I have been riding for about year or so (07 gsxr-600) and got really sick of the stiff suspension and the overall crotchrocket look. I have always loved monsters especially 04-05 s4r.My questions is do you thinks a s4r is a bit to much bike for me (I weigh 225 pounds)?. If it is what would you suggest as a beginner monster , I don't want anything newer than a 06 and trying to stay under the 6 grand price range.I planed on riding the bike a lot , to work and school.
Thanks
Too much? Probably not. The HP ratings are similar. The Monster will have more torque, so it'll get up and go better from low RPMs - but it's not like you're going from a 125cc to a liter bike. Going from a 600cc I4 is a relatively lateral transition to a liter twin.
About the only suggestion I make make is to figure out if you wanted a water cooled Monster or Air cooled. Of course, even the biggest air cooled monsters don't make the power of their water cooled brothers.
Thats what I thought aswell but one of my friends tried to tell me that its a huge difference between a V-twin and a I-4.
Is there anything I should watch out for in a 04/05 s4r and what would be a good price for a 04 s4r with 9000 miles??
I have an '05 S4R with nearly 35,000 miles. No problems, and as far as I know the only recall on these bikes was certain bikes had a problem with the rear suspension (shock) rocker arm. My bike wasn't on the list.
If I were buying a bike used, I'd want to see the service records. That said, 9000 miles is just past the first recommended valve check period, and just barely broken in.
Concerning valve adjustments, you've certainly heard that the desmo valve train is maintenance intensive. My experience is that if you are not taking it to the track regularly, and if you are not constantly bouncing off the rev limiter, you do NOT need to have the valves checked every 6000 miles. YMMV.
As for a good price for that bike, I'd check the blue book value. In fact, I just did: trade-in value = $6350, and retail value = $9280. So, somewhere in between and dependent on condition.
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/DSCN2316-1.jpg)
also, keep the suspension in mind. at your size, you are almost sure to need to upgrade the suspension, or at the very least make some changes to it for your riding needs.
the s4r should have fully adjustable suspension, while its kind of hit and miss across the rest of the range.
Quote from: herm on April 09, 2009, 05:05:53 AM
... while its kind of hit and miss across the rest of the range.
???
Quote from: Hulk on April 09, 2009, 04:25:13 AM
Thats what I thought aswell but one of my friends tried to tell me that its a huge difference between a V-twin and a I-4.
I don't know about huge. The RPM band won't be as big - but it'll be more usable. The twins have more torque so if you're not trying for total max speed/pwer you can run the bike low into the rpm band and just gut it out - where if you did the same with and i-4 it might flounder. Example, a road with some mixed twists and straights that you might have to drop a gear on your gxr for the tight sections, you could probably do in a single gear on a twin.
Also, there is a lot more engine breaking factor on the twins, just something to consider.
I've ridden twins, triples and i-4s.. and I prefer the twin. Though I *know* the i-4s have had a lot more HP than my ole 900 the lack of torque made them feel anemic
Quote from: Hulk on April 09, 2009, 03:31:20 AM
I have been riding for about year or so (07 gsxr-600) and got really sick of the stiff suspension and the overall crotchrocket look. I have always loved monsters especially 04-05 s4r.My questions is do you thinks a s4r is a bit to much bike for me (I weigh 225 pounds)?. If it is what would you suggest as a beginner monster , I don't want anything newer than a 06 and trying to stay under the 6 grand price range.I planed on riding the bike a lot , to work and school.
Thanks
If you can stretch your price range a bit, DoubleEagle has a new, 7 miles brand new, '07 S4Rs listed in the classifieds on this forum for a very nice price. The price should tempt you to raise the difference. You could not go wrong with his bike, a beauty with white body and red frame and white wheels.
I looked at doubleeagles bike and you are correct it is a nice bike at a great price.It all depends how much i get for my gsxr and if he still has it when I get back stateside because i still have two months left on my tour.
As for the suspension adjustments how complicated is the job , and will the stock suspension hold up my weight(might have to do some cardio if not)
I am getting a little weary of the monster it sounds like a bike that needs alot of maintaining, which i dont mind but it being a Duc might get expensive.
Quote from: Hulk on April 09, 2009, 07:17:32 AM
As for the suspension adjustments how complicated is the job , and will the stock suspension hold up my weight(might have to do some cardio if not)
I am getting a little weary of the monster it sounds like a bike that needs alot of maintaining, which i dont mind but it being a Duc might get expensive.
Stock springing for Ducs is around the 170 mark for the rider. Not sure what it is for your Gixxer, but it's probably not for a 225+gear rider (might explain some of the harshness of the ride). The stock springs will hold you(probably), but the handling will not what it should be at all - and you'll be running a greater risk of bottoming it out which can lead to damage over time. YOu'd be looking at getting a new set of springs, front and back, in an ideal world - but bear in mind a used bike might have already had that done.
Re: maintenance - DIY... ;D - it keeps costs down. While it's true Ducs need a little more looking after in the valve train than some other bikes, the costs tend towards hashing out over time. Other maintenance issues are same same from a duc to any other bike - save for the clutch. Get a dry clutch duc and replacing the clutch pack is a cheap and easy job. I did mine last year in 15 min with 2 hand tools. Any wet clutch bike cannot make that claim.
I've got a 07 S2R 800 no adjustable suspension and yea I weigh about 225, I'm upgrading my suspension all round to I managed to get the suspension from an S4RT, so my suggestion is look at a S2R 1000 so you don't have to go through the same process of upgrading. At least the 1000 comes with adjustale suspension, also it is air cooled and with the dry clutch sounds great. Don't get me wrong I love the 800, I for in town it is a great bike, pretty good on the highway as well but no dry clutch just doesn't have the added sound. And the S4R's are sweet but I like the air cooled look better. IMO
Cheers
So one question, since the suspension is adjustable on the s4r can I just to point to support my fat ass? [popcorn]
Or will i have to get aftermarket springs?
I am pretty set on getting a 04-05 s4r unless i find a great deal on a newer model of the s2r dark.
Quote from: Hulk on April 09, 2009, 09:45:08 AM
So one question, since the suspension is adjustable on the s4r can I just to point to support my fat ass? [popcorn]
Or will i have to get aftermarket springs?
I am pretty set on getting a 04-05 s4r unless i find a great deal on a newer model of the s2r dark.
You'll need to replace the springs. The adjustment lets you cover a range - but 50 pounds is out of the range.
The dark S2R only came in the 800cc aircooled flavor. So it's got a lot less juice than the S4R and also doesn't sport as much as nice a stock suspension suite.
About how much do the springs run and how tough is the job?
Sounds like i just got to find me a low mileage S4r and put stiffer springs on it and i will be good to go
Thanks a bunch everybody [bow_down]
Quote from: Hulk on April 09, 2009, 10:44:50 AM
About how much do the springs run and how tough is the job?
Sounds like i just got to find me a low mileage S4r and put stiffer springs on it and i will be good to go
Thanks a bunch everybody [bow_down]
Springs are right around $100, and if you're good with a wrench you can do it. It's on my list. :)
Sweet and I sure i can manage to change out on my own , any manufacturer i should go with??
(http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq277/jtmoto/03-28-09006.jpg)
Racetech makes so good stuff.
Quote from: Hulk on April 09, 2009, 10:55:33 AM
Sweet and I sure i can manage to change out on my own , any manufacturer i should go with??