2004 S4R Vs. 2010 696

[Scotty_Wheelz]

Thanks for everyone's responses!

I rode around on my friend's Yamaha 650 yesterday in the neighborhood. I have a good understanding of the the clutch now and got a good feel for the friction point on it. I was pretty well balanced. That being said, I didn't go over 40 and I took turns at about 20mph, but for my first time on a bike, i'm pretty pleased with how it went. I may try and find a 750. I love the single sided swingarm and the upgraded suspension it has, vs. the 696. The 650 had plenty of power. In fact, i'm quite intimidated by the thought of the S4R's power and how it will deliver it.

[S21FOLGORE]

just buy it or always regret it

... don't say that.  He's probably torn between the idea of getting something more sensible and buying S4R (which seems to me what he really want).

Anyhow, I strongly recommend getting something more forgiving than S4R for your first bike,  just like so many people already said.
At the same time, I can kinda understand your feeling. It seems like you really want to get that S4R (at least in your earlier post, it sounded that way).
IF that particular bike has something really appeals to you, makes you feel you have to have it, .... when you feel that way, it's very hard to pass up the kind of deal you found, and steer yourself to something more sensible / practical (but boring) option. It's like telling yourself that the girl you like the most is out of your league, better look for someone else, more realistic option ...

So, I'd give you just a few examples of what my friend (previous owner of my S4R) felt uncomfortable with this bike.

1) Launching the bike
Combination of ultra sharp throttle response (that's how it feels to you if you're a beginner ) and short lever stroke + "grab fast" clutch action makes even just launching the bike somewhat challenging for some riders. And three will be times that you have to stop at steep hill, start and turn right after. (Engine stall in this situation, it is almost guaranteed that you'd drop the bike. )

2)U-turn
Turn the handle bar of S4R lock to lock (while not moving) ,  see how much front end turns. Then, turn the steering to left (full lock) and push the bike, see how big the turning radius is, how much space you'd need to turn. If you are a beginner, that much space is needed to turn around 'cause you can not lean over the bike and u-turn. (again, stall = dropping the bike, doesn't matter if you are a big guy or not.)

3)Tight corner, especially down hill
S4R, earlier 996 ones especially, has tendency to do bucking bronco at lower RPM. (this can be cured, BTW). Also, the bike feels unstable at lower speed range. At the tight corner, when the bike starts to lean, it leans faster than you'd be comfortable so you'd feel like as if the bike is falling, instinctively push the inside bar (try to stop / slow down the bike leaning), thus the bike runs wide.
(People with big muscle are, often, more prone to "wrestle" with the bike. ) you may over run into oncoming lane, or would be kissing to guard rail. Get panic and garb the brake, you'd be sliding on the pavement. If you are lucky, you just get scared.

Lucky for me, he rode only 500 miles and before doing any harm to the bike (and himself) decided it's not for him, and sold it to me.

[muskrat]

and to think I started on a 50 Trail Honda.

If this S4R has all the goodies you want and you don't think another will exist then buy it and buy a cheapo bike you don't mind tearing up until you are ready.  Many here have multiple bikes so don't let that deter you but the above statements are true.  Ducati's turn like shit at slow speeds and the bucking bronco analogy is spot on so you better have good reflexes and synchronicity.   There are tons of 620's and 750's if you're dead set on a Duc and at a reasonable if not ridiculously low price.  Cash is King! 

[Popeye the Sailor]

Meh-you don't outgrow a 250. Your ego does.

Smaller is better for actually getting a clue.

[kopfjäger]

Smaller is better for actually getting a clue.

That's what she said. 

[The Bacon Junkie]

If you're dead set on getting a monster right away, go find a 620/695 or 750.  After a few years/ few thousand miles upgrade to one of the 4V monsters if that's what you want to do.  If you go buy an S4R and a two fiddy you will want to ride the monster immediately, and it is an unforgiving bike.

Time to throw my $0.02 around...

My first bike ever was a '99 M750.

Three and a half years and 25,000 miles later, i still love her.  I went through the "I need more power" stage briefly, but since I'm perpetually poor a new bike wasn't in the cards.

  Stock, she had 62hp.  Top speed 110.  Quick enough to 80mph.  Because I couldn't afford a bigger bike, I had to become a better rider.  I can keep up with most of my friends on bigger bikes, and am faster than a couple in the twisties. Of course, they drop me when things open up, but I was never much of a straightaway hero...

The S4r may sound like the better bike, but trust me, the smaller bike will make you a better rider.

Just my opinion from personal experience, FWIW...




 

[ride_sf]

I was in the same situation a few years ago... I had just started riding, and my wife's good friend was selling her 2001 S4.

Everybody told me to get a 250 to start out on, so I did... I got a Hyosung 250 because of the v-twin engine (didn't want a ninja).  The 250 is great, very easy to ride, very light, easy to flick around.

Then, I also bought the S4.  My first ride on it all I thought was "WOW, I can't believe how hard this bike is to ride".  Seriously, after owning the 250 for a while, I literally couldn't imagine that a bike existed that would be THAT hard to ride.  Just getting into first gear is hard on the S4... on the 250 you just rev it and release the clutch, and you're off... it's a much more delicate process to get going on the S4.
In addition, the S4 is so heavy compared to a 250, you really can't flick it at all at low speeds, which means it's just not as fun at low speeds.

Eventually I learned how to tame the beast that is the S4, but it was slow going at first.

 I still commute every day on the 250 for a many reasons... easier to ride at low speeds, twice the mpg than the S4, and I don't mind racking up commute miles on the 250 since the maintenance costs are lower.

I absolutely love my S4, but I wouldn't want it to be my only bike... gotta have a smaller scoot for fun around town rides.

[Veloce-Fino]

I'm going to have to make another suggestion. Once again these are opinions...

Yesterday my father and I switched bikes and went for a ride, about an hour. Here's what we rode

Me: 2007 S2R1K with race ecu (his bike)
Him: 09 696

After riding my own bike for so long I had forgotten how the RAW POWER of the s2r1k feels. On my 696 you can flog the hell out of it and not get yourself into too much trouble. However on the s2r with a flick of the wrist you can send your eyeballs into the back of your head and the front wheel skyward.

DON'T buy the S4R, you will make mistakes, on the S4R they could be fatal, and on the 696 you will probably live to tell the tale. I have made mistakes and the small, nimble, moderately powered 696 allowed me to make corrections or ride it out. This will probably not happen on the S4R.

Just my suggestion. After riding his S2R I wanted my 696 back...

[twolanefun]

I've ridden a few bikes in my time on two wheels and I am always amazed out how the ego of the American Male gets in the way of common sense. You will have way more fun learning to ride a less powerful bike quickly and in the process, learn more, spend less, and come out the other end hopefully a better rider. On the back twisty roads, which is where one really learns to ride, you will enjoy the right amount of power for the road conditions, you'll only regret more power when you go to a track. I long for tiered liscensing in this country, like it has been in Europe forever, takes the ego thing out of the equation and provides an incentive to learn. At your size I would look for something with a little better suspension and frame than a 250, unless you look at dual purpose machine, and it should be a standard, a dying breed, but still some out there, you need real handlebars - not clipons, and sit up straight riding position. If you are set on a ducati look at older M620, or even an MTS620. Personally I think the Vtwin(Ltwin) motor is more forgiving than a multi but the Honda 519 isn't a bad choice in a mutli. And for sure sign up for riding schools and some track days. Just some thoughts - Gene