First things to do?

[hyphen]

Hey all, what home-service would you all recommend to a person buying a slightly used '05 S4R?  It only has 150miles.  I was told that the oil should go first and foremost, but what else should I do to have it running nice and clean?  Chain lube, other fluids?

[Ohmic]

Not sure about the home-service. BUT you should have your belts checked/changed.
One of my riding buddies bought a used 02' 996 with only 90miles on it last year. The bike sat in someone's garage for +5yrs. All he did was change the oil and put a new battery and air in tires.  Same week he took possession was the same week he grenade the engine at 100km 

Please have them checked. I change mine every 2yrs no matter their condition.

[Fritzkrieg]

Hey all, what home-service would you all recommend to a person buying a slightly used '05 S4R?  It only has 150miles.  I was told that the oil should go first and foremost, but what else should I do to have it running nice and clean?  Chain lube, other fluids?

Check your carbs! If the bike has that few miles and is several years old, that means it was sitting for awhile, and who knows if the bike was properly stored. . . carbs could be gummed up or a float could be stuck. I neglected to check mine on my recently purchased M750, and it gave me a headache and a half. . .

Also check your tires. . . not for wear, but for cracks and weak spots.

[hyphen]

Well, if it means anything I'm buying it from a Ducati dealership that has it on consignment.  I test rode it for a while and saw and felt nothing strange.  I have a friend who is a Ducati technician though, I guess I could shoot him some cash to do a little maintenance.

[Speeddog]

Now that it's *yours*, don't ride it, don't run the engine.

Change the belts unless there's reliable documentation that the belts have been changed recently.
New belts are cheap insurance.

If it ran OK, then it's probably got fresh gas in it.

Brake fluid in the brakes and clutch need to be flushed, and then bled.
Change the oil and filter.
Check the oil screen while you're at it.
Check and lube the chain.
Make sure the tires are serviceable.

Download the owners manual from ducati.com, if you don't have the hardcopy.
Ride the bike according to the break-in laid out in the manual.

You got a red key and 2 black keys, right?

If you've got a friend who's a ducati tech, have him go over it.
If he'll let you watch and learn, even better.

[hyphen]

well it's not in my posession yet.  i have to go tomorrow to deliver the check and pick up the bike.  i can definitely ask for service history and such then.  i will have to ride it home, but i don't live very far from the dealership.  i'm doing a skim-through of the manual now.

[Speeddog]

Try to get somebody to pick it up in a truck, or leave it at the dealer until you can truck it.

Or have them replace the belts if it hasn't been done recently.

[hyphen]

Is a 10 mile drive really too much?  I think I about rode that much on my test ride.

[bigiain]

Is a 10 mile drive really too much?  I think I about rode that much on my test ride.

Scrollback up to Ohmic's post...

It's quite unlikely that another 10 miles will be a problem, but it's _spectacularly_ expensive if it is. Speeddog is giving you good cautious advice. I'd suggest you ask the dealer to do the belts before you pick it up, or truck it to somewhere else to get them done.

big

[Slide Panda]

I'm going to pile on with Speed and Iian.  If they are original belts, they are well past 2 years, and have been sitting a lot.  That sitting will make them brittle. 

If one decides to let go on your way home, you're probably looking at a huge bill.  If you get super lucky it'll break when both valves are closed, and you jsut need a belt.  If it lets go while one is full open there's the potential to ruin your piston, bore, and head - basically killing 1/2 your engine. 

It's at a shop now - havethem do the belt as part of the purchase price.

[Howie]

I would try and negotiate a complete service including the belts into the price.  You might get a reduced rate.  5 years on the belts?  Definately change them before running the bike.

[hyphen]

It seems like the guys at beverly hills ducati are a little hesitant in negotiating with me because it's not their bike.  But I asked if they could take a look at the belts (told them I'd pay them for service should it need it).   I'll be picking up the bike Saturday, which makes it easier since I can pickup my friend's ramp if need be. 

The guy kept telling me that its practically a brand new bike and that the belts should be fine but I insisted on a once over.

[rockaduc]

+1 on what everyone else has said.  If the dealership is balking at your proposal to pay for them to check everything out thoroughly, I would be a little skeptical.  Please proceed w/ caution and GET THOSE BELTS REPLACED.

[ScottRNelson]

If you insist on riding the bike with old belts, don't rev the engine up.  I mean like keep it under 4000 rpms.

If it were me, I wouldn't even start the engine without installing new belts first.

[Popeye the Sailor]

I would try and negotiate a complete service including the belts into the price.  You might get a reduced rate.  5 years on the belts?  Definately change them before running the bike.

2 years on the belts, unless I read the OP wrong....