[gajas]

I will be getting a Strada this comming summer but can't decide whether it's worth it to go for the upgraded S? Any suggestions would help.

[1bobbydog]

Seems to me if you can afford the extra money, go for it, but if money is tight and you aren't an expert who can get the most out of the better suspension, then I'd think hard. The standard 1000DS, is, in my opinion an excellent all round bike and the stock Showa suspension is also very good. That's just my $0.02 worth, either way enjoy it.

[doctor_john]

In my opinion ONLY at race track you will notice the diference...

I will suggest 1000DS.



PS: after all i think that OHLINS manufactured in Japan now (if anyone knows something diferent, please report)

PS2: i use to uprgade SHOWA with the help of my local OHLINS dealer and they are GREAT! Also if you like the "smoked gold" color you could send your frond for electrostatic bath paint...

[rays]

i have the standard model, and it handles like a dream. my abilities cannot push the bike nearly enough to get any benefit from an S suspension upgrade. the engines are identical between the two.

you rather may want to choose to spend any extra dollars on termi exhausts, or any of the other excellent systems that folks on this board have added. with the stock exhausts, the MTS sounds kind of anemic. and with the termi upgrade, the entire engine breathes easier, as well as getting the ducati unique exhaust sound.

but you can't go wrong with either choice.

i'd also strongly recommend ducati performance mirrors with either choice. mine cost $134.00 for the pair and 1/2 hour labor ($32) for installation at my dealer.

ray

[Hampus]

[lotus54]

I think that the Ohlins may make more difference on the street rather than the track. The Showas can be adjust to be firm on the track, but them may loose the 'plushness' at street speeds. The Ohlins are very plush at street speeds, yet I hear still work great on the track.
I say that having never taken the bike to the track.

I don't ride that hard anymore, but I find the Ohlins are fantastic, even at a moderate pace on the street.
You really can beat it for the price difference.

Now if you are talking used, that is different. You could pick up a used 'standard' for much less than a new 'S. Not many S's on the used market.

Mark

[JohnB]

For what Ducati's charging for the entire "S" upgrade, you could only buy maybe just the rear shock. If you can affort it, go for the "S". You get way more than your money's worth between the forks, shock and carbon goodies.

[Gizmo]

[gajas]

Thanks to everybody for their input... That did help me make a decision.

[Tee-Dub]

Suspension is the best upgrade you can ever make to a bike, period. The Ohlins will ride like a Cadillac and handle like a Ferrari. If you aren't the type to upgrade your bikes, don't worry about it, but if you are, just buy the "S". For $1500 more you are getting about $500 worth of carbon fiber, you are getting an $1100 rear shock, a $2500 pair of front forks, approx $200 bar/riser set up, and the wheels come black, like all the others should. So for $1500 you are getting approximately $4300 worth of upgrades. A no brainer in my book, if the "s" had been available when I bought mine I wouldn't have even considered the base model.

[wayward]