my brand new '04 S4R

[Curmudgeon]

Very pretty - who made the seat for you ?  HOw long did it take ?

"Betty" is in Australia. The Aussies have some really good bike fabricators, however...

Sargent can duplicate that "for a price" if you like. However, besides their special foams and coverings, the "stock" seats use their own moulded lightweight base with storage..., AND..., the main element of their design is a flatter seating platform. For most it makes quite a difference. Less pressure on your thigh too after it breaks in. The basic model is $400 plus UPS ~ $20. If you don't like it after some miles, send it back within 30 days for credit. Can't beat that.

BTW, since you are ordering a white jacket, you might want to consider a chain lube which really doesn't fling and is dirt cheap. Lots of us use it. Available at Lowes for $5 and besides wax is Teflon. Being cheap, you can actually clean your chain with it as you apply. Should be renewed every 200 - 250 miles. Search Dupont on the DMF. Review here: http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-lube.htm

If you go on tour, Aerostich sells a bottle you carry. http://www.aerostich.com/review/product/list/id/2062/category/200/

[Duchess]

I found out why its called the S4R ... nothing to do with it being a 4 valve head after all. It's because the "4" and the "$" share the same key on the keyboard !  Mine is a S$R from now on !

I've only owned it a day and a half and already I've ordered -
- leather Rev'it Raven jacket, pants and gloves
- battery tender
- zero gravity Touring screen, poorducrider stays
- CRG hindsight LS mirrors

thinking of the reflective wheel tape, cox racing radiator/oil cooler protection kit, Sargent seat, pro-grip gels or grip puppy grips ...

aaaarrrgghhhh - I've been bitten by a Monster !

[Curmudgeon]

Wait until you see the service bill at $6,000 miles.  Better have a good tech for that job too.

Go easy with the grips. With a 4V particularly, you need max sensitivity for the throttle. Consider better gloves instead. If you have an issue with the grip / wrist angle with the bars, think about a Rizoma bar. Mine is silver and looks stock only better. http://www.rizoma.com/universal/handlebars/ma005-008-010/en?MOTO=50412198-50463006-R

http://www.motovationusa.com/mvstore/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=562

You shouldn't need much else. The thing was already modded!

Presume you had the dealer adjust the sag / preload on the shock. Did he dial in the damping accordingly? This can be tricky and I'm pretty familiar with Ohlins but you have Showa about which I know zip. The compression damping should be set light enough to use most of the rear travel with a little reserve and the rebound should be firm and controlled, but not so firm as to "pack down" over a series of bumps. THEN..., you have to tune the front to match.  If your dealer isn't an Ohlins tech, find one. No BS, they know what to do. Call Ohlins direct and they can give you someone nearby. 1-800-336-9029

[ducpainter]

Hey, if it stops some idiot T-boning me at an intersection, I'll leave the fork reflectors on ...  See and be Seen, is my motto.

Talking of which, anyone got a good source for color matched reflective tape ?  My last bike I had white reflective tape on the white fairing and tail section. Didn't "show up" in the day time, but at dusk and at night, shone out like a beacon.  Saved me one dark wet night from an idiot motorist ....

Duchess

Fork reflectors won't allow a person that is watching their phone to see you.

Motorcycles are invisible to 'most' drivers.

Get used to it and adjust accordingly.

Nice bike BTW...you chose well.

[Duchess]

Curmudgeon - yes, we spent some time setting up front and rear suspension. They seemed to know what they were doing and she rides real nice !

Ducpainter - agreed !  I've spent the last decade on bicycles, which are even more invisible, and worse, even if a driver does see us, they totally discount how fast we are going and how vulnerable we are. I coach a cycle team and "ride defensively" is lesson one. Always assume the other driver is blind, deaf and stupid and it will be a miracle if he doesn't open his door into your path, overtake too close for comfort, or just totally fail  to see you at all. Haven't lost a rider yet, but we've had enough close encounters to drive the lesson home.

Thanks for the compliments on my bike, I'm totally in love with her ... she is so pretty and fun to be with.

[Moronic]

Very pretty - who made the seat for you ?  HOw long did it take ?

Hi Duchess,

the custom seat was made by an Australian guy, Andrew Moorhouse, but I believe he is no longer doing them. Fab job. From memory he had the stock seat about a week, plus shipping to and fro.

My point was really that you don't have to go for something off the shelf, and that the added 15mm height makes a big difference to comfort. Plenty of custom bike saddle builders out there, or so it seems. Or as Curmudgeon suggests (I think), you might get something special from Sargent.

Really does sound like you have a sweet bike there. A great outcome from all your research and opinion gathering. Shows the board at its best. I look forward to hearing how you find her as the miles go on.    I am guessing you are happy with the torque output so far.

Remember too, you have that adustable rear suspension link for fine-tuning the steering.

[Curmudgeon]

Oooops! Sorry, "Moronic". Thought you were "Betty"; must be my Halfsheimers. 

Duchess has a bad hip and wants to be able to flat foot the bike, so the extra 1/2" is probably a no-go. Sargent made a custom seat for my T-100 EFi which has a well-known torture device for a stock seat. They used an EFi seat pan I supplied and copied the design of a pal's Sargent to which I added 1/2" to open up that "seating compartment". It took my pal three tries and a lot of $$$ to get exactly what he wanted, so he saved me a lot of grief!  I'm now 1" higher than stock and my bearable range has been increased from 50 miles to ~ 150. Mostly Triumph is to blame because they made the rear subframe too wide and the saddle still puts pressure on my inner thigh. No way for Sargent to solve that and Monsters don't have this issue. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lambroving/Miscellany/Various+Bikes/DB-Brewery-T-100.jpg.html

I don't have great range anymore period but I HAVE managed one 300 mile day on my 796 Sargent and was not in agony afterwards. And yes, with enough pictures, Sargent could exactly copy your touring saddle. Their in-house design makes for a flatter seating surface though which helps to keep you off the tank. Costs her only shipping both ways to try one too.

[Duchess]

Just got back from a short tour around the local country lanes. Wasn't raining, so even though it was only 50 degrees out we went for a ride - just 25 miles or so.  I'm now at 173 on the odometer. Maybe my imagination, or just getting used to the bike, but she seems to be smoothing out a little.

Fuel light just came on, so first n00b question - the 996 engine does take premium, doesn't it ?  Or do folks run them on regular ?

By the end of the run up from Louisville (112 miles) my butt was feeling the seat .. not so much today, because wasn't on there for very long. However, with the cold, and lots more stop/start at lights and junctions, my hip was playing up more. Guess I'll just have to get more miles on before deciding what seat arrangement will work the best. I do like the shape of Moronic's saddle - looks like support under the butt, but narrower between the legs ...

She did get some "thumbs up" signs from other motorists, though, including one guy who wound his car window down at a stop sign to yell "nice bike" at me ....

[stopintime]

It would be strange if such a new (and old) bike didn't feel smoother as you go along.
Of course - you loosening up will also help.

The seat requirements, or not, will become clearer after a while.
For me, it's much more about how I move around or not, than it is about the seat shape and material.
The things you need, or not, to do will depend heavily on your anatomy, your riding and your wishes.
Good support all around the "sitting bones" (two hardest parts of a seated bum) and customized between-thigh-room does make a lot of sense though.

[ducpainter]

Just got back from a short tour around the local country lanes. Wasn't raining, so even though it was only 50 degrees out we went for a ride - just 25 miles or so.  I'm now at 173 on the odometer. Maybe my imagination, or just getting used to the bike, but she seems to be smoothing out a little.

Fuel light just came on, so first n00b question - the 996 engine does take premium, doesn't it ?  Or do folks run them on regular ?

By the end of the run up from Louisville (112 miles) my butt was feeling the seat .. not so much today, because wasn't on there for very long. However, with the cold, and lots more stop/start at lights and junctions, my hip was playing up more. Guess I'll just have to get more miles on before deciding what seat arrangement will work the best. I do like the shape of Moronic's saddle - looks like support under the butt, but narrower between the legs ...

She did get some "thumbs up" signs from other motorists, though, including one guy who wound his car window down at a stop sign to yell "nice bike" at me ....

Do yourself a favor and run 87 octane.

If you notice any pinging,you won't,try 89.

That Desmoquattro doesn't require premium.

[thought]

For a cheap upgrade for your seat, you can try out Spencer's seat mods:

http://greatdaytoride.com/Home_Page.php

You send him pics/video of you riding and what you are looking for in terms of the seat and he will refoam the stock seat for you.  Works out to be around $85 with the LD gel option... best bang for the buck I would say.

He's gotten really great reviews all around though I havent tried him myself personally.

[Curmudgeon]

You can download for free a copy of your manual here: http://www.ducati.com/services/maintenance/index.do It says:
"Fuel tank, including a reserve Unleaded fuel 15 of 3.5 cu dm (liters) 95 fuel octane rating (at least)". That's ~ 91 U.S. (M+R/2) minimum. As it's 11.6±0.5:1 compression ratio, use whatever works best in your C4. We used BP/Amoco 93 in all our Porsche fleet, but that was NJ, so no idea about your blend in OH. If you can run Chevron 93 there, that contains Techron which will keep your valves nice and clean.

As for the seat, the Sargent has good support for your sit bones and a nice taper downward at the front to reduce pressure on your thighs. Look at the picture again. http://www.sargentcycle.com/ducwsmonster.htm It's even narrower at the front than it appears there.

[ducpainter]

You can download for free a copy of your manual here: http://www.ducati.com/services/maintenance/index.do It says:
"Fuel tank, including a reserve Unleaded fuel 15 of 3.5 cu dm (liters) 95 fuel octane rating (at least)". That's ~ 91 U.S. (M+R/2) minimum. As it's 11.6±0.5:1 compression ratio, use whatever works best in your C4. We used BP/Amoco 93 in all our Porsche fleet, but that was NJ, so no idea about your blend in OH. If you can run Chevron 93 there, that contains Techron which will keep your valves nice and clean.

As for the seat, the Sargent has good support for your sit bones and a nice taper downward at the front to reduce pressure on your thighs. Look at the picture again. http://www.sargentcycle.com/ducwsmonster.htm It's even narrower at the front than it appears there.

 

[Curmudgeon]

 

Takes one to know one I suppose... 

[ducpainter]

Takes one to know one I suppose... 

There's only one difference...

you're wrong on this one.

I own a 996. It runs great on 87...even when having it's neck wrung on the track. I'd call that real world experience.

It makes more power and runs cleaner because it doesn't have all the chemicals to resist burning that premium does. It doesn't ping and therefore does not require premium.

If you convince an owner to run premium during break-in I feel you're doing them a disservice because at the lower engine speeds it will certainly cause carbon build up even if the bike does require premium at full throttle/load/temp.

You struggled with a cold start problem with your own bike and refused to even try regular when I suggested it. One gallon as an experiment wouldn't hurt your bike or void the warranty.

If I owned a bike and it pinged on regular I'd try mid-grade, and if that didn't work I would run premium...but only to stop pinging.

I don't have money to throw away with gas prices as they are.



We'll continue to disagree on this.