Well I got my new bike, and WHAT a hell of a bike it is!! I only had ever sat on one, never rode one at all. I can't believe just how lite and nimble this bike is! The trip was awesome, it normally takes in a car 6hrs and 40min, I did it on the bike in 5hrs 20min and wasn't really what I would call pushing it. Got home and felt like I had only been to town and back! I am short at 5ft5in and this bike just fitted me to a T!
Mostly sat on 140km and was a good speed, front end gets light and twitchy but still in control, as you get up in the speeds, that light front end can be alittle unsettling if you happen to hit dips and bumps in the road cornering, never had the feeling like it was going to let go or anything, but it's just something that you don't need. I am alot faster on this bike than my ST2 with upgraded efi and pipes on my fav bit of road, I feel so in control and can get this thing down, it drops in so easy into corners,it's just a flick and your on the other side leaning it over! it has pilot power's CT2's, which a friend has on his ST4s and do grip like #*%# to paper! I have PP2's on the ST2. This bike was mainly for my wife to ride as it is light and has a low seat height and it's a Ducati! mmmmm she's goin to have some trouble keeping my off it, damn it feels so good!!... think I may trade the ST2 in on other monster!
Got some mod's underway, got a led tail light coming, frame plugs for the rear, will make my own tail chop bracket, find the cost to buy a folded bit of steel to much to swallow, and with the exchange rate up the poo it would cost me $250.00 for a folded bit of steel/alloy!!!... with holes! lol Then a barend mirror and I need sound! I took the mufflers off and it's not that loud at all, it is on par with my ST2 with Staintunes which has just a tad more base, don't have the O2 sensor in my udder and it's baffled?
Has anyone cut open the stock mufflers and re-cored them?
Check the Accesories and Mods thread heading. Several people have chopped and cored stock cans.
V-twin, paragraphs. Paragraphs, V-twin. ;D
Oh, and no pics = no bike.
Yes yes I know... i was just soooo excited about the bike pompetta, sorry [bow_down] [beer] as to photo's.... still working how to post a pic [bang]!!!
Thanks swampduc, I posted the muffler question in there too, but will have a closer look [thumbsup]
think I have to join to pic hosting site etc...
I love how in all your excitement you don't tell us what monster you got lol
Oh so true Heath.... it's a 2005 S2R 800, in Acid Yellow!! See how I go with posting a pic!.....
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/T-volvo/010.jpg)
Will get rid of that ugly plastic tray on rear....
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/T-volvo/013.jpg)
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/T-volvo/014.jpg)
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/T-volvo/022.jpg)
If this doesn't work I'll go read the "how too post pic" thread!
Quote from: V-twin on December 16, 2008, 08:31:49 PM
Has anyone cut open the stock mufflers and re-cored them?
Congrats on the new bike. Your posts are dripping with your excitement about your new bike. (I didn't intend to that to sound as dirty as it does, ya pervs).
Here's a tutorial on chopping s*r cans. I hope it helps: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=505.0
Thanks Spidey, yeah am so happy with it, it's just so god damn fun to ride!!!
Thanks for the link [beer]
Its always nice to see a yellow s2r, it seems like they dont pop up to often [thumbsup]
Quote from: HobokenHooligan on December 17, 2008, 03:42:31 PM
Its always nice to see a yellow s2r, it seems like they dont pop up to often [thumbsup]
I have always liked that scheme. It looks killer.
Congrats on the bike!!! i feel your excitement my friend:-) i've had mine for four years and it still gives me a big smile when i ride it.Mods coming soon perhaps? Ride safe!
Thanks Guys! [beer] Not sure what it is with this bike, it just fits with me so well I feel so good with it as one so to speak. Yep mods are happening as we speak..... that rear tray will go, then the mufflers, recore them myself or aftermarket one's???? do like the stock can's, short and tidy set up it is. Then a nice bar end mirror, that for starters.
Couple things that may help that light front end feel. Loosen your triples and let the forks through about an inch, it looks like you have at least 1 1/2 inches before they'd touch your bars. You could also crank up the preload on the rear shock some too. Both of these are going to put more weight and bias towards the front which will help prevent the front lightness. Oh and congrats. [thumbsup]
get a steering damper
Great looking pair of bikes.
Is that one of those grippy sleeves on the seat of the ST to keep your passenger from sliding around?
If yes how does your passenger like it and what brand is it?
Sorry for the thread jack.
Great post... Makes it even worse to look out my window and see this:
(https://lh5.ggpht.com/_gL_kEbFV6-U/SUp0A2DzhUI/AAAAAAAAAME/95_9TtNmRxM/s512/photo.jpg)
Wannaducbad,, I will raise the ride height alittle and see how it goes, I did that on the ST, not for the steering twich, but for quickier turn in. Yes there room on the front forks do what you said. I would do that as the last option. [beer]
Raux Yes will get one I think, costly from my point of veiw as $600+, or get those $20.00 one's on ebay...lol
Mikez Yes it one of those covers and it works very well, for such a small cost it does save the pillon siding into the back of you when braking, Here is the guy I got mine from... ebay user "Triboseat" http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUCATI-ST2-ST3-ST4-ANTI-SLIP-PILLION-SEAT-COVER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a543Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3911Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem110325854381QQitemZ110325854381QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories pillon finds it good as well as you just have to support your upper body and not worry sliding your butt hard up the rider's back! I guess it depends on who's on the back!..lol
Maxpower ... yep that looks too cold to be out enjoying a ride!!
V-Twin
Thanks for the info.
Just ordered one.
No worries Mikez! [beer]
Well cut that beer tray off this morning, just waiting on same frame plugs from "micheleracer" he sent me some mirror plugs and caps for the cost of one set, awesome!! for such little things they do tidy up the holes etc very nice. Led tail light on it's way too.
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/T-volvo/001-1.jpg)
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/T-volvo/005.jpg)(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t221/T-volvo/007.jpg)
Just so you know, siding the forks up in the triples is easier than turning up you preload. just be sure you have the bike itself supported before loosing the hex bolts. Then gently lower it to the desired height and retighten... make sure you are in allignment though, when I did mine I was just a touch out and it caused me shoulder/upper back problems for weeks until I figured it out.
Thanks Wannaducbad, I will have look at that then, don't want to drop it to much as it may (20mm max) as wouldn't it have a impact on handling?
Well it will put more weight over the front, generally it will provide a racier position. Clip-ons provide a similar effect only more extreme. I doubt you'd notice a lot except slightly more weight on the wrists(weight on the front is the goal) and a more positive sense of feed back from the road, which isn't a bad thing unless you're on a Road King. Basically lowering the front and raising the rear gets you closer to sportbike geometry. So if you're touring on it maybe not so good, but you have the ST for that. For canyon carving and more aggressive riding it's the direction you want to head. Personally I noticed the biggest difference in handling by increasing my preload but I hover around 200-210lbs so it was way better for me after that, loading the front more has helped too, I've only had mine up to around 130mph though. At that point my bike being fairingless is just to blustery to try for any more. Ultimately you aren't doing anything to your bike that can't be undone if you don't like it. So just move one mod at a time and see what works for you.
BTW, love the tail chop, and for shits and giggles, if you have your tools out, remove the exhaust from above the udder(the pipes and mufflers) and fire it up.... sounds so much sweeter, and if you have the sawzall out you can cut the top of the air box off too, this will improve airflow, and sound.
So true wannaducbad, It can be placed back to factory settings for any reason I find it not working for me, but it's doing what I want with extra loading/weight on the front so I have to try it don't I. Thanks for the info [thumbsup] thanks for the thumbs up on the tail chop [beer]
Yes I have had the mufflers off, and yes it sounds like a Duc should, and could live with that, not sure if the bike could though!!!??? run lean wouldn't it?? could you get away with just a re-tune and a dealer? has the stock setup have enough scope for that ?
My little brother has a S2r800 he runs that way... I know another guy who runs his S4Rs, and a girl with an S2r1000 that way too, no problems. I see no reason it should run lean. Frankly my Termis with the baffles out probably provide less back pressure than an open system with the cat still on would. There are even dealers around that sell systems that even eliminate that as well. Watch for the boom tubes in the upper right corner(board sponser). And the open air box that comes with the Termi performance kit is nothing more than a stock box lopped off right above where the clips hook in. From what I've heard the thing you'll really need to watch as far as fueling issues go is the o2 sensor. Check the tech section, if I'm not mistaken I think a lot of the guys like to remove them as a way of solving a low speed lurching common in those models.... check that before doing it though. I don't remember the details. Mostly get out and ride the wheels off that thing! ;D
Nice lookin' bike, thanks for the pics!! [thumbsup]
isn't a 'light front' also a symptom of a too light spring in the rear? Any loading on the rear sinks, unloading the front. Steering damper will mask that instead of solving the problem.
I don't think I have the o2 sensor, is that in the udder? as I have no probes etc anywere on the exhaust system. Yes have seen the boom tubes, think I will make some little pipe extensions if I ran with out the mufflers. At this time in thinking and can't really afford a new exhaust system, but can change it to get a better sound, cut out the udder or recore the muffles???
Pompetta... cheers [beer]
Privateer - I am no expert but yes there would be some logic to what you are saying, as wannducbad said he raised his pre-load to help. Yes a steering damper I feel would mask the problem, or smooth it out alittle, but the light front end would still be there, think a damper would be the last option after all other avenues have been tired, the damper then would be doing it's job as then with the right setup you would be able too push the bike a little harder??? ???
SR2 1000 has an 02 sensor, SR2 800 does not.
Ah yeah, definitely about the steering damper and such. I just know that I can't afford to replace my suspension with a set-up built for me at the moment so I look for ways to optimize what I have. THus the fiddling, and it helps. I won't argue that it's comparable to a full Ohlins set-up but it's better than it was. As to the exhaust, I only have a system cause it was on the bike I bought, I couldn't afford one at the moment either(I got mouthes to feed). That's why I recommended yanking the cans and opening the air box... once again optimizing what I got. As for coring the udder?? Frankly I haven't looked in one and I'm completely unfamilar with the workings. Though from my brother S2R800 I would venture to say it probably isn't neccesary, I think most of the plugged up feeling is coming from the mufflers.
Thanks Howie, wasn't sure where that came into play.
Your right as with the suspension, to me it's firm and fairly solid feedback, as I have said alittle light and twitchy in the front at high speeds, otherwise for me it feels damn good, at 5ft5in and 70kg I am nothing more than a blowfly on this bike! [roll] maybe this is too that I find the brakes OK on this bike, seem better feel than the ST, but is less weight for sure than the ST. Meaning to cut the udder right out and just join the pipes up to the stock muffler pipes etc. the udder is the cat converter and would be better off with out it.
I know coming from wannducbad, yes daily life must go on... you wanna buy a couple of good kiwi kids??? lol
Anyway will be Christmas in 2 days time here, so if I don't get back as I have a busy last day of work on the 24th, hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and all the best for the new year, let it be a good year for riding for all!! [thumbsup]