S4RS as commuter

[akmnstr]

I looked up the little Honda 250 on the web.  If the specs here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VTR250
are correct it is a better performing 250 than any 4 cycle 250 available in the USA.  Too bad the monster imitation version was never imported.

[Monster Dave]

I looked up the little Honda 250 on the web.  If the specs here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VTR250
are correct it is a better performing 250 than any 4 cycle 250 available in the USA.  Too bad the monster imitation version was never imported.

At least I know now that I wasn't crazy for not having seen one before!

[Bill in OKC]

I commute on mine when the weather is ~nice.  The bike has a lot of carbon fiber (rubber hoses too) and you don't want to leave it sitting out in the sun all day long every day.  At a minimum I would suggest a good cover (kept at work) if you park outside.  Then there are the days when it is just nasty outside - There are bikes that do better 'put away wet' but I've seen Monsters coated in road grime too.  Just some things to think about.

[mattyvas]

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?

Hey Grendel,

There is a couple of us here (Oz Monsters board) who use an S4Rs on a daily basis.
Dannog is on his black S4Rs each day and other than an extra fuel stop or 3 there are no issues about using.
If you are still on a P's licence though it's a hell of a bike to step onto.
There is a reason mine has a sticker on the tank saying "The Bull"

Do you have a link to the bike and what the asking price is?

[bikepilot]

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

Here's the original look:

But the VTR isn't the right model.  The VT/Spada is the monster-looking one. The VTR is the fully faired version. The spada has gotten more monster-like over time, but wasn't exactly un-monsterish from the start.  For that matter the old Hawk GT was pretty similar to a monster (v2, SSA, similar styling).  I do think the monster improved on the old honda's, but it wasn't revolutionary from an aesthetic standpoint (don't get me wrong, I love the monster and think its fantastic to ride and look at).

[DoubleEagle]

I had an S4Rs for 2 years.

I loved that bike to death ..almost mine !

Just remember that there is a lot of GO FAST in that bike .

If you respect that and don't ride like a crazy , then I think you can do it.

Stay under 5,000 rpms for the 1st few months at least.

Also the front Brakes are killer QUICK STOP...like RIGHT NOW stop ...use a light 2 fingers ..the index and middle Fingers on the front Brake at all times and don't jerk the brake ...just gently squeeze it .

By using just the 2 Fingers you will be less likely to GRAB the front BRAKE.

Just keep in mind, it will lock the front end and you WILL high side , so squeeze easy w, the front Brake.

Good idea to go to an empty paking lot or similar place and practice your slow braking and then a little faster ..then try some 55 mph fast stops like a car pulled out in front of you unexpectedly.

Once you have become familiar w, the bike and become more comfortable w. it you will have besides one of the best looking bikes IMO ever made ...but all the performance you'll need for a long time.

Best of luck and safe riding.

Dolph      [moto]

[LA]

S4RS is a very good commuter.  I've ridden one about 60 miles almost every day when it's decent out (except when I was getting my new Ti hip installed) since I bought it in June of 06.  A sport tail pack to carry a laptop and VERY comfy too. A 14 tooth front sprocket and a full termi kit help a lot.  They pretty much suck stock and are geared way too high the way they come form the factory.  Fueling is wonderful with the kit, 62 mph in fourth gear and great torque from that speed.  Just roll on the pass. No down shift needed.

I've got over 40K miles on mine and find it's VERY docile.  And any time you want they will turn into a ...... well, a Monster, a beast.

S4R is great too, but they need open airbox, lower gearing and Power Commander III usb kit too.

LA

[J5]

But the VTR isn't the right model.  The VT/Spada is the monster-looking one. The VTR is the fully faired version. The spada has gotten more monster-like over time, but wasn't exactly un-monsterish from the start.  For that matter the old Hawk GT was pretty similar to a monster (v2, SSA, similar styling).  I do think the monster improved on the old honda's, but it wasn't revolutionary from an aesthetic standpoint (don't get me wrong, I love the monster and think its fantastic to ride and look at).

The VTR posted 80's graphics was the beginning , along the way the spada came along and then finally the current VTR250 is the monster version

I commuted on a VTR250 which was brilliant

Bigiain has been through a couple of spadas racking up big miles both being killed rather than dying of old age

[He Man]

For me, a commuter bike is only worth it if maintance is low (and cheap  for those who dont do their own service). That means it cant have so much power i destroy tires every other month. It has to have good fuel mileage in city and on highway. but mostly in city. It has to be comfortable to ride in traffic if there is any (your situation may vary) and it has to be able to carry objects.


In that regard, i dont consider a monster S4Rs that well of a commuter bike because of gas consumption and too much power for the tire (face it, its not like youd actually baby the thing anyway, youd rip the throttle every chance you get!). Maitnence is also $$$$ if you dont do it yourself.

[DoubleEagle]

Surely you will at some time in the not too distant future ride the S4Rs more than just commuting won't you ?

If the answer to that is NO !

Then I would NOT get the bike.

If the answer is yes , then you will enjoy what the bike is really all about , so I would buy it ...take it easy ..and when the time comes ENJOY a real MONSTER  w, Ohlins Suspension , plenty of hp ..and if you decide to put an after market Exhaust on it ...you'll probably really like it even more.

It's a special Ducati as far as Monsters go.

Dolph   

[Triple J]

But the VTR isn't the right model.  The VT/Spada is the monster-looking one. The VTR is the fully faired version. The spada has gotten more monster-like over time, but wasn't exactly un-monsterish from the start.  

The concept of a naked bike obviously wasn't developed by Ducati, as all bikes used to be naked. However, except for the fact that it has no fairings and a round headlight, the Monster really doesn't look anything like the Spada or Hawk. The latest version of the VTR 250 looks almost identical to the Monster though. It may be a great bike...I saw a lot of them in Melbourne...but it's hard to say it isn't a blatant copy.

[Grendel]

thanks all for your feedback.  I can only justify 1 bike at the moment, so it'd have to be a commuter and the wkend bike.  I went to have a look today and there was no chance of getting a test ride.  so i just drooled over it for a while.   
I've decided that with winter coming, I'm not going to rush things so I'll take my time to check out finance options first.

Hey Grendel,

There is a couple of us here (Oz Monsters board) who use an S4Rs on a daily basis.
Dannog is on his black S4Rs each day and other than an extra fuel stop or 3 there are no issues about using.
If you are still on a P's licence though it's a hell of a bike to step onto.
There is a reason mine has a sticker on the tank saying "The Bull"

Do you have a link to the bike and what the asking price is?

matty,

here's the link to the bike sales listing:
http://www.bikesales.com.au/all-bikes/dealer/details.aspx?R=10289023&__sid=12ECF1BF3E83&__Qpb=true&Cr=0&__Ns=p_IsPoa_Int32|0||p_RankSort_Int32|1||p_HasPhotos_Int32|1||p_Make_String|0||p_Model_String|0||p_YearMade_Int32|1||p_PriceSort_Decimal|1||p_PhotoCount_Int32|1&keywords=&__N=1432%20604%201429%201428%204294967242%204294958293%2078&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=1&silo=1400

the bike is nice and I'm sure there's others around oz that'd probably be interested in it.  do you know the bike?  does it belong to someone else on oz monsters?

[mattyvas]

Okay, it is a nice looking example.
Sure it has pipes and a couple of other bits. But all the carbon is stock other than the clutch cover. The mirrors well they'd be off the second it got home so they're not worth paying for.
The k's are good but it will need a 12k service which is possibly belts being done not due to k's but years on the bike as it's an 08 model and we are now in 2011.
A service you are looking at anywhere from $1000-$1500 depending on who does it.
My belt service was $1200 from memory.

Not sure how it's still under new bike warranty as it's usually 2yr unlimited k's unless it's been bought very very very late in life.

I would walk in and offer him 15,500 and maybe go up to 16,500 cause really that's all it's worth. Because aside from the pipes ecu pwr commander it's a stock bike.
And trust me here in our parts it's an amazing  bike for everyday use.

But really if you are keen on it his price is way way high, be a prick when talking price cause the pre-loved market is very depressed here.

Hope you make it yours but do realize it's a fierce bike to be getting on from a VTR 250.

[He Man]

I would walk in and offer him 15,500 and maybe go up to 16,500 cause really that's all it's worth. Because aside from the pipes ecu pwr commander it's a stock bike.
And trust me here in our parts it's an amazing  bike for everyday use.

too much over here.  15,500 = ~msrp of a new older 1098!

[mattyvas]

Yep I knew it would open a few eyes.
When it was new an S4Rs was 23-24k on the road.
And now a street fighter s is about 31-32k
The new kid on the block in the carbon model is the same sort of money.