New Guy Says Thanks!

[diamonddog-2]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the info you guys have given me on things to watch out for on that '07 S2R 800. Unless the guy really drops his price, I think I'm gonna pass on it and keep looking.  Ducati's that are low mileage garage queens, it turns out, ain't necessarily a good buy. Who knew.
Armed with the information you've given me, I've pretty much narrowed my search down to a Monster from early 2000 to 2007, fuel injected,  S2R or M900/1000Sie   either of which will, hopefully, have already been modified with some of the more desirable aftermarket parts, have been ridden regularly, has service records and recent service and, last but not least, be located relatively close [a day's drive?] and in a color i'd like more than all black.  Not to mention being in my price range of $3000 to $4000.   Okay, that's a long-ass wish list but a guy can dream...

2 last questions [yeah sure]: If there's a late-ish 90's Monster that has a Klein [sp?] flat side carburetor and other mods, how does the upgraded carbureted Monster fair vs. fuel injected models with you guys?  I'd hazard a guess that the fuel injected model would still have the upper hand....but I'm not sure? 

Somebody had suggested that the '07 S2R 800 suspension [with 5400K on the odometer] should be resprung and basically refurbished.  It seemed a bit overboard when I thought about it ....unless the bike was being ridden pretty hard at a track or...?  So, is the stock suspension really THAT bad for a 57 old guy who wouldn't be at the track or pushing the bike to it's limits?, well, okay, maybe once and awhile I'd push it....

Thank you.   

[ducpainter]

A carby Monster with Keihin flat slide carbs can be a challenge to start since they don't have a choke, or enrichment device. There's a technique, but cold weather can be tough. That said they generally run good, and have excellent throttle response, if the carbs have been tuned correctly. The early generation fuelie Monsters were mapped extremely lean from the factory and also will benefit by using an aftermarket unit, like a Power Commander, or from a remap.

All Monsters, or bikes for that matter, have suspension that is a compromise for almost every rider. If you're the average American the bike will be over damped and under sprung. That can make the ride pretty harsh if you have roads that are bumpy, like our New England cart paths, and will benefit from modifications like re-valving and re-springing for your weight. The rear suspension will also benefit from upgrades.

[stopintime]

......
2 last questions [yeah sure]:
......

   

Carby or fuelie - I think you'll be happy with either.

The suspension: S2R800 basic fork, but good enough to have fun. 900, 1000 and S2R1000 a little better, but more importantly they can easily be improved. The shocks are the same and can be replaced. You come from cruisers? If so, I think you won't feel the need to modify for a while.

If what you get is a good bike, but you 'need' to modify at some point anyway - no problem - just ask and we'll spend your money. 

[diamonddog-2]

...."just ask and we'll help spend your money."

....funny. It's the same thing they told me on the Aero forum......and they have!  Are you, by any chance,  related to a Capt. Ron?   

....actually the vast bulk of my riding experience came from a K100RS for 22 seasons. I had modded that bike a fair amount. Before that I rode a Yamaha FJ1100 that I modded WAAAAY too much. Kiss that stack of money goodbye.  I took a 78 Honda SuperSport F and made a real nice cafe in the mid 80's before the FJ. There were a couple others before that.

What can I say. I got older and thought: cruiser!   It's a beautiful V twin machine and has a total Heritage vibe to it. However, after I got the Aero last fall, I quickly realized that my itch to ride fast and to lean into a curve was going to go unscratched........unless I could find something sporty. I looked at getting a 650-ish 4 cylinder rocket but......I dunno. No character?  A dime a dozen?  The look didn't thrill me?   I thought about the Hawk GT, the VFR or early Interceptor, Suzuki SV650, heck, I even thought about a '83 Honda CB1100F.

....But a DUCATI!!!!   now here's a bike I've always admired but never rode. I've heard that throaty growl and loved it. I've watched them race on the World Superbike circuit and hung out in the paddock area with the crew at B.I.R. . They won that year [as well as a more than few other years].  I thought seriously about the 900ss for a month or so this past spring..... but the Monster?  a freakin thing of beauty!  Quick and light as sin. Uncluttered look. Better seating posture [for me] than the 750/900ss or cr.   I just wanna own one/be the caretaker of a beautiful monster for as long as I can in my life.

sorry. I ramble.

[stopintime]

Sounds good - find the right one and just get it 

You won't regret it.

... well, you will, but the again not 

[koko64]

A 900 Monster with Keihin FCR carbs is a joy to ride. Finding a carbed 900 in good condition requires finding one owned by an enthusiast who has refurbished the issues you would expect on an older bike. They have a wonderful torquey street motor and if you can find one well loved and upgraded it will create a love affair. The character of this motor in particular is very satifying. My Hyper1100Evo is much faster and more powerful, but everyone that rides both bikes says they have more fun on the ol' M900. I have an option on part ownership of a well restored and upgraded '94 M900 and its going to be hard to resist as I miss the two 95 models I once owned. They are unpolished diamonds but if you look carefully you will find one that has had the work done and will perform better than when new.

[diamonddog-2]

The sad truth is that I passed on one very early into my search this spring. At the time, my gal was even less enthusiastic about my getting a 2nd bike [if that's possible], it was 3 hours away, the guy who posted the ad came off as someone who was difficult to deal with, it was newly painted a questionable color......and I just plain didn't know what it was I had been looking at  . A Ducati guy I know tried to tell me. It had Ohlins rear, Race Tech gold valves in the forks, Sargent seat, new tires, slip-on exhaust, upgraded Keihn carb, quick adjust levers....and lots of cf.  I could go on....10k miles too.  $2800 asking price.

live and learn

[Greg]

The sad truth is that I passed on one very early into my search this spring. At the time, my gal was even less enthusiastic about my getting a 2nd bike [if that's possible], it was 3 hours away, the guy who posted the ad came off as someone who was difficult to deal with, it was newly painted a questionable color......and I just plain didn't know what it was I had been looking at  . A Ducati guy I know tried to tell me. It had Ohlins rear, Race Tech gold valves in the forks, Sargent seat, new tires, slip-on exhaust, upgraded Keihn carb, quick adjust levers....and lots of cf.  I could go on....10k miles too.  $2800 asking price.

live and learn

THat sounds too good to be true... probably best you didn't get it

[koko64]

I have found the stock carbs on 900 Monsters to be disappointing, even with jet kits installed. The response is somewhat flaccid rather than crisp, but there are other mods that can be done to improve response which have been covered in various threads. FCR carbs are now very expensive so if you find an older M900 with them its a bonus.

[DarkMonster620]

You've found CRABS on 900 Monsters  . . .   

[koko64]

And flaccid.. Pretty bad all round.  . Bloody auto correct. That's why I wear a full race suit ATGATT.

[diamonddog-2]

Wait. So is the ballooning gas tank issue considered to be the herpes of motorcycles? Crabs. Flacid?

Should I get a pocket full of trojans, a full round of vaccinations AND some little blue pills before I start riding a Ducati?   

......maybe I'm overthinking this.

[koko64]

 

[Howie]

Wait. So is the ballooning gas tank issue considered to be the herpes of motorcycles? Crabs. Flacid?

Should I get a pocket full of trojans, a full round of vaccinations AND some little blue pills before I start riding a Ducati?   

......maybe I'm overthinking this.

A condom inside the tank might work, see your Vet about vaccinations

[diamonddog-2]

So .... I took a '04 620ie with termignoni exhaust to see how it sounded. Nothing else done to enhance performance. [but it did have a few other nice bits that came with it] The sound was SO sweet and it DID seem to have a little giddy up to it.       I was grinnin'     I only had the chance to put 6 or 7 miles on it. I asked him how fast it would go. He figured about 115 but didn't sound at all convincing.

What's the skinny on the 620's?  Could a guy get going around 120 if I found one that already had a few "simple" mods done to it?  ...or is this a case of " I canno' change the laws of physics, Capt., I've got to have bigger displacement"