the S. The lights would've been nice but for me they did not outweigh my not liking the wheels and suspension. It's not really saved me anything as I have a TTX Mk2 rear shock from Kyle racing arriving tomorrow and will be getting OZ racing 5 spoke piega wheels as soon as my local bike shop can get them for me. I'll end up spending about the same but will have a set up that is more to my liking.

Nce said:

It's a tough choice for sure. I recently faced the same decision and went with the base. I wasn't too keen on the chicken feet wheels or the electronic suspensionon on the S. The lights would've been nice but for me they did not outweigh my not liking the wheels and suspension. It's not really saved me anything as I have a TTX Mk2 rear shock from Kyle racing arriving tomorrow and will be getting OZ racing 5 spoke piega wheels as soon as my local bike shop can get them for me. I'll end up spending about the same but will have a set up that is more to my liking.

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I think the wheels look fantastic.

Nce said:

It's a tough choice for sure. I recently faced the same decision and went with the base. I wasn't too keen on the chicken feet wheels or the electronic suspensionon on the S. The lights would've been nice but for me they did not outweigh my not liking the wheels and suspension. It's not really saved me anything as I have a TTX Mk2 rear shock from Kyle racing arriving tomorrow and will be getting OZ racing 5 spoke piega wheels as soon as my local bike shop can get them for me. I'll end up spending about the same but will have a set up that is more to my liking.

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^^^This.


I already have the S wheels and am outfitting my base with a Bitubo XXF61 Race Shock and the Bitubo Full-Pressure System Cartridge inserts to keep it all Italian (and add rear high/low speed compression damping):


Bitubo Shock
Bitubo Fork Carts

The setup will be completely tailored to me and the tracks and roads I ride, not what a team of engineers in Borgo Panigale had to compromise for a world-wide product and wide spectrum of rider sizes and skill sets.

For the OP, if you really like the wheels and lights, it would be cheaper to buy the S model up front. If you find the DES gimmicky, there are many options to modify the Ohlins to give better performance, such as MotoWheels mod to the DES Ohlins shock to make it manual, and the aforementioned Bitubo true-nitrogen-pressurized fork cartridges are currently available for the S-model Ohlins.

For me personally, I'm not too keen on doing major upgrades to the suspension after purchase as suggested by some of the others on the forum. I'm not super mechanically inclined and have no plans to track the bike anytime soon.

I'd most likely stick with the suspension on whatever model I purchase - Marzocchi or Ohlins.

I have a tendency to keep things stock on my bikes - mechanically speaking. I will, however, make aesthetic upgrades to my bike and add some protective features (axle sliders, etc.).

It's time like this I wish there WEREN'T differing models available. :roll eyes:

The Tricolor and R are out of the price range I'm looking to spend. So back the drawing board: Base or S?

OMG, bunch of threads on that Base-is-best I always say Other than the LEDs, the S really has nothing you can't easily add to the Base, at a later date when you have the funds -

Better Ohlins shocks F/R$2250
Lighter mag wheels $2100

Trauma said:

OMG, bunch of threads on that Base-is-best I always say Other than the LEDs, the S really has nothing you can't easily add to the Base, at a later date when you have the funds -

Better Ohlins shocks F/R$2250
Lighter mag wheels $2100

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gotta agree. the last thing I could personally care less about on this bike is LED lamps. some feel this is a deal breaker.

i not going to be one of the "end all say alls" that are here these days, but weigh the options each model offers and relate them to your intent for the bike.

this place used to be great for gathering info. now it's like housewives fighting over who's shoes are better.

take your time and buy the right bike for you and your plans.

nyandy said:

gotta agree. the last thing I could personally care less about on this bike is LED lamps. some feel this is a deal breaker.

i not going to be one of the "end all say alls" that are here these days, but weigh the options each model offers and relate them to your intent for the bike.

this place used to be great for gathering info. now it's like housewives fighting over who's shoes are better.

take your time and buy the right bike for you and your plans.

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Just for the record, my shoes, albeit worn Topsiders, are better.

Trauma said:

Lighter mag wheels $2100

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Intrigued, which Magnesium Wheels for the Pani are $2100?