| I have had a 999S and now a 749R and I much prefer the 749R. I have ridden a standard 749 and it feels no where near as taut and well balanced as the 'R', whether it is the ohlins suspension or whether the settings are different on the 'R' it feels like a completely different bike.
When out with the new 600s and 1000s I have no problem either keeping up or passing them on the twisties and I am not something special.
On a long straight the 1000s can come by but coming into corners then back out they cannot keep with the 'R'
I have spent a fortune on mine as have a lot of others and there is nothing I would swap mine for at the moment unless I got a xerox cheap or if someone offered me silly money for it !
I will see what the new model is going to be like next year but I for one do not need 1200cc especially so with all the speed cameras and new technology coming out so if they bring out a new 'R' I could be tempted.
Go for the 'R' | 
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