S1000RR to 1199-base model or S

Hi everyone I've currently got a 2010 S1000RR, it's a great bike I've loved every second riding it and that engine is just .
I want a change and something more exotic and just love the looks of the Panigale it's by far the best looking bike on the market, also I've never done the Italian bike thing, I know the Pani doesn't make quite the outright power of the S1000RR but lets be honest on the street or even for most of us on the track we're not going to notice the difference or be any quicker, that and I wouldn't want to take either bike on a track, too expensive!!, I'm going to buy a 5 or 6 Year old R6 for track use.
I want something that's a bit more special and the 1199 is definately that, as well as beautiful to look at.

My question really is, should I go for the base model or the S, I know the S has the fancy electronic suspension but other than that is there a big difference?, my main worry with the S is that suspension is more to go wrong and I'm not sure what it's like compared to normal forks to be honest.
I will either buy a used one that's a Year old or just buy new, I could get a lightly used S for the price of a new base here, give or take, I would be really greatful for opinions for and against each model from people who own them.

I've been on my base for two years now with no complains what so ever. I have never ridden an S so I don't know what I'm missing, but that said, neither do I feel my base is lacking anything. I don't track it, for the same reason you don't, and for the street the base gives me more, much more than I could ever really use (street or track). And it also still has that "bit more special" feel to it that you describe, regardless of the lack of the ohlins, etc. In fact, I like the look of the base forks better as well as the red fender, although I'm probably in the minority here. The only things I really want from the S that I don't have are the LEDs and the wheels. Oh well, I can deal with that with little remorse.

had my base for two years 11,000 miles track included. 1 warranty issue with the front forks being replaced but otherwise has been a rock solid bike regardless of how hard i ride it. Like jj, only thing I long for on the s is the wheels. As for the LED's put in an HID kit or LED bulbs took care of that want for me.

get the S used for the price of a base.

esmirna8261980 said:

get the S used for the price of a base.

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if its strictly street is there really a reason for the S? im speaking just from a ridability standpoint, not looks etc. if you like the base rims, then maybe that's the ticket. if you want the bragging rights or the looks of the rims better then perhaps the S. I should have got the S because I like the wheels better and would enjoy the bragging rights lol...but I got too good of a deal on my Base to justify the S, especially since I don't plan on tracking it very often, and when I do, not competitively.

I bought the Base because it is the lightest by a large margin, has exactly the same power as the S, I like the way the Base wheels look, I do not want ABS, or electronic traction control, or electronicly controlled suspension, It's bad enough having a drive by wire throttle. And as an added bonus they are the lowest priced of the lot.

Are you the modding type? If so, then get the base and modify it to what you want out if it. Take a look at ScapperX's bike. It's a base that is far beyond any S model with the amount of stuff on it.

I bought a base because like you I didn't trust the first-generation electronic suspension (although I have yet to hear of ANY issues with it on here), and because with the price difference I could buy much better parts than even those that come on the S. I got a leftover 2012 base in early 2013, and upgraded to Bitubo gas-charged fork cartridges, matching XXF-61 race shock, and carbon fiber wheels, absolute top-of-the-range kit. Lots of other little bling bits and I'm still thousands less than an S.

i have an s and if i could do it all over again here is what i would do.

buy the base model. sell the wheels get a pair of oz check replica magnesium or bst wheels all in it would cost you 1500

get ohlins road and track forks. and a different shock.

if you care find the headlights

BAMMM your bike is now better than the S and cheaper too

track, get the base, customize your setup, no need for fancy lights or electronic adj suspension

no track, get the S, nicer lights, suspension change on the fly from city street to the twisties, the lighter wheel do make a difference

centeroff said:

I bought the Base because it is the lightest by a large margin, has exactly the same power as the S, I like the way the Base wheels look, I do not want ABS, or electronic traction control, or electronicly controlled suspension, It's bad enough having a drive by wire throttle. And as an added bonus they are the lowest priced of the lot.

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Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the base model have exactly the same electronics package as the S?, 8 stage traction control, EBC and the quickshifter?, essentially I thought it was just the forks that were different but it's also the wheels too?.
To tell the truth I probably wouldn't mod the bike at all.

ibb said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the base model have exactly the same electronics package as the S?, 8 stage traction control, EBC and the quickshifter?, essentially I thought it was just the forks that were different but it's also the wheels too?.
To tell the truth I probably wouldn't mod the bike at all.

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ummm...I have all of those OEM on my Base ABS........

ibb said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the base model have exactly the same electronics package as the S?, 8 stage traction control, EBC and the quickshifter?, essentially I thought it was just the forks that were different but it's also the wheels too?.
To tell the truth I probably wouldn't mod the bike at all.

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the wheels are different though.

oh, and the front fender isn't carbon. just painted red.

azimmerlyjr said:

the wheels are different though.

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Quite different indeed.
Lighter wheels are awesome. This is my first time having a bike with lightweight wheels, and I am already a convert.
Ohlins are awesome too, if you get it sprung and set right.
Electronic suspension is a myth. It's just 3x preset damping setups, unlike hp4's active/adaptive damping. Changing it to manual at later stage is apparently easy too.

Making payments on an S model was more appealing to me than making payments on the base, then buying wheels/Bitubo kit/front fender with cash.

I also wanted to try the 1199 exactly as how Ducati intended it. (1st Ducati) The way they pushed the S model at Yas Marina makes me think that the S is thier real 1199 engineered properly, and the base is just a cheaper version.

No worries either way. The parts on the S allmost perfectly equal it's extra cost over the base last time I ran the #'s. All the base models I've seen have ABS, DTC, DQS. I'd make sure yours deos as well. It's really cool being able to turn the linked brakes on.

Except for the LED headlights. Someone please tell me that the huge cost is just to keep base owners from upgrading thier look on the cheap and us S guys don't have to pay full price on those. Or please tell me that just the lens cover is replacable, because one perfectly thrown rock from a truck............$$$$$$$

I'm sort of swaying towards the S model after reading this thread.
Could someone explain how the suspension works on it? I know on normal forks you have an amount of clicks to turn to make softer and harder etc, how do the Ohlins electric forks work?, do they have the same amount of adjustment or do they come with preset selection options?, I don't really understand them to be honest.

S is easy to sort suspension. Set sag and then start with standard or someone else's set up until you get it where you want it. I think the wheels on the S are forged and quite a bit lighter than the standard wheels.

If you factor in the suspension and wheels the S is a better buy IMHO.

centeroff said:

I bought the Base because it is the lightest by a large margin, has exactly the same power as the S, I like the way the Base wheels look, I do not want ABS, or electronic traction control, or electronicly controlled suspension, It's bad enough having a drive by wire throttle. And as an added bonus they are the lowest priced of the lot.

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I've heard that the Ohlins setup is heavier (according to feel and not a scale) and I've heard the LED light setup is also heavier (haven't seen numbers... might be according to feel as well) but the S wheels are definitely lighter so I'd be surprised if a base ABS is lighter than an ABS S.

Anyone put all this stuff on a scale?

ibb said:

I'm sort of swaying towards the S model after reading this thread.

Could someone explain how the suspension works on it? I know on normal forks you have an amount of clicks to turn to make softer and harder etc, how do the Ohlins electric forks work?, do they have the same amount of adjustment or do they come with preset selection options?, I don't really understand them to be honest.

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Same range of adjustment, from 1 to 32 for both rebound and compression damping, both front and rear.
All you need to do is decide which clicker positions for wet mode, save, then repeat the process with Sport and Race mode.
Or stick with the default values.

Changing the setup, say if you are getting out of the track to refuel, is then just as simple as changing your riding mode.
Or go fully soft when the first rain drop starts falling on you, by switching to Wet mode.

More about practicality than anything else.
But those Ohlins (not top of the range like FGRT forks, I know) are very good, once you get the springs changed (or not) to suit your weight. The hysteresis response is so much better than my 848 Showas.
And they're gold coloured....

And those lightweight wheels....

BTrain5489 said:

Anyone put all this stuff on a scale?

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When I did it, 181kg with half tank, and 188kg with full tank. The spec sheet did not lie.
For comparison, CBR600RR 2012 with akrapovic slipon tipped my scale at 175kg with less than full tank.
And I think S1000RR spec sheet says wet weight just knocking on 200kg?

FYI mirrors are 1kg for the couple, tail number plate holder is 1kg, pillion footpegs are about 1.2kg for the set.