My S4R review

[remo6966]

As previously mentioned in my S4 review, reviews can only be based on previous experience. My base for comparison over the last 6 years have been Suzuki's SV650X and the Ducati S4.

So S4R!
Picked this little beauty up on Saturday in Northampton. :cool:
First impressions, love the back end, not too sure about the red.
Feels nimbler that the S4, the clutch is pi+@ easy to use and neutral is not the hide and go seek experience of the S4. 135mph is incredible easy on an open stretch of the M1, and if the law hadn't appeared on the horizon who knows where it could have ended. Grinsville, Chuckle City or Smug Town? :burnout:
Fairing still wobbles like a Turkish belly dancers midrift

My questions...
Is it the law that all secondhand Monsters come without the seat compartment cover, securing screw and helmet carrier?
Was this a special paint job, I cant find any Ducati info on gold wheel S4Rs?
The S4 has a plastic cover under the clocks with S4 logo, my S4R doesn't just an hole showing the wiring, is this the norm?

[marchesini]

My questions...
Is it the law that all secondhand Monsters come without the seat compartment cover, securing screw and helmet carrier?

Yes, sod's law.

Was this a special paint job, I cant find any Ducati info on gold wheel S4Rs?

As far as I know, they never came in that colour. I also note that your wheels do not have the marchesini decal on the side. My guess is that the previous owner has swapped them with some 996 jobbies or you've got lucky and have got a pair of magnesium wheels into the bargain. I'm sure there's a way to tell which are alloy and which are magnesium - something to do with casting marks or brembo stamped on the inside or something. May be completely wrong but I'm pretty sure they are not standard.

The S4 has a plastic cover under the clocks with S4 logo, my S4R doesn't just an hole showing the wiring, is this the norm?

Yes, this is the normal. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away (or falls off depending on how tightly your nuts were tightened).

HTH

Best regards

simon

[remo6966]

Thanks for the reply, I'd go out an scrutinize the wheels but its dark out there and I've heard the boogy mans in town. I do know that if you test a spark plug on a magnesium cylinder head it burns a hole in the metal, don't think i'll try that though. When you say brembo inside, do you mean inside the rim or actually under the tyre inside? :lol:

[marchesini]

Thanks for the reply, I'd go out an scrutinize the wheels but its dark out there and I've heard the boogy mans in town. I do know that if you test a spark plug on a magnesium cylinder head it burns a hole in the metal, don't think i'll try that though. When you say brembo inside, do you mean inside the rim or actually under the tyre inside? :lol:

Again, I may be talking utter tosh but I seem to recall that the later marchesinis are not actually real marchesini items but are made by brembo with marchesini decals. What difference that makes, I have no idea other than people used to 'upgrade' their 748 / 996's to marchesinis 5 spokes from the old brembo 3 spokes - must be a snob thing. I believe that the brembo is cast inside the spoke if I recall correctly (which is unlikely).

HTH

Best regards

Simon

[lee1980]

The wheels look similar to mine, brembo will be cast insides the spoke on the rear wheel :D marachsinis (spelling??) are made by brembo on most later ducatis.

Mine didnt come with cover under the seat just a rubber band to hold tool kit bike was new to :eek:

Heres mine ;)

[xjrjohn]

Nice looking bike....the gold wheels suit the red IMHO.
Lee how does that can sound and whats the damage to the wallet if you dont mind me askin.
John

[lee1980]

Yeah I wouldn't mind mine gold one day to cut down on the cleaning :lol: :lol:

John,

The can sounds good to me not heard many S4r's with cans but is way better than stock not quite as good as the 748s i had with 50mm ti termis. Will be much deeper once i replace the cat with spareshack pipes :)

I love the can as its different very light all titanuim construction inside carbon bracket is gorgeous will post more pics tommorow tonight if u want( need to get file size smaller to post :lol: )

Comes with the legal mark and removable baffles to (which are now removed)

Think its around 650-700 not cheap, its in the demon tweeks catalogue, I got mine cheap after someone from DSC mentioned a bike shope had one going cheap so payed 400 :D :D

Other wise I would have got the the ti arrows full system as its not much more.

[claicerrig]

Fairing still wobbles like a Turkish belly dancers midrift



The best thing to buy is the Spare shack faring bracing kit.Not that expensive but they do reduce the ammount of Flex :eek: And Wobble found with the standard screen.

Hope this Helps

Clai

[LesPaul]

Hi remo6966,

Another S4r owner in Notts then :D

I'd guess your wheels have been painted gold hence no sticker on the rim or if you have been really lucky they could be mags.
Depending were you are in Notts there are two very good independant Ducati specialists who I'm sure would be able to tell you if they are mags or alloy by having a looking at them,

S.P.R Race Products
Unit 5, Brookside Rd,
Ruddington,
Nottingham,
Nottinghamshire NG11 6AT

or

Cornerspeed
Unit 2, Unity Rd,
Lowmoor Business Park,
Kirkby-In-Ashfield,
Nottingham,
Nottinghamshire NG17 7LE

Darren

[remo6966]

Thanks to everyone.
Gave wheels the once over and sure enough spoke says Brembo. So wot does that mean?
Like the idea of faring brace and was even thinking of knocking up something myself, I cant seem to find the Spareshack version though. Giz a clue. :)

Seriously like wot Lee1980 as done with his Duke. Have read elsewhere that the open clutch covers offer next to no protection in a tumble. ie clutch basket and contents go seriously south. Any opinions?

LesPaul thanks for info, funnily enough did recently visit SPR, very impressed with their knowledge.

[A Yerbury]

Thanks to everyone.
Gave wheels the once over and sure enough spoke says Brembo. So wot does that mean?
Like the idea of faring brace and was even thinking of knocking up something myself, I cant seem to find the Spareshack version though. Giz a clue. :)

Seriously like wot Lee1980 as done with his Duke. Have read elsewhere that the open clutch covers offer next to no protection in a tumble. ie clutch basket and contents go seriously south. Any opinions?

LesPaul thanks for info, funnily enough did recently visit SPR, very impressed with their knowledge.

the spareshack website is "vague" at best, send a pm to spares geezer, should be able to sort you out.

[LesPaul]

Have a look at these (http://secure.speedymoto.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SP&Category_Code=CC) clutch covers, they look nice and are very strong, Neil at cornerspeed usually has them in stock ;)
Might bump into you if your ever at SPR as I only live down the road from them, my wife recons it's my second home :lol:

Darren

[lee1980]

Hehe I quite like the fairing flapping in the wind :lol: :lol: feels like ur going real fast!!

I think orginally they were made by marchesini, but when Ducati started putting them on a lot of their bikes marchesini couldn't keep up with demand so they are made under license by brembo :o

I have the Dp cover and plate that i got cheap second hand which looks to be strong not as strong as the speedymoto ones but way better than the standard one, on my 748 the standard one dented and broke off a post and I was only doing about 15mph :eek: :eek: thinks its made of tin foil the standard one :lol: :lol:

[Scotty]

new cluct cover sir maybe this would be of interest

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=12222

[McMONSTRO]

So now there are 3 of in Notts! We just need a dealer now!
This is mine if you see it around, got a few "service" tools like chain adjusting tool and rear wheel nut socket if you get stuck!

McMonstro

[Gilps]

McMonstro - I do like your belly pan. Where did you get it from?
Thanks - Gilps

[bigredduke]

What 'zorsts have u fitted? how much etc etc? (digging the txt spk huh?)

[McMONSTRO]

Gilps-The bellypan is from www.gsg-mototechnik.de it comes unpainted so you can get it sprayed to match your bike, a word of warning though, mine has been "scortched" a little by the heat from the cat, not sure if this is me putting it on straight away from the painters before the paint went off completely or the paint used. If you have a cat eliminator fitted or put some foil heat sheild that is used around turbos in engine bays on the inside Im sure this would not happen.
Stu at spareshack can get them, at a better price than I paid! but I got mine direct from Germany as Id allready ordered it when Stu got back to me! Fits a treat, and most think it suits the bike really well, though some one said it looks like a "cornflake packet", well it takes all sorts eh!

bigredduke-the cans are made by spark, despite the termi stickers! Sound great and good quality too! Come with the db killers which have been removed, 2 min job to put them back for MOT time though. The other great thing about them is because of the pipe position from the cat to the cans, you can get your right foot on the peg properly, and not have to ride with your heel stuck out at 45deg! Came from Desmo shop in France, they often have them up on e-bay international which is where I bought them from, they were a pair on yesterday but I think the auction finished in a few hours, but Im sure there will be another set up soon.
And the price I paid? I dare not tell you, lets just say it was a hell of a lot less then the termi equivalent :D

Nearly finished spending now, just want a steering damper!

McMonstro

[remo6966]

Thanks for everyones comments and replies. :cool:
Still looking for everyones exhaust prefs and pictures. :) (see other threads)
Went out to Cornerspeed and couldn't resist a 5spoke clutch cover and red pressure plate, which I shall fit at the weekend and post some pics when ready.
Can anyone tell me the manual recommended torque settings for the clutch spring bolts? Thanks in advance.