S4RS as commuter

[Grendel]

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?

[WetDuc]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm S4RS.
Commuting or flogging, I think that bike is the king of monsters.

[TJR178]

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.

[ducpainter]

How much experience do you have?

The S4RS is not the best beginner bike. That said, you have control of the throttle.

[Grendel]

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.

[toudg]

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

[JimmyTheDriver]

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

[Monster Dave]

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....  


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.  

[bikepilot]

Except honda has been making that bike in more or less that configuration since the 1980s 

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 ) 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!

[Monster Dave]

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 ) 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.

Except honda has been making that bike in more or less that configuration since the 1980s 

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).

[Triple J]

Except honda has been making that bike in more or less that configuration since the 1980s  

It didn't look like a Monster before the Monster debuted in 1993. That's a relatively recent development.

Here's the original look:

[Spidey]

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.

[sbrguy]

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.

[Spidey]

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. 

[Monster Dave]

Cuz they're not sold in the States.  The monster-looking version has been around since 1997, I think, but not here.

ohhhh....