The Ohlins suspension does make a difference.

 

I think the best value in the Ducati lineup is always going to be the S model. In the case of the Monster, the S give you a power bump, lighter wheels and MUCH improved Ohlins suspension. The latter two alone are worth the price increase.

I would almost expect there to be some kind of revision to the Monster lineup, beyond the R model announced near the end of November. I would at least wait until then unless you have found a smoking deal on a current model.

 

I agree, I think the "S" is your best bet. Upgraded suspension and slight bump in HP. The "R", IMO, is more for those interested in track days or have the extra bucks to spare.

I doubt the "R" will come in colors other than the Red and Black. I think most of their Premier Ducati models comes only in one of those two colors…

I initially wished the "R" was available when I bought my "S", as I wanted something I could confidently track. but the "S" was already at the top of what I wanted to spend.

While I've yet to track the "S". I'm thoroughly satisfied with the "S"...

 

I personally went for the base model. Rode both it and the S and felt absolutely no different in the power or the delivery of it.

I have no issues at all with the stock suspension either. So I pocketed $4k (the price here) and did exhaust, wheels, lots of Rizoma/Ducabike bits, Power Commander, etc.

 

Where is "here?" In the US the difference between a base and S on the Monster 1200 is $2300.

 

'S or 'R'. One rarely regrets paying for higher quality. Ohlins + 10HP ('S) or 25HP ('R') + forged wheels ('R').

 

Yes, wot he said. ^^^ :smile

I can understand some rationalizing that, for whatever personal reasons, a standard or an S would be better for them than an R; and that is the correct decision for them.

But, I seriously doubt any R owners will ever post that the bike handles too well, and is too powerful. :devil

I also believe it to be obvious that Ducati will produce an improved Monster beyond the R. I just would not expect it to be any time soon, based on history. And waiting to find a smoking deal on a used R might be a long wait. For reference, ask your local Ducati dealer how many Rs their commitment is.

 

If you like white then get the S, the ohlins and panigale m50 brake setup and extra power are also nice...

 

2800 euros for a colour would be absurd, so the rest should be worth it and not only sound nice on specs...


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Better brakes too...didn't realize that.

 

Also lighter wheels, forgot about them. For me the S was a no brainer, especially because I bought used and got a screaming deal on one that already had termi's installed. Also liked the white which made the decision that much easier...

 

I have another view. Mine is the standard 1200, which I ride on the street. I've been very pleasantly surprised with the stock suspension, which performed very well on a summer trip to the curvy roads of SE Ohio. I don't doubt that the Ohlins is better for track days (more adjustments), but the S and R models are for those with lots of cash and/or a desire to do track days.

 

Glad you are satisfied with your bike. After all, that is what this avocation is all about.

But, don't slip into a form of projection bias and ignore the fact that some people may want an R and never take it to a track, or have a lot of cash, the implication being they have money to burn.

I have an R on order and do not intend to track it because I am too old. Bones and muscles heal slower relative to age. I did track days ten years ago and wish it would be feasible again, but wish in one hand, **** in the other. See which one gets filled first. :devil

As to the implication of money to burn, not in my case. But I worked hard and long enough to buy some of the things I appreciate. Those items are usually guns cars and bikes. Some think I am extravagant, but I have my own priorities, and economize in other ways. Others have different priorities than mine, and I would hope they didn't assume they had the right to judge my priorities, because I never worry about theirs. Mine are the correct ones for me and theirs are for themselves. That is one way to avoid projection bias.

Regular, S, or R.....a day on any one of them is a blessing.

 

Hey, please buy what you like. Heck, I'd like an R model too if someone else wants to front the money difference. My point was that you don't have to spend S or R money (as many here suggested) to get a good running/handling Monster 1200. Horses for courses and the standard 1200 is great on the street.

 

The R was really designed to satiate the demands of moto journalists who complained about the foot pegs and track performance of the S. If you want the latest and greatest and do go to the track, and have the budget, go for the R.

Most commuting riders probably won't notice the performance or handling difference between the base and the S, but but.. the S has gold forks!!! And I didn't realize this till lately, but the S also has different wheel rims from the base 1200.

I'm a 1200S owner, and if I had to buy it all over again today, I'd still buy the S, and do the same major upgrades - Termi pipes and BST carbon wheels. I don't need the track performance of the R (and it's got a higher seat), and the components upgrades from base model to S model make the S model a better value-buy.

You might also want to look at some used models - there are 1200S models I've seen on this forum being sold with lots of great upgraded parts.

And why not consider the 821? Much cheaper and just as handsome, if you don't need 1200cc.

 

Your comments sound contradictory. You poke fun at the gold forks of the "S" (the forks are different between the standard and the "S" as you know and not just color), yet you put BST wheels on your bike and a Termi exhaust on your bike and imply you don't take your bike to the track. So why make those changes? Because it looks good and makes you happy?

You've got more into your "S" than the cost of an "R"…

I'm not bagging on you or your bike. Its yours do what you want and do whatever makes you happy! Its just your comments don't take into account for the person like the one person above who would buy the "R" just because its totally what appeals to them.

Hell one day, I'm going to own a Desmosedici, and it may never turn a wheel on the track… I just want one!

 

My purchase was not based upon finances...my dealer did not have an S model on the floor at the time I bought mine. I was out riding the 1100S multistrada on a late fall day, and stopped in on a whim. Took the 1200 for a test ride, and bought it right then and there. I travel too much for work, and had to fly back to my job in a couple of days, so waiting for delivery of an S wasn't really what I wanted to do. I could at least get some riding in on a new bike the weekends I'd be home. And the R model wasn't out yet...
I took my standard 1200 to track too....had a blast on it, and it performed just fine. Only gripe was the peg position. I really prefer the supersport at the track though.

Get what ever bike floats yer boat! Who knows... I may trade the 1200 in on something else in a year or two anyway.

 

I took my standard 1200 to track too....had a blast on it, and it performed just fine. Only gripe was the peg position. I really prefer the supersport at the track though.

What about the peg position did you not like?

 

I know I'm in a very small minority here, but I believe the changes to the rear subframe/seat of the R prevent the factory Ducati bags from bolting up.

Crazy as it sounds, that is a deal breaker that would keep me with the "S" instead of buying an R.

I only run the factory bags a few times a year but it really highlights how versatile the machine is.

 

I agree, the Ohlins are all about the sophistication/suppleness on the street for me, couldn't care less about glass smooth racetracks since I don't bring the monster to the track.

I have a rninet as well and made the switch from the stock suspension to Ohlins and the difference is night and day. Good suspension is worth every penny, for me anyway.

 

Improved suspension would be nice, on the 696 riding some imfamous belgium roads is no fun... ( read intestines rearrangement)

So S it is , i might take a look at the R but really : that is one expensive monster


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http://www.ducatiusa.com/special-offers-monster.do Received this link in an email from Ducati might help the OP decide...

 

If you want to compare the two suspensions take one of each to an area with a lot of railroad crossings. Those are famous for exporting differences in suspensions.

 

As others have stated, I believe it comes down to the quality of the road you're riding. I would say that on a smooth track or exceptionally smooth road it would be difficult to tell the difference from a properly tuned Sachs to the Ohlins.

However, most of the roads I'm subjected to in CT are some of the worst in the country. In fact CT was ranked this year as having the 2nd worst roads in the country, we progressed from last year as having the worst. I can absolutely tell the difference from an Ohlins suspension on unforgiving roads as opposed to say a Sachs. An Ohlins suspension is smoother and handles rough road surface better than any suspension I have ever ridden. I've owned approximately 20 road bikes since 1995 and approximately a third of them were equipped with Ohlins.

 

I was at the store yesterday, the footpeg on the right side indeed seems anoying, do you get use to this?

Does someone has pictures of the smoked windscreen mounted, the original one i mean.


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I've gotten used to it to the point where I don't feel like spending the money on rearsets.

 

the S sounds like the best value, the R is nice but a lot more money for minimal upgrades over S. The main thing is premium suspension and both models have that, great bikes!

 

I'm praying Ducati make some adjustments to the 1200 R before the official release tomorrow and add a QUICKSHIFTER! You hear me Ducati?!?!?!

Ducati is known for making tweaks before the official release date, so lets hope they add this in. I can't understand how a bike that is supposed to be track focused doesn't come with a QS.

If it does, sign me up.

 

I don't understand how a track-focused bike could come without an effective windscreen.

 

Really? You don't?

I wouldn't call the R "track focused" so much as "track inspired". First things first, the Monster has never been that bike. It was never built to make sense to the masses, hence why it ended up with so much appeal. The bike was not built form before function, nor function before form. It was always a 50/50 compromise. Upright rising position, slightly aggressive. Mean but not nasty.

I've read a lot of threads from when the body style changed, the typical comments could be summed up like this,

"With the fly screen mounted you don't know it's there, however, once removed you know it's not there."

Take that with the grain of salt it's worth. The R may truly be a gem on the track, huge motor, gobs of torque, a true smile generator. It, however, is not a true track bike, nor will it ever be. If you want big fairings, clip ons and true track focus you buy a Panigale. If the new Monster had be designed for true comfort it would look like a Cadillac with 4 wheels and a windshield.

I'm not trying to beat you down, just giving you a bit of grief. You've got to weigh all the pros and cons. Great looks, yep. Amazing performance, yep. Better riding/touring position than a true sport bike, yep. Some wind resistance, yep. A true windscreen, nope.

 

from what I'm told by my local dealer, the R that is being show all over, may be changing a bit to bring down the price.
They are struggling to get it under $20000 USD right now even though its being shown as a sub $20k bike.
And delivery of the R is looking like late spring as well.

Those who put deposits down on an R already, what was the price you were given???

I went with an S for a few reasons.
One, I got a GREAT price on it and two, I wanted the Ohlins.
I'll track it a number of times next year for sure. I wanted the ability to dial in more adjustment. And to be honest, I got my S for a bit less than a non-S. So it was a no brainer!

 

Those who put deposits down on an R already, what was the price you were given???

My dealer takes deposits with the caveat that the final purchase price is TBD and the deposit will be refunded upon customer request.

I therefore put a deposit down based on that agreement. Off the record, they told me not to expect delivery until March or April. They hoped to beat that estimate but would not commit. They also could not comment on price until the factory released the official base price.

Myself, I read all of the various posts with guesses and speculations for entertainment, and discount all of them at this time. Most will be wrong, some could be correct, none can be proved at this time. :grin

 

@superflask
@BushyAR15

Re: Post #17 to 21
Hi guys, I was actually entertained and enjoyed both your comments for different reasons and angles.
I wanted a Monster also.

But why did I buy the "R"?
For the look. Bad-Ass Black and it'll never see the track.

 

I went from a 696 to a 1200s. I don't regret it one bit. I got tired of the base components on the 696 so I definitely wanted to opt for the S with this bike to get the upgraded goodies. I got a steal of a deal so I wouldn't do anything differently but that being said, I do like some of the slight improvements on the R. Mainly the rearsets, the more aggressive rear, and the stock damper. Either way you won't go wrong. If the money is not an issue for you though I would definitely go for the S.


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@696DCRider
Interesting post which can be extended to the new model.
The 2017 R is about $2200 more than the new 2017 S model but I think you're getting a lot more bang for the difference in price.

The "R" gets you Marchesini forged wheels, bigger R/T tires, a Ohlins steering damper, a mini fairing/screen, a metal tail-light bracket, a much slicker paint job and more HP.
However, you're giving up a few improvements like a QuickShifter, a better ABS system, DWC, and an updated display panel.

Faced with that choice today, I'd still choose the "R" over the "S".

 

@696DCRider

Interesting post which can be extended to the new model.

The 2017 R is about $2200 more than the new 2017 S model but I think you're getting a lot more bang for the difference in price.



The "R" gets you Marchesini forged wheels, bigger R/T tires, a Ohlins steering damper, a mini fairing/screen, a metal tail-light bracket, a much slicker paint job and more HP.

However, you're giving up a few improvements like a QuickShifter, a better ABS system, DWC, and an updated display panel.



Faced with that choice today, I'd still choose the "R" over the "S".

Well yeah. I would have gotten an R if it was out when I got mine and I could afford it. Obviously though in the price spectrum it's 1200 base>1200s>1200r. My point is mostly that if you can afford it, I would opt for the S at a minimum. It was nice to finally have better suspension and brakes, etc. coming from my bottom of the line 696 and to not feel like I would need to upgrade that stuff. Beyond that, its just a matter of what features out of the ones you mentioned are more important to the buyer. Either way, both of them are nice.

They even fixed the rearsets on the S now. I'm about to drop 800 bucks to fix that on mine [emoji30] I would have preferred to spend that on another upgrade.


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@696DCRider
When I test rode the 2106 S model, I did notice the right cramped heel space but it wasn't a deal breaker. Have you checked if installing Termi's will give you a bit more foot room?

 

@696DCRider

When I test rode the 2106 S model, I did notice the right cramped heel space but it wasn't a deal breaker. Have you checked if installing Termi's will give you a bit more foot room?

I've got full termis on mine but I still don't like the way my feet sit on there. I would like to get my knees more planted in the tank too.


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