| Chillo has summed it up precisely.
The new 999S is the one to have. All the go faster bling bits except the carbon fairing and a few scant horsepower (according to ducati.com there is 7bhp between them). You even get the 'racing kit' with the S just the same as the R.
The price difference is reputedly about £5K...£5K that doesn't seem to buy much. You could have a low mileage ST or Multistrada as an everyday hack bike with the change, or a 748 trackbike or ..... | 
Jools
Threaded Mode