Ducati Monster Forum

Picked up my S4R today - she's an '04 but bought by someone as an investment, he thought that it would become a rare collectors item and worth a fortune, so he modded it and never rode it further than back from the dealer.

Here she is ...
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5340/7097415179_665d570f69.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/7097415179/)
DSC_0038 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/7097415179/#) by Duchess Duc (http://www.flickr.com/people/77519803@N08/), on Flickr


Full Sil Moto exhaust, Power Commander profile and airbox by Ferracci

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5071/7097415519_f81fe252fe.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/7097415519/)
DSC_0039 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/7097415519/#) by Duchess Duc (http://www.flickr.com/people/77519803@N08/), on Flickr

DP Slipper Clutch and Carbon/Aluminum clutch cover  (carbon everywhere on this bike ... )

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/7097416313_560f7fc660.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/7097416313/)
DSC_0041 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/7097416313/#) by Duchess Duc (http://www.flickr.com/people/77519803@N08/), on Flickr

CRG levers, pretty red chain, cute white wheels

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5192/6951348368_50c8b4196b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/6951348368/)
DSC_0043 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/6951348368/#) by Duchess Duc (http://www.flickr.com/people/77519803@N08/), on Flickr

only 34 miles !!  And I had done 7 of them on my pre-purchase test ride

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/7097418921_23a1ae24f1.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/7097418921/)
DSC_0048 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/7097418921/#) by Duchess Duc (http://www.flickr.com/people/77519803@N08/), on Flickr

full tank of gas ...

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5197/6951352570_ac2b2bd386.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/6951352570/)
DSC_0054 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/6951352570/#) by Duchess Duc (http://www.flickr.com/people/77519803@N08/), on Flickr

Duc and Duchess

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/6951355600_24c53b04e4.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/6951355600/)
DSC_0062 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/6951355600/#) by Duchess Duc (http://www.flickr.com/people/77519803@N08/), on Flickr

My three Audis (and my Cervelo)

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5326/6951357816_276b0759e2.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/6951357816/)
DSC_0068 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77519803@N08/6951357816/#) by Duchess Duc (http://www.flickr.com/people/77519803@N08/), on Flickr


Thanks to everyone on the board who made me welcome and provided all the good advice (even the advice I ignored !)

Duchess

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=109.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=109.0)

Meh, figured it out eventually

 [thumbsup]

http://www.alpinestars.com/shop/categories/moto/jackets/leather/stella-tyla-leather-jacket/ (http://www.alpinestars.com/shop/categories/moto/jackets/leather/stella-tyla-leather-jacket/)

http://www.desmoworld.com/shop/de/blinkerglas-monster-2000-weiss-1.html (http://www.desmoworld.com/shop/de/blinkerglas-monster-2000-weiss-1.html)

wow what a great deal enjoy it.

A mint bike at used price, fully loaded with goodies.
A great buy. That was a dream deal.
Keep the 15 tooth to tame tne beast till you master him (Pepe).
Welcome again.

Thanks for that Stopintime, but this is the one I ordered ..

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/product_images/rev-it_jackets-leather_raven-ladies_white-black.jpg (http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/product_images/rev-it_jackets-leather_raven-ladies_white-black.jpg)

Duchess

great looking jacket almost bought the men's one myself a couple of years ago.

I wasn't too far off, was I  8)

BTW - since you didn't mention anything, I assume your hip is fine....

Thanks - yes, hip is fine - The bike is a really good fit for me. Even after 110 miles of "slab" being buffeted by cross winds passing 18 wheelers , followed by some stop and go,  I didn't have much of a problem. Thinking I might get a slightly more padded seat, though. That would give my butt a bit more relief, as well as reducing hip and knee angles. I have plenty of "reach" to flat foot the bike with the stock seat (the S4R is 0.5 lower than the 1100Evo) so I have a bit to play with.

Curmudgeon - this is your opportunity to weigh in with the Sargent Seat - are you on commission ?

Duchess (happy she has met her Duc and fallen in love)

34 miles  :o

I always loved the blue/white S4R

Awesome purchase!

 [thumbsup]

Happy Bike Day to you!  The bike is beautiful!

all i have to say is ENJOY!!!

Congrats!   Now chop that tail.  [thumbsup]

Hardly..., but I DO get excellent service, so you might want to use my name. Call and speak to Troy Ragan. Read this page top to bottom first. The fit is intentional. The seat takes a few miles to break in. Others here will tell you about the older Sargent seats. http://www.sargentcycle.com/ducwsmonster.htm (http://www.sargentcycle.com/ducwsmonster.htm) Also, I note here that it says about fitting the stock seat cowl: "(special brackets from Sargent are recommended)". Not needed on the new bikes.

I'd go with black but for a price Troy will do anything you want within reason. If you get a special welt though, make sure you ask for the thinnest they have. I'll rub less. I don't notice mine.

Now, go and ask the lads here about Sargent saddles.  8)

Maybe she doesn't want a black stripe up her backside.  [roll]

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/6951355600_24c53b04e4.jpg)

Great decision! Congrats.

FWIW, I had a custom seat done for mine on the stock pan. I needed the pillion capacity but of course could have left the rear part stock.

Specifically asked for an extra half-inch of saddle height, and that is how it came.

That 15mm makes an astonishing difference for me. I suppose the enormously improved seating area helps too. But, no knee pain or soreness whatever now on long rides. Just complete comfort from one fuel stop to the next.  

(http://www.smugmug.com/photos/1077094481_tYPqv-M.jpg)

Obviously, it's a touring version. You wouldn't have to go quite that far.

The stock seat was good for about 40min, I found, then sore in all the usual places.

I keep a stock version for solo sporting stuff. It takes seconds to change them. But I never use it.

Very pretty - who made the seat for you ?  HOw long did it take ?

And on the tail chop - I just ordered a white leather jacket, so I'll be trying to keep that clean !

Besides, my experience from cycling in the rain, with no rear mudguard, is that as well as the black stripe on my back  (and a pretty rooster tail) the mud and rain matts up my ponytail and its a pregnant dog to get my hair clean again. One time it matted up so bad I had to have it cut short :-(

so the duc keeps its tail .... so I can keep mine  :)

Congrats! great purchase  [thumbsup] ,i have the same bike and color, you are going to enjoy riding that bike.It will always put a grin on your face.Ride safe

 Yes,the need just isn't there as we get older  ;D

Congrats!

That bike is cool; the white wheels take it to a whole new level of  AWESOME!

Have fun and be safe!

Mark

Duchess.... You do good work!  [thumbsup] Now break that thoroughbred in, ride safe & enjoy.

The tail chop won't sling water/road debris up your backside.  There is still plenty of tail under the pillion seat to prevent that.  Of course I am biased, as are several on this board b/c we have hacked it off and never looked back.  You would probably immediately want to chop the cans to match the new lines. 

Incredible find....have fun!  [Dolph]

Beautiful bike Duchess...even with the front fork reflectors  ;D  Have fun  and enjoy!

Hey, if it stops some idiot T-boning me at an intersection, I'll leave the fork reflectors on ...  See and be Seen, is my motto.

Talking of which, anyone got a good source for color matched reflective tape ?  My last bike I had white reflective tape on the white fairing and tail section. Didn't "show up" in the day time, but at dusk and at night, shone out like a beacon.  Saved me one dark wet night from an idiot motorist ....

Duchess

http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/PG5025/Accessories/PG5025.html (http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/PG5025/Accessories/PG5025.html)

I'm a fan of leaving the tail just the way it is. And, I'll admit it: I like those reflectors.

sweet ...  should really light up the white marchesini's ... now, stealth white, per original plan, or spice things up a little ..... ruh oh, no neon pink :(  may have to be white after all ...

"Betty" is in Australia. The Aussies have some really good bike fabricators, however...

Sargent can duplicate that "for a price" if you like. However, besides their special foams and coverings, the "stock" seats use their own moulded lightweight base with storage..., AND..., the main element of their design is a flatter seating platform. For most it makes quite a difference. Less pressure on your thigh too after it breaks in. The basic model is $400 plus UPS ~ $20. If you don't like it after some miles, send it back within 30 days for credit. Can't beat that.

BTW, since you are ordering a white jacket, you might want to consider a chain lube which really doesn't fling and is dirt cheap. Lots of us use it. Available at Lowes for $5 and besides wax is Teflon. Being cheap, you can actually clean your chain with it as you apply. Should be renewed every 200 - 250 miles. Search Dupont on the DMF. Review here: http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm (http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm)

If you go on tour, Aerostich sells a bottle you carry. http://www.aerostich.com/review/product/list/id/2062/category/200/ (http://www.aerostich.com/review/product/list/id/2062/category/200/)

I found out why its called the S4R ... nothing to do with it being a 4 valve head after all. It's because the "4" and the "$" share the same key on the keyboard !  Mine is a S$R from now on !

I've only owned it a day and a half and already I've ordered -
- leather Rev'it Raven jacket, pants and gloves
- battery tender
- zero gravity Touring screen, poorducrider stays
- CRG hindsight LS mirrors

thinking of the reflective wheel tape, cox racing radiator/oil cooler protection kit, Sargent seat, pro-grip gels or grip puppy grips ...

aaaarrrgghhhh - I've been bitten by a Monster !

Wait until you see the service bill at $6,000 miles.  ;D Better have a good tech for that job too.

Go easy with the grips. With a 4V particularly, you need max sensitivity for the throttle. Consider better gloves instead. If you have an issue with the grip / wrist angle with the bars, think about a Rizoma bar. Mine is silver and looks stock only better. http://www.rizoma.com/universal/handlebars/ma005-008-010/en?MOTO=50412198-50463006-R (http://www.rizoma.com/universal/handlebars/ma005-008-010/en?MOTO=50412198-50463006-R)

http://www.motovationusa.com/mvstore/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=562 (http://www.motovationusa.com/mvstore/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=562)

You shouldn't need much else. The thing was already modded! 8)

Presume you had the dealer adjust the sag / preload on the shock. Did he dial in the damping accordingly? This can be tricky and I'm pretty familiar with Ohlins but you have Showa about which I know zip. The compression damping should be set light enough to use most of the rear travel with a little reserve and the rebound should be firm and controlled, but not so firm as to "pack down" over a series of bumps. THEN..., you have to tune the front to match.  ;D If your dealer isn't an Ohlins tech, find one. No BS, they know what to do. Call Ohlins direct and they can give you someone nearby. 1-800-336-9029

Fork reflectors won't allow a person that is watching their phone to see you.

Motorcycles are invisible to 'most' drivers.

Get used to it and adjust accordingly.

Nice bike BTW...you chose well.

Curmudgeon - yes, we spent some time setting up front and rear suspension. They seemed to know what they were doing and she rides real nice !

Ducpainter - agreed !  I've spent the last decade on bicycles, which are even more invisible, and worse, even if a driver does see us, they totally discount how fast we are going and how vulnerable we are. I coach a cycle team and "ride defensively" is lesson one. Always assume the other driver is blind, deaf and stupid and it will be a miracle if he doesn't open his door into your path, overtake too close for comfort, or just totally fail  to see you at all. Haven't lost a rider yet, but we've had enough close encounters to drive the lesson home.

Thanks for the compliments on my bike, I'm totally in love with her ... she is so pretty and fun to be with.

Hi Duchess,

the custom seat was made by an Australian guy, Andrew Moorhouse, but I believe he is no longer doing them. Fab job. From memory he had the stock seat about a week, plus shipping to and fro.

My point was really that you don't have to go for something off the shelf, and that the added 15mm height makes a big difference to comfort. Plenty of custom bike saddle builders out there, or so it seems. Or as Curmudgeon suggests (I think), you might get something special from Sargent.

Really does sound like you have a sweet bike there. A great outcome from all your research and opinion gathering. Shows the board at its best. I look forward to hearing how you find her as the miles go on.  [thumbsup]  I am guessing you are happy with the torque output so far.

Remember too, you have that adustable rear suspension link for fine-tuning the steering.

Oooops! Sorry, "Moronic". Thought you were "Betty"; must be my Halfsheimers.  ;)

Duchess has a bad hip and wants to be able to flat foot the bike, so the extra 1/2" is probably a no-go. Sargent made a custom seat for my T-100 EFi which has a well-known torture device for a stock seat. They used an EFi seat pan I supplied and copied the design of a pal's Sargent to which I added 1/2" to open up that "seating compartment". It took my pal three tries and a lot of $$$ to get exactly what he wanted, so he saved me a lot of grief!  ;) I'm now 1" higher than stock and my bearable range has been increased from 50 miles to ~ 150. Mostly Triumph is to blame because they made the rear subframe too wide and the saddle still puts pressure on my inner thigh. No way for Sargent to solve that and Monsters don't have this issue. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lambroving/Miscellany/Various+Bikes/DB-Brewery-T-100.jpg.html (http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lambroving/Miscellany/Various+Bikes/DB-Brewery-T-100.jpg.html)

I don't have great range anymore period but I HAVE managed one 300 mile day on my 796 Sargent and was not in agony afterwards. And yes, with enough pictures, Sargent could exactly copy your touring saddle. Their in-house design makes for a flatter seating surface though which helps to keep you off the tank. Costs her only shipping both ways to try one too.

Just got back from a short tour around the local country lanes. Wasn't raining, so even though it was only 50 degrees out we went for a ride - just 25 miles or so.  I'm now at 173 on the odometer. Maybe my imagination, or just getting used to the bike, but she seems to be smoothing out a little.

Fuel light just came on, so first n00b question - the 996 engine does take premium, doesn't it ?  Or do folks run them on regular ?

By the end of the run up from Louisville (112 miles) my butt was feeling the seat .. not so much today, because wasn't on there for very long. However, with the cold, and lots more stop/start at lights and junctions, my hip was playing up more. Guess I'll just have to get more miles on before deciding what seat arrangement will work the best. I do like the shape of Moronic's saddle - looks like support under the butt, but narrower between the legs ...

She did get some "thumbs up" signs from other motorists, though, including one guy who wound his car window down at a stop sign to yell "nice bike" at me ....

It would be strange if such a new (and old) bike didn't feel smoother as you go along.
Of course - you loosening up will also help.

The seat requirements, or not, will become clearer after a while.
For me, it's much more about how I move around or not, than it is about the seat shape and material.
The things you need, or not, to do will depend heavily on your anatomy, your riding and your wishes.
Good support all around the "sitting bones" (two hardest parts of a seated bum) and customized between-thigh-room does make a lot of sense though.

Do yourself a favor and run 87 octane.

If you notice any pinging,you won't,try 89.

That Desmoquattro doesn't require premium.

For a cheap upgrade for your seat, you can try out Spencer's seat mods:

http://greatdaytoride.com/Home_Page.php (http://greatdaytoride.com/Home_Page.php)

You send him pics/video of you riding and what you are looking for in terms of the seat and he will refoam the stock seat for you.  Works out to be around $85 with the LD gel option... best bang for the buck I would say.

He's gotten really great reviews all around though I havent tried him myself personally.

You can download for free a copy of your manual here: http://www.ducati.com/services/maintenance/index.do (http://www.ducati.com/services/maintenance/index.do) It says:
"Fuel tank, including a reserve Unleaded fuel 15 of 3.5 cu dm (liters) 95 fuel octane rating (at least)". That's ~ 91 U.S. (M+R/2) minimum. As it's 11.6±0.5:1 compression ratio, use whatever works best in your C4. We used BP/Amoco 93 in all our Porsche fleet, but that was NJ, so no idea about your blend in OH. If you can run Chevron 93 there, that contains Techron which will keep your valves nice and clean.

As for the seat, the Sargent has good support for your sit bones and a nice taper downward at the front to reduce pressure on your thighs. Look at the picture again. http://www.sargentcycle.com/ducwsmonster.htm (http://www.sargentcycle.com/ducwsmonster.htm) It's even narrower at the front than it appears there.

(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTh-A-E6ULhBS1W4Q9co8VGAJNqLZP7DxdbThtDd_x9pdKZcjKO)

 ;D

Takes one to know one I suppose...  8)

There's only one difference...

you're wrong on this one. ;)

I own a 996. It runs great on 87...even when having it's neck wrung on the track. I'd call that real world experience.

It makes more power and runs cleaner because it doesn't have all the chemicals to resist burning that premium does. It doesn't ping and therefore does not require premium.

If you convince an owner to run premium during break-in I feel you're doing them a disservice because at the lower engine speeds it will certainly cause carbon build up even if the bike does require premium at full throttle/load/temp.

You struggled with a cold start problem with your own bike and refused to even try regular when I suggested it. One gallon as an experiment wouldn't hurt your bike or void the warranty.

If I owned a bike and it pinged on regular I'd try mid-grade, and if that didn't work I would run premium...but only to stop pinging.

I don't have money to throw away with gas prices as they are.



We'll continue to disagree on this.

Wow!  Amazing bike, enjoy!   [thumbsup]

Possibly.  ;)

In the manual for my T-100, 87 (M+R/2) is recommended. The bike gets better mileage on 87 than it does on 93. I mix 87/93 50/50 to get the additive package in the premium (fact, not theory). The advance curve in the ECM is calibrated for 87. The bike has a steel tank and I run local E-10 which varies in the amount of corn in it, at least by nose.

Not disputing your personal findings. I'm no chemist and I have no idea what the blends are like in VT. There are 150+ blends in this country, all localized.

My 796 is fed 93 pure gas because that's the only branded pure gas available to me. Some places have unbranded 87 for the farmers around here but that's "risky business" IMO. The major brands guarantee their fuels and are insured for damage including water contamination. How do I know? We've pumped a lot of tanks and sent fuel samples to labs with prompt results.

ALL the premium European brands I sold recommended a minimum of 91 or 93, and ALL got better mileage on 93, so 87 was a seriously false economy because saving $0.30 resulted in 12 - 13 MPG vs 16 - 17. No risk of pinging though because they all had knock sensors by 1996. The EFi ECU just retarded the ignition accordingly and with a proportional loss of power.

More's the pity, Ducatis don't have knock sensors. If they did, and if I could find branded 87 pure gas, we could just do a mileage comparison and we'd have "an" answer although maybe not still "the" answer.

While relating your personal experience, you have still not explained Ducati's recommendation of "at least" 95 RON for the S4R and 98 minimum for my 796. I presume Ducati doesn't own an oil company and has no axe to grind, right? I figure the ECU in my bike is calibrated with an advance curve for a minimum of 95 RON. Is there some other liability reason you can imagine for Ducati's octane recommendations? To me, 11:1+ seems a good enough reason in theory.

What you call pinging, I call "death rattle". Most pinging can't be easily heard, especially on the bikes with slip-ons ridden by many here  ;), but is just as damaging over time, . The knock sensors in lots of cars can detect a ping and react in < 1/500th second while you would have trouble hearing those knocks with a stethoscope. No kidding.

As for the carbon issue you raise, is this an E-10 issue mainly? Never had the problem with any of my L-Twins but only my 851 was forced to run on the junk unless I only wanted to fill up across the river in PA. No idea what Larry Ferracci cooked in the chips in that ECU, but it ran well.  ;)

If the tank in my 796 ever gets sick, I'll pick up a PEX tank from Germany but in no hurry to spend ~ $1,000 for that quite yet!

Since Donnie Unger has rebuilt a countless L-Twins, I'll ask him about the carbon build-up you've experienced when I next speak with him and report back with his observations. Could be interesting...

Bruce Meyers has seen 4 valve Ducs lose power on the dyno with premium.  Compression ratio is only one factor in octane requirement.  Volumetric efficiency, camshafts and timing, combustion chamber shape and intake charge temperature are only some of the other variables.  Math is not a good conversion method to find an AKI equivalent.  As you already know, AKI is Research Octane Number + Motor Octane Number/2.  This is the problem MON is done at a higher RPM, hotter intake charge and variable ignition advance than RON so math is not a good indicator. 

Awesome bike, Duchess. I think you're probably going to discover some serious parallels between your C4 and your S$R. And yeah, the Gods of Internal Combustion must be pacified by semi-regular sacrifices. I call the local duc dealership "The Hundred Dollar Store" for a reason. That said, it's totally worth it.  [thumbsup]

My suggested mods:

- Hot pink rim stripes. HERE (http://www.ebay.com/itm/11mm-Motorcycle-Wheel-Rim-Tape-Stripe-Decal-HOT-PINK-/140417691895?item=140417691895&vxp=mtr).
- Different seat. The ONE THING I've found in the Ducati Performance catalog that gave better bang for the buck than aftermarket was the Monster "comfort saddle." It's got a sort of suede finish and gel pads tucked under the foam. The ONLY down side I found was that the gel tended to get hot if you left the bike parked in the sun. I used to keep a bandana in the pocket of my jacket specifically to leave on my seat if I wasn't parked in the shade. If you can't find one to try out, then I'm sure a local auto/marine upholstery shop would be able to custom shape whatever your heart could desire on top of your stock seat pan for a reasonable price.
- Heated grips. It'll make those 50^o days a lot more pleasant. There are several different types available. I recommend either the bar-insert kind or the flexible under-grip style. Either of those will allow you to use whatever kind of grip is most comfortable for you AND keep your digits toasty.

My only other suggestion is to ride the snot out of it. Which I'm pretty sure you plan on doing anyway.  [thumbsup]


Which is why my Sport 1000 came with a sticker saying to only use Shell Advance Ultra 4, an oil not available on this continent (last time I checked).  [roll]

Howie,

All true. I'm aware. Back in the 70's I had a client who was chief engineer at the old Linden Labs. He invited me to visit him on my day off which I did. Saw their octane engine in operation. They did then and I presume refineries still do test each batch of base stock. This was before and after blending. Makes your head spin! Anyway, various brands differ widely in the way they blend for that pump octane number. Some use a lot higher percentage of the "good stuff" than others. So, besides the localized blends the Feds stick us with these days, the brand formulaions add one more level of variability.

Not familiar with Bruce Meyers. Did know Ferracci when he was running the factory SBK effort. His bikes ran VP AMA-legal or FIM-legal race gas. I'd guess that was 104 - 106 RON. The heads and valve gear on those bikes looked like Tiffany & Co. to me but not in MY budget!  :)

Her C4 probably came with one of those too. Ferraris do. For oil though, on a later C4 there's probably a Mobil 1 sticker on the airbox. They are serious too as it's the only oil which meets MB 229.5 spec. otherwise known as Euro formula 0W40 or 5W40 in bulk.

I used to own a motor yacht and it was a truism that BOAT = Bring Out Another Thousand ... Ducati's are cheap compared to a Carver ...

You had me at "hot pink" - seen it liked it ordered already !

OK, so now I have recco's for DP Comfort, Sargent, Spencer and Custom .... is there an aftermarket seat thread somewhere ?

Could have done with that today. I ordered the Grip Puppy foam sleeves, and they say they can slip on over grip warming tape - again - is there a link to that anywhere ?  How hard an install is it - I can do curling iron and flat iron but not soldering iron ...



Yes Sir !



My S$R comes with 13 stickers (OK, 12 as two of them are duplicate) AND a page in the handbook that shows me where they all are !  Helpful !  My favorite is "do not attempt to look through this fairing" ....

The fluids sticker only says "unleaded gasoline" and SAE 20W50 oil" but the fluids page in the manual does say
 - unleaded, 95 octane (at least)
 - SHELL Advance Ultra 4 lube
 - SHELL Advance Brake DOT 4 for clutch and brake fluids
 - SHELL Advance contact cleaner for electrics
 - SHELL Advance Fork oil for front fork
 - SHELL Advance Antifreeze for radiator

Guess I'm just glad they don't force me to stop at a Shell Gas station to fill up the tank ....  and meanwhile you guys have thoroughly confused this old girl on regular vs premium  :( 

Interestingly the manual (SAE 10W-40) disagrees with the body sticker (SAE20W-50) .... I guess the body sticker assumes I won't be using it as a snow mobile, but the manual hasn't got to know me that well ...

Duchess

Oh! So you used to own a hole in the water for throwing money into!  ;)

A Duc isn't NEARLY that bad (once you have it "sorted").


GRIPS! HERE (http://www.amazon.com/Symtec-Handlebar-Warmer-Rocker-Snowmobile/dp/tech-data/B000TYHZ0A). The wiring is pretty simple and doesn't require a soldering iron. Heat-shrink tubing, an inline fuse, and a 12v relay, yes, but it can be all wired up with crimp connectors. I can walk you through it if you like, or I'm sure a local ATV/snowmobile shop would be willing to do it for 1-2 hours labor charge.


Rundown as I understand it:

DP: Relatively inexpensive (~$200 from the dealer). Gel padded and covered in suede. Kinda grippy, so not great if you're doing trackdays and want to slide around. If you're doing long days in the saddle, it's relatively comfy. I had one on my 620. My biggest gripe was the gel material getting hot, as mentioned. That said, I'm kinda tall, so hip/knee/leg angles weren't so much of an issues.

Sargent: Spendy, firmer than the original piece, and a little taller in the butt (thanks to extra cushion) but no wider than stock. I know several people who have them on other bikes and say that they're firmer than the stock bits, but that the firmness contributes to them being comfortable for longer. A stiff but supportive recliner as opposed to one you sink into and rest on the frame.

Custom: PM JBub in the PNW board. She's itty bitty, but she had the seat on her S2R 800 carved down for her and she's totally comfy on her bike. Also, please don't tell her I said she's "itty bitty."

Bruce Meyers is the guy standing next to Eraldo in the DNA hall of fame award pics.

I follow his advice.

OK Bucket head - thanks for the Symtec link but
a) that is one ugly a$$ switch
b) the caption says "not for use with twist throttle"

what am I missing ?

I guess this is a prettier switch
http://www.amazon.com/Symtec-300005-Replacement-Hi-Low-Snowmobile/dp/B003AU5KPW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335230728&sr=8-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Symtec-300005-Replacement-Hi-Low-Snowmobile/dp/B003AU5KPW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335230728&sr=8-2)

But still doesn't address the "not for twist throttle" issue

Sorry about that.

Here's a better link. Same thing but it's their "motorcycle" version and designed for use under a twist-grip:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AWRCJO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p263_d0_g263_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0F3K23ZK4DKY6AHCV1RC&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AWRCJO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p263_d0_g263_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0F3K23ZK4DKY6AHCV1RC&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846)

While the picture shows the giant chrome switch, the description is for a round rocker switch like the one you linked to. Just an old product image (it's the same kit I have on my bike). You leave a little bit of slack in the wires for the throttle side so it's got room to twist. If you do it right, it's tucked away underneath and invisible unless you go looking for it.

The only other thing I can think of that you'd want is a piece of heat shrink tubing to put on the clutch side of the handlebar before you put the heating element on. It acts as an insulator, keeping the bar from soaking up all the heat from that side. You don't need to do that on the throttle side as it's got the plastic throttle tube. Should be available at any AutoZone or the like. If you can't find any, let me know. Pretty sure I've got some left over from when I did mine.

Thanks Bucket Head - I was poking around on Amazon and was beginning to cotton on that the "RR" designation meant the "pretty switch" even though the picture still showed the toggle.

Then I came across the Heat Demons ....

http://www.heatdemon.com/Metric-Grip-Warmers_c_26.html (http://www.heatdemon.com/Metric-Grip-Warmers_c_26.html)

These look amazing !  About 3x the $$ of course, but still, the install looks very clean, with the controller mounted to the bars and everything else tucked away

Anyone seen these up close and personal ?