Newbie considering a S2R1K

[vick]

Thanks for the feedback all. It's about as I suspected - there are some issues but there are plenty of happy owners that will pipe up when queried. I'm not afraid of "personality" in machines provided it's offset by some other attribute. I had an Alfa Spider a while ago, that had so much personality that I didn't shed a tear when it burned itself to the ground.

I should have some time tomorrow to go take a ride on the S2R. I already know I'm going to love it but I'll report back afterward. As one poster noted, on paper it and the F800 are very similar but I imagine that the extra torque and air-cooled engine will make for a very different ride.

As for the swelling tank issue, I have no doubt that it's ethanol related. I fly general aviation aircraft, many of which are certified to run on pump gas (generally down to 87 octane, compression dependent). Those that are certified to use it though are prohibited from using mogas with ethanol for a few reasons...one is lower energy content by volume, another is that ethanol absorbs water (further reducing the energy content and causing corrosion), and another is that ethanol is suspected to be incompatible with the various seals, gaskets, and other materials in the fuel system. Unfortunately ethanol is more of a political agenda than anything and has resulted in the nonavailability of pure gas in most US markets...

[grandpa nate]

S2R1ks freakin rule...buy it...mod...ride it...love it


that is all
nothing follows

[WhiteStripe]

I have an '06 S2R 1000 - no issues.

[swampduc]

As for the swelling tank issue, I have no doubt that it's ethanol related. I fly general aviation aircraft, many of which are certified to run on pump gas (generally down to 87 octane, compression dependent). Those that are certified to use it though are prohibited from using mogas with ethanol for a few reasons...one is lower energy content by volume, another is that ethanol absorbs water (further reducing the energy content and causing corrosion), and another is that ethanol is suspected to be incompatible with the various seals, gaskets, and other materials in the fuel system. Unfortunately ethanol is more of a political agenda than anything and has resulted in the nonavailability of pure gas in most US markets...

I'm happy thus far with my S2R 1k.
I agree with you as far as the ethanol. There is 1 gas station in my area that offers pure gas (or so they say). I go out of my way to fill my bikes up there, as do lots of local boat owners (which is pretty much everyone down here).

[Africaboy]

+1 more with no issues. I never test rode my S2R before I got it. Somedays I wish it had 30 or 40 more ponies on tap. As for all the other problems, never had any. There is a guy in Toronto Canada, that will drop a 1098 into my Monster for $6k.
Mighty tempting, and if I do the mod, I will be riding this puppy till the wheels fall off.

[vick]

OK, so I went to see the bike today to look more closely to see if there was any evidence of issues with the tank and then take it for a ride. The pics below show what I found. With the left rubber resting squarely on the tubing the right rubber was clearly out of alignment by 1/4 to 1/2 an inch. Swelling or just the how it came? The front latch seemed to function normally and was not in contact with the ignition and there was no other evidence of distortion anywhere else on the tank.

So then I took it for a ride. Bottom line, as you all know, it's a really fun bike. I wouldn't say night and day difference between it and my F800, but definitely a step up in performance - power felt very similar (lots of torque down low and didn't need to be revved), just more so. The Duc did feel lighter with quicker steering, their weights are similar so I imagine its something different in the geometry.

I'm still on the fence. I really like the Monster and am tempted to pull the trigger unless you guys that are familiar with the tank issue confirm that this one is doing what theirs have done. If that's the case I don't think I want to jump right into warranty claims that will likely become a recurring theme...

[He Man]

Wow your shock resovoir is up there on the frame?


My only complaint about the s2R1k.... it would be PERFECT if they could somehow manage to squeeze 100rwhp into it.
and no, i do not want a 4v. i want the snappy 2v torque.

that NCR it looks pretty interesting now... lol other than that i love it for what it is. The monster is a sort of jack of all trades master of none bike. however its really well balanced.

[Buckethead]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't he buy that bike and then THIS tank, send the tank to ducpainter (or take it to a local body shop) and have the bike he wants without having to worry about the tank swelling again?

[Travman]

+1, I was just in the process of posting the same comment.  It seems like a steel tank on the S2R bikes would fix any tank worries.  Plus it is a great excuse to start customizing right away.   

Let's see some more pictures of this S2R1000.  It has a least one desireable upgrade that we can see. 

[vick]

It's pretty mild on the upgrades - Ohlins rear shock and steering stabilizer (costly, I know), carbon fiber front wheel cover, and bar end mirrors. It's a repo so no idea if the front suspension was modded. Had just over 590 miles total as I pulled back into the lot, basically brand new...

[Travman]

That bike is screaming for a full Arrow or Zard exhaust, a tail chop, and for a relocation of that remote reservoir.  The reservoir looks terrible way up there on the frame. 

[Mike_D]

I'm still on the fence. I really like the Monster and am tempted to pull the trigger...

Vick,
   Buy it now, kill if you must

[swampduc]

The ohlins shock an steering damper are HUGE upgrades. If the price is reasonable I'd get it. If you don't care abou the suspension upgrades you can sell 'em and pay for your exhaust. Hell, I'm thinking about an ohlins shock for my s2r. But I'll bet if you ride with those components, you'll wan to keep 'em.

[CapnCrunch]

I have an 06 s2r1000 and after 32,000+ miles I am still thrilled with the prospect of throwing my leg over it each time i walk out into my garage.

tank swelling and warranty be damned. ducati has a good history of covering factory defects/ poor material choices on bikes that are out of warranty (valve seat issues from a few years back), I would not lose too much sleep over the tank thing.

Over the miles the only problem I have had is avoiding tickets.

the thing runs like a clock