S2R 800 vs. S2R 1000

[Travman]

Are there any advantages to the 800cc engine compared to the 1000DS?  Such as less vibration or smoother power?

[Zlatigol]

I am about 5'10" 165 lbs. athletic build.

To be completely honest I don't have any street bike experience, only dirt bikes.

Now I know I'm gonna hear the "get a 250 for your first bike" "omg a ducati for a first bike omg you're crazy"

I'm buying a 1000cc Ducati as my first bike because it is what I want. I will learn how to ride on the bike that I want to ride, period.

The reason I am debating about these two bikes is because I want a bike where I can ride to work, but at the same time be able to throw into corners on weekend rides.

I'm 23, not seeking attention, and will ride responsibly.

[ducatiz]

I think the main issue with one's first street bike is riding experience.  In many ways, dirt bike experience is very useful, except you don't have people trying to kill you and slick roads.  Falling down on a street is usually much worse than on a trail IME. 

But if you promise to be responsible we'll let you buy one.  Honestly, the differences are more technical than actual though.  I've ridden for 20+ years and love my 800 -- and I still have the first Ducati I ever owned, a 1977 GTL.

[Ontario_Monster]

For all the reasons listed above the 1000 is a great bike ... I've got the 800 love it, use it as an every day commuter the wet clutch is easier in stop and go traffic and is one of the reasons I went that way, the other was insurance, the company I deal with woudn't insure the 1000 but did the 800, and other copmanies were $500-900 a year more.  At your age check what the insurance companies say.

Now my 800 has been upgraded to S4R showa forks , calipers and wheels.  The brakes and front end are a huge improvement, this spring will be the rear shock as well and at that point I think it will ride exactly like I want it to.  As for keeping up it hasn't been a problem yet on the road I can still get tickets as fast as anyone.

Just another opinion to think about.

Cheer

[hackers2r]

I ride my S2R 800 everyday and it's great.  The main difference I can see with daily riding would be the clutch pull.  I believe the 800 will have a much easier pull than the 1000.  Either way, both great bikes.

[fastwin]

I have to agree with the clutch pull/stop-n-go traffic issue. All my Ducs are dry clutch and have Evo clutch slaves which helps about 25-30% with lever pull. But in really shitty traffic the wet clutch still rules over the dry, even with the slave. If you are going to do a lot of commuting in funky traffic the wet clutch on the 800 might outweigh the other "advantages" of the 1000. And that's coming from a happy S2R1000 owner. Just saying.  

[Jarvicious]

I've put about 15k on my 800 and so far are in the midst of upgrading brakes, suspension, and probably a little engine tuning by this time 2012.  What I'm saying is, that I've had my 800 for two years and it was also my first bike, and while I"m not anywhere near outgrowing it, better stoppers and springers would have been nice from the get to.  The clutch is a personal preference, but I think it looks and sounds better so as vain as that may be, it's food for thought. 

[booger]

1000DS may be a good mill but to call it amazing is hyperbole. If it's so amazing why did Ducati go back to one spark plug per cylinder for the new 2V 1100s they use in the HM Evos. I seem to remember people having a lot of trouble with the fueling on the S2R1000s that could not be cured without buying the expensive Ducati Performance ECU. FatDuc will cure it now for $50 or so but still. I have an S2R800 that came without an oxygen sensor or a catalytic converter so I never had the problems folks with the bigger bikes had, even though my bike came lean as most do. It's been trouble-free and is easy to maintain. No real dealer visits to speak of. Also, changing the belts on a 1000DS is a pain due to the strange lack of consideration for actual belt clearance at the crank pulley on those mills. I mean really Ducati.
The only DS I've ever ridden firsthand is the Hypermotard and it was stoopid fun! Almost turned me hateful on my own bike. I like what I have because it's paid for and tuned properly. But for you I think 1000cc. At 23 and being your first streetbike, I think the lessons that the in$urance company and real-world street traffic not to mention the shockingly narrow turning radius these bikes have compared to a dirt bike will teach you will be invaluable. If you survive, you will learn that you really don't have anything to prove even if you have convinced yourself you've got nothing to prove yet secretly are trying to. Does that make sense? Buy the 1000 and be extra careful. Advice from an old man who still gets carded for cigarettes and loves to show off as much as the next guy yet miraculously hasn't dropped his bike yet.  

[booger]

Nothing compares to the sound of Ducati L-Twin engine and dry clutch.  End of story!

You're wrong about that, a lot of people compare it to loose marbles rattling around in a fishbowl

[ute]

800 all the way

same as a 1000 except you get a better clutch on the 800 slipper/wet

with 1k you get adjustable forks thats it

[Tangerine Dream]

Had an '06 800 as my first street bike. Loved it and would still be riding it if I hadn't crashed  Although it would have a few suspension mods. 

I currently own and ride an '08 S2R1000. The main difference is the suspension. There is a bit more power and the rattle of the dry clutch is awesome 

It all depends on your budget. If you can find a used 800 from a board member that has already fixed her up for ya, I'd go for it  [moto]

But if you're going with a bone stock bike, I'd start with the 1000. It will save you a lot not having to buy the suspension and brake components.

I've included a couple of pics for comparison.

Good luck and  be safe. Either way, post up pics of your new girl 

[fastwin]

I forgot to pregnant dog about the previously mentioned ECU issues on some DS100 motors. My S2R1000 would consistently stall out on me at stop signs and traffic lights when new. It made me look like a newbie who stalled the bike letting the clutch out. But it was the ECU. At the 600 mile service I had major suspension work done and had them install a full Termi exhaust and Duc ECU. Cured every single issue. Runs like a damn Honda lawn mower. Except with more power.

[thought]

i think you should check out the insurance premium differences btwn the two bikes... most insurers base everything simply on cc's, and anything over 1000 tends to get hit really hard...  and at your age, i figure you're rate is going to be pretty high as is.

while paying for the price diff btwn the two bikes might not be too much, those insurance bills just keep on coming and coming...

and unless you're really really deadset on a monster, try to see what kind of deals you can get on a street triple i would say... going to be easier to maintain, around the same power, and has that sexy damn triple sound...  and due to the way insurance companys work, it only gets charged for about the same price as a 600 which will save you lots for other mods in the long run.

[DRKWNG]

800 all the way

same as a 1000 except you get a better clutch on the 800 slipper/wet

with 1k you get adjustable forks thats it

Incorrect.  The brakes (calipers and master cylinders) are a significant upgrade on the S2R1000 as well.  And so you know, the clutch on the 800 isn't  a true slipper.  It is wet, and gets you some of the features of a slipper, but that's about it.

[corey]

Incorrect.  The brakes (calipers and master cylinders) are a significant upgrade on the S2R1000 as well.  And so you know, the clutch on the 800 isn't  a true slipper.  It is wet, and gets you some of the features of a slipper, but that's about it.

May not be a TRUE slipper, but it's features did save my ass from quite a few ham-fisted downshifts early on in my riding career.
The 800 is great bike, with one of the most reliable motors that Ducati ever produced.
They both offer the SSSA, which is a great feature in regards to chain adjustment.
Brakes/Suspension on BOTH leave something do be desired IMO.
I swapped in 999 Forks with some Ohlins goodies... which are way overkill for my needs.. but whatever

You will love either bike.

My favorite part about the 800 is the ability to just flog the living shit out of it, and never get into TOO much trouble.
You don't have to think too much about throttle with it. Just let it rip.