I've searched and haven't found anything on commuting on an S4rs.
I do about 12km (just under 10 miles) each way. There's an S4rs just listed. And in my area, it's a small market and there's not many rare bikes. So the question is, is it an overkill to ride an S4rs as a commuter?
Also.....I'm on a provisional lic. and I can't legally ride it. so the dilemma is:
should I buy it and keep it until my lic. is unrestricted? I'll probably need a bike mech. to look it over for me and have a test ride too.
any opinions?
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm S4RS.
Commuting or flogging, I think that bike is the king of monsters.
You can commute on a 1198R if you wanted, but an S4RS is definitely more suited for it. Remember, you don't have to take the shortest route on a bike. When I commute on my S4R, I take the long twisty way :)
The only reason it would be overkill on an S4RS is if it was your first bike.
How much experience do you have?
The S4RS is not the best beginner bike. That said, you have control of the throttle.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 18, 2011, 05:00:58 AM
How much experience do you have?
I've been riding a small bike for 6 months now. VTR250 2010. the plan was to buy a middle weight next Jan. and ride it for 2 yrs. but this bike has come up and it look immaculate.
it's at a bike dealership, so I'll go and take a look and see how much interest there is in the bike. if there's not much, I can make the dealership sweat a little.
I own one and i've been "commuting" every day for 2 years. A little bit on the heavy side for city use but heh ... every morning when I ignite the shortened termis, this is how it feels :
Fu Manchu - King Of The Road (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zko7pBeHkk#normal)
I commute all the time on mine! It's actually pretty perfect, especially with the stock bars. I opted for clipo-ns, but the stock bars were def. comfortable as a commuter. Gets a little tiring in stop and go, but if there isn't too much traffic, and you have the money for one, I say why not. Some folks around here seem to believe that you should not own a bike unless you use it to it's potential... I on the other hand, think you should own the bike that makes you happy.
I hate to admit it around these parts, but I actually bought an S4R as my first road bike. It sat in my garage for almost 2 months until I took the MSF class :). I had ridden many bikes over my years on a permit, dirt, etc. Never anything like the S4R. That was over a year ago, and I couldn't be happier with my decision.
As ducpainter said - you have control of the throttle. It's far from the best beginner/novice bike, but nothing is if you are going to ride it like an idiot.
-Jimmy
(http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200902/honda-vtr-250_460x0w.jpg)
Wow, if that's not a ripoff of a Monster I don't know what is!! I hadn't seen one of those before.
The S4RS is a serious bike - I demoed a tri-colore a few years back when the DucTruck was in town and couldn't stop drooling over it.... [drool]
As a commuter though...I wouldn't want to do that with an S4RS- especially in high traffic areas where you're stop and go a lot - the clutch was a good bit stiffer than our 620s.
Nice bike either way. [thumbsup]
Except honda has been making that bike in more or less that configuration since the 1980s ;D
IMHO jumping to an S4 after 6-months on a 250 is pushing your luck. I put 60k commuting miles on a TL1000S (which works out to be very similar to an S4 - just a bit quicker [evil]) and loved it, but I already had 30,000 street miles and a decade of off road racing under my belt. Maybe I'm just a bit low on skill (well, not maybe, I am), but I find it takes a lot of experience and practice to really get the most from something approaching a liter superbike and without the requisite ability most folks either end up riding around rather timidly, which isn't fun, or get hurt (also not fun).
If it were me and I were in your shoes I'd find an S2R 800 - it looks and handles similarly - and flog that around for a couple of years, then maybe think about the S4. The jump from the 2v motors to the 4v motors is quite extreme in terms of throttle response and power. The 2v motors are easier to ride (and maintain) and much more forgiving.
Anyway, just my 2c. Best of luck with whatever you chose!
Quote from: bikepilot on March 18, 2011, 11:10:49 AM
IMHO jumping to an S4 after 6-months on a 250 is pushing your luck. I put 60k commuting miles on a TL1000S (which works out to be very similar to an S4 - just a bit quicker [evil]) and loved it, but I already had 30,000 street miles and a decade of off road racing under my belt. Maybe I'm just a bit low on skill (well, not maybe, I am), but I find it takes a lot of experience and practice to really get the most from something approaching a liter superbike and without the requisite ability most folks either end up riding around rather timidly, which isn't fun, or get hurt (also not fun).
If it were me and I were in your shoes I'd find an S2R 800 - it looks and handles similarly - and flog that around for a couple of years, then maybe think about the S4. The jump from the 2v motors to the 4v motors is quite extreme in terms of throttle response and power. The 2v motors are easier to ride (and maintain) and much more forgiving.
Anyway, just my 2c. Best of luck with whatever you chose!
+1. There's a similar thread in the General section by another rider who's new to riding too. I think that same advice and riding principals apply very well to both thread topics.
Quote from: bikepilot on March 18, 2011, 11:10:49 AM
Except honda has been making that bike in more or less that configuration since the 1980s ;D
Seriously? I don't exactly live under a rock, but I can't figure how I've not seen one of those on the road...(scratches head).
Quote from: bikepilot on March 18, 2011, 11:10:49 AM
Except honda has been making that bike in more or less that configuration since the 1980s ;D
It didn't look like a Monster before the Monster debuted in 1993. That's a relatively recent development.
Here's the original look:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Honda_VTR250_1990.jpg/800px-Honda_VTR250_1990.jpg)
Quote from: Monster Dave on March 18, 2011, 11:18:56 AM
Seriously? I don't exactly live under a rock, but I can't figure how I've not seen one of those on the road...(scratches head).
Cuz they're not sold in the States. The monster-looking version has been around since 1997, I think, but not here.
if you aint riding a busa as a beginner your a p&ssy.
but seriously do what you want, its your money.
the thing with something like the s4rs for commuting is that it will use more gas than something like a smaller 620 or what have you, so if fuel prices are high rmemeber with an s4rs you will probably have to use premium too. something to remember if you really are planning on commuting a lot on it.
Oh, and to answer the original question, any bike is an ok commuter if you're only doing 10 miles, but an S4Rs is not an ideal bike to get if you're coming off a 250. Is it overkill? Of course. Pretty much all motorcycles are overkill. That's why they're fun.
Quote from: Spidey on March 18, 2011, 11:59:07 AM
Cuz they're not sold in the States. The monster-looking version has been around since 1997, I think, but not here.
ohhhh....
I looked up the little Honda 250 on the web. If the specs here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VTR250 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VTR250)
are correct it is a better performing 250 than any 4 cycle 250 available in the USA. Too bad the monster imitation version was never imported.
Quote from: akmnstr on March 18, 2011, 12:41:51 PM
I looked up the little Honda 250 on the web. If the specs here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VTR250 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VTR250)
are correct it is a better performing 250 than any 4 cycle 250 available in the USA. Too bad the monster imitation version was never imported.
At least I know now that I wasn't crazy for not having seen one before!
I commute on mine when the weather is ~nice. The bike has a lot of carbon fiber (rubber hoses too) and you don't want to leave it sitting out in the sun all day long every day. At a minimum I would suggest a good cover (kept at work) if you park outside. Then there are the days when it is just nasty outside - There are bikes that do better 'put away wet' but I've seen Monsters coated in road grime too. Just some things to think about.
Quote from: Grendel on March 18, 2011, 04:18:41 AM
I've searched and haven't found anything on commuting on an S4rs.
I do about 12km (just under 10 miles) each way. There's an S4rs just listed. And in my area, it's a small market and there's not many rare bikes. So the question is, is it an overkill to ride an S4rs as a commuter?
Also.....I'm on a provisional lic. and I can't legally ride it. so the dilemma is:
should I buy it and keep it until my lic. is unrestricted? I'll probably need a bike mech. to look it over for me and have a test ride too.
any opinions?
Hey Grendel,
There is a couple of us here (Oz Monsters board) (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?www;board=52) who use an S4Rs on a daily basis.
Dannog is on his black S4Rs each day and other than an extra fuel stop or 3 there are no issues about using.
If you are still on a P's licence though it's a hell of a bike to step onto.
There is a reason mine has a sticker on the tank saying "The Bull"
Do you have a link to the bike and what the asking price is?
Quote from: Triple J on March 18, 2011, 11:28:28 AM
It didn't look like a Monster before the Monster debuted in 1993. That's a relatively recent development.
Here's the original look:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Honda_VTR250_1990.jpg/800px-Honda_VTR250_1990.jpg)
But the VTR isn't the right model. The VT/Spada is the monster-looking one. The VTR is the fully faired version. The spada has gotten more monster-like over time, but wasn't exactly un-monsterish from the start. For that matter the old Hawk GT was pretty similar to a monster (v2, SSA, similar styling). I do think the monster improved on the old honda's, but it wasn't revolutionary from an aesthetic standpoint (don't get me wrong, I love the monster and think its fantastic to ride and look at).
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac134/zedxten/DSC03598Small.jpg)
I had an S4Rs for 2 years.
I loved that bike to death ..almost mine !
Just remember that there is a lot of GO FAST in that bike .
If you respect that and don't ride like a crazy , then I think you can do it.
Stay under 5,000 rpms for the 1st few months at least.
Also the front Brakes are killer QUICK STOP...like RIGHT NOW stop ...use a light 2 fingers ..the index and middle Fingers on the front Brake at all times and don't jerk the brake ...just gently squeeze it .
By using just the 2 Fingers you will be less likely to GRAB the front BRAKE.
Just keep in mind, it will lock the front end and you WILL high side , so squeeze easy w, the front Brake.
Good idea to go to an empty paking lot or similar place and practice your slow braking and then a little faster ..then try some 55 mph fast stops like a car pulled out in front of you unexpectedly.
Once you have become familiar w, the bike and become more comfortable w. it you will have besides one of the best looking bikes IMO ever made ...but all the performance you'll need for a long time.
Best of luck and safe riding.
Dolph [moto]
S4RS is a very good commuter. I've ridden one about 60 miles almost every day when it's decent out (except when I was getting my new Ti hip installed) since I bought it in June of 06. A sport tail pack to carry a laptop and VERY comfy too. A 14 tooth front sprocket and a full termi kit help a lot. They pretty much suck stock and are geared way too high the way they come form the factory. Fueling is wonderful with the kit, 62 mph in fourth gear and great torque from that speed. Just roll on the pass. No down shift needed.
I've got over 40K miles on mine and find it's VERY docile. And any time you want they will turn into a ...... well, a Monster, a beast.
S4R is great too, but they need open airbox, lower gearing and Power Commander III usb kit too.
LA
Quote from: bikepilot on March 18, 2011, 02:23:23 PM
But the VTR isn't the right model. The VT/Spada is the monster-looking one. The VTR is the fully faired version. The spada has gotten more monster-like over time, but wasn't exactly un-monsterish from the start. For that matter the old Hawk GT was pretty similar to a monster (v2, SSA, similar styling). I do think the monster improved on the old honda's, but it wasn't revolutionary from an aesthetic standpoint (don't get me wrong, I love the monster and think its fantastic to ride and look at).
The VTR posted 80's graphics was the beginning , along the way the spada came along and then finally the current VTR250 is the monster version
I commuted on a VTR250 which was brilliant
Bigiain has been through a couple of spadas racking up big miles both being killed rather than dying of old age
For me, a commuter bike is only worth it if maintance is low (and cheap for those who dont do their own service). That means it cant have so much power i destroy tires every other month. It has to have good fuel mileage in city and on highway. but mostly in city. It has to be comfortable to ride in traffic if there is any (your situation may vary) and it has to be able to carry objects.
In that regard, i dont consider a monster S4Rs that well of a commuter bike because of gas consumption and too much power for the tire (face it, its not like youd actually baby the thing anyway, youd rip the throttle every chance you get!). Maitnence is also $$$$ if you dont do it yourself.
Surely you will at some time in the not too distant future ride the S4Rs more than just commuting won't you ?
If the answer to that is NO !
Then I would NOT get the bike.
If the answer is yes , then you will enjoy what the bike is really all about , so I would buy it ...take it easy ..and when the time comes ENJOY a real MONSTER w, Ohlins Suspension , plenty of hp ..and if you decide to put an after market Exhaust on it ...you'll probably really like it even more.
It's a special Ducati as far as Monsters go.
Dolph (http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn198/DoubleEagle_photo/PqgqmyA.gif)
Quote from: bikepilot on March 18, 2011, 02:23:23 PM
But the VTR isn't the right model. The VT/Spada is the monster-looking one. The VTR is the fully faired version. The spada has gotten more monster-like over time, but wasn't exactly un-monsterish from the start.
The concept of a naked bike obviously wasn't developed by Ducati, as all bikes used to be naked. However, except for the fact that it has no fairings and a round headlight, the Monster really doesn't look anything like the Spada or Hawk. The latest version of the VTR 250 looks almost identical to the Monster though. It may be a great bike...I saw a lot of them in Melbourne...but it's hard to say it isn't a blatant copy.
thanks all for your feedback. I can only justify 1 bike at the moment, so it'd have to be a commuter and the wkend bike. I went to have a look today and there was no chance of getting a test ride. so i just drooled over it for a while. [drool]
I've decided that with winter coming, I'm not going to rush things so I'll take my time to check out finance options first.
Quote from: mattyvas on March 18, 2011, 02:10:58 PM
Hey Grendel,
There is a couple of us here (Oz Monsters board) (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?www;board=52) who use an S4Rs on a daily basis.
Dannog is on his black S4Rs each day and other than an extra fuel stop or 3 there are no issues about using.
If you are still on a P's licence though it's a hell of a bike to step onto.
There is a reason mine has a sticker on the tank saying "The Bull"
Do you have a link to the bike and what the asking price is?
matty,
here's the link to the bike sales listing:
http://www.bikesales.com.au/all-bikes/dealer/details.aspx?R=10289023&__sid=12ECF1BF3E83&__Qpb=true&Cr=0&__Ns=p_IsPoa_Int32|0||p_RankSort_Int32|1||p_HasPhotos_Int32|1||p_Make_String|0||p_Model_String|0||p_YearMade_Int32|1||p_PriceSort_Decimal|1||p_PhotoCount_Int32|1&keywords=&__N=1432%20604%201429%201428%204294967242%204294958293%2078&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=1&silo=1400 (http://www.bikesales.com.au/all-bikes/dealer/details.aspx?R=10289023&__sid=12ECF1BF3E83&__Qpb=true&Cr=0&__Ns=p_IsPoa_Int32%7C0%7C%7Cp_RankSort_Int32%7C1%7C%7Cp_HasPhotos_Int32%7C1%7C%7Cp_Make_String%7C0%7C%7Cp_Model_String%7C0%7C%7Cp_YearMade_Int32%7C1%7C%7Cp_PriceSort_Decimal%7C1%7C%7Cp_PhotoCount_Int32%7C1&keywords=&__N=1432%20604%201429%201428%204294967242%204294958293%2078&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=1&silo=1400)
the bike is nice and I'm sure there's others around oz that'd probably be interested in it. do you know the bike? does it belong to someone else on oz monsters?
Okay, it is a nice looking example.
Sure it has pipes and a couple of other bits. But all the carbon is stock other than the clutch cover. The mirrors well they'd be off the second it got home so they're not worth paying for.
The k's are good but it will need a 12k service which is possibly belts being done not due to k's but years on the bike as it's an 08 model and we are now in 2011.
A service you are looking at anywhere from $1000-$1500 depending on who does it.
My belt service was $1200 from memory.
Not sure how it's still under new bike warranty as it's usually 2yr unlimited k's unless it's been bought very very very late in life.
I would walk in and offer him 15,500 and maybe go up to 16,500 cause really that's all it's worth. Because aside from the pipes ecu pwr commander it's a stock bike.
And trust me here in our parts it's an amazing :o bike for everyday use.
But really if you are keen on it his price is way way high, be a prick when talking price cause the pre-loved market is very depressed here.
Hope you make it yours but do realize it's a fierce bike to be getting on from a VTR 250.
Quote from: mattyvas on March 19, 2011, 04:25:23 AM
I would walk in and offer him 15,500 and maybe go up to 16,500 cause really that's all it's worth. Because aside from the pipes ecu pwr commander it's a stock bike.
And trust me here in our parts it's an amazing :o bike for everyday use.
too much over here. 15,500 = ~msrp of a new older 1098!
Yep I knew it would open a few eyes.
When it was new an S4Rs was 23-24k on the road.
And now a street fighter s is about 31-32k
The new kid on the block in the carbon model is the same sort of money.
Nice bike, but $18.5 large for a used RS? Jebus! The US and Aussie dollar are on parity. What the make the beast with two backs causes the price to be so high.
I paid $17.5K with a Termi kit installed for a brandy new one. You guys are getting the shaft down there.
Truth be told, for all round riding and commuting the air cooled 2v is probably better for you. And if you have to worry about the cost of maintenance, the 2v is definitely better.
The newest 1100 top of the line monster is the cat's ass so far as I'm concerned. Sat on a new one the other day - loved it. If I had stupid money, I'd buy one.
But like I said, I'm not guessing about the S4RS, I ride one every day.
LA
ring mike at desmo clinic , was in there a couple of weeks ago and he has a S4RS there from a customer that needs to spend money on a kitchen rather than bikes which has been there a while from whispers would be close to the $12K mark
Must be some hellish inflation for those prices to be so out of line with ours if the 2 currencies are in parity .
May be Ducati sells the bikes for a lot more to Australian Delaers ?
Dolph [moto]
Quote from: DoubleEagle on March 19, 2011, 07:07:08 PM
Must be some hellish inflation for those prices to be so out of line with ours if the 2 currencies are in parity .
May be Ducati sells the bikes for a lot more to Australian Delaers ?
Dolph [moto]
Funny you should mention that, i'm in Sydney - well, Pyrmont - this week visiting family. Things are crazy expensive here compared to the US.
A pint of Ben & Jerry's is $11 AUD, fruit is $4-6 per kg, a beer is $8 or so, a 20 pack of Advil is $9.50, a BMW K13GT is 30-35K, etc...
But it's flippin' COOL 8) ;D
Cheers,
Adam
Quote from: DrDesmosedici on March 20, 2011, 01:20:52 AM
Funny you should mention that, i'm in Sydney - well, Pyrmont - this week visiting family. Things are crazy expensive here compared to the US.
A pint of Ben & Jerry's is $11 AUD, fruit is $4-6 per kg, a beer is $8 or so, a 20 pack of Advil is $9.50, a BMW K13GT is 30-35K, etc...
But it's flippin' COOL 8) ;D
Cheers,
Adam
ben and jerrys is a recent import and overpriced
fruit, well depends on where you buy it
beer $8 , not for me, depends on where you buy
what is advil and BMW ???
[laugh]
Quote from: DrDesmosedici on March 20, 2011, 01:20:52 AM
Funny you should mention that, i'm in Sydney - Things are crazy expensive here compared to the US.
Cheers,
Adam
Quote from: LA on March 19, 2011, 06:01:18 PM
The US and Aussie dollar are on parity. What the make the beast with two backs causes the price to be so high.
LA
It's a thing we call Tax here in the land of the free, and surf and sun. ;)
Oh and only about 22 million of us Aussie's in a country bigger than the US, compared to 305,689,000 million, gives you a lot better buying power etc etc . ???
And were not really down under some one just make the beast with two backsed up the map. it's upside down ;D
Don't get sucked in to paying tips, we don't do it here ,we get paided properly well use to >:( [laugh]
As it's been said our dollars might have parity but our import taxes and buying power does not compare.
If we paid the same prices for Duc's as in the US everyone would have one here.
Quote from: Rob s on March 20, 2011, 02:41:09 AM
It's a thing we call Tax here in the land of the free, and surf and sun. ;)
Oh and only about 22 million of us Aussie's in a country bigger than the US, compared to 305,689,000 million, gives you a lot better buying power etc etc . ???
And were not really down under some one just make the beast with two backsed up the map. it's upside down ;D
Don't get sucked in to paying tips, we don't do it here ,we get paided properly well use to >:( [laugh]
Oh, wasn't complaining at all just giving some perspective. Can you really put a price tag on being able to go to Bondi beach? I think not 8)
Cheers,
Adam
what about local goods? do you guys have farmers markets? since they aren't imported from out of the country or somehere far far away (fuel is heaivly taxed there isnt it?) it all becomes cheaper no?
Quote from: He Man on March 20, 2011, 01:41:01 PM
what about local goods? do you guys have farmers markets? since they aren't imported from out of the country or somehere far far away (fuel is heaivly taxed there isnt it?) it all becomes cheaper no?
Things are priced differently due to ...
-10% GST built into every price
- $15/hr (or $570/week) minimum wage
- Employers have to contribute 9% of gross wages towards the s.a. (retirement) fund for their employees at no cost to the employee
= It costs a bit more to do business. If you want to get a real feel for it, check out the cost of housing in Sydney - but then, look at how much people make here too.
Oh ... and
It's an amazing island in the south pacific ;D
Cheers,
Adam