Originally Posted by patentcad

The S3 is like 100 grams lighter (it's really not a big difference), has more 'compliant' rear stays. But I find the S2 very comfortable, and everybody I know who has a carbon soloist agrees. I weigh 170-175 lbs (well soon I won't, I'll be lighter of course, but you get the picture) so my fat ass may compress the rear end more and make the bike feel mushier (aka 'vertically compliant) than it might feel to a 150 lb rider. So the S2 really delivers 95% of the bang for me for a considerably lower price. That's the main race frame they issue to their pro team (or it has been in recent years). It's a great all around bicycle.

I really do think that the S3 might feel mushy to me, but then I like a stiff bike. I've been doing this for a long time, and even VERY stiff bikes (like my Scott) are fine because they're carbon fiber. Ride a stiff aluminum frame. THAT is stiff. My Scott Addict started out feeling stiff to me, now I love the friggin bike. At times the S2 feels downright plush. But never mushy. Well, OK, sometimes maybe a little mushy.

I'm so fat.