Ducati Monster s4r

[highsider]

So... I have a chance to buy an 06 Monster S4R for what I think is a smoking deal- $3250.

It's got 16k on it! good rubber! overall in nice shape, but it needs a little maintenance. It's seeping oil from what looks like the bottom of the case, there's a seam in he middle, as well as from somewhere near the from sprocket. Also the front fork seals are leaking a bit, and the forks feel a bit soft.

Good deal or no?

[zombie]

Ya would really need to figure out where the leak is coming from on the engine
You could get lucky and then again not.
If it needs taking apart stay away from it,
Not worth the aggravation
Oh by the way hi there

[highsider]

I just noticed it's an s2r....not an s4r, which probably makes it less coolerer.

[maxim_X]

Usually people ask 5-6k for something similar. If you want that scoop it up.

[PhilB]

The S4R is faster, also more complex and more expensive to maintain.
The S2R is a great bike (S2R1000 more so than S2R800).
The oil leaks are a gamble; if they aren't too bad, you might be able to just live with them.
OTOH, if they are bad enough to cause (a) dangerous amounts of oil on the rear tire, or (b) failure of inspection, then fixing them might well cost more than the savings of the bike's low price.
Also, the SxR bikes were among those with problems relating to swelling of plastic gas tanks, a problem for which there is little in the way of permanent solutions.
Some have had good luck with Caswell coating the tanks; others have not.
As with any Ducati, you'll want to have decent assurance that it has been reasonably maintained (valve checks, cam belts, etc.).

It's a fantastic bike to ride. You would be taking your chances, though.
A good Duc is a real joy; a bad one can be a nightmare.

PhilB

[cdovego]

meh

[whynot]

The S4R is faster, also more complex and more expensive to maintain.
The S2R is a great bike (S2R1000 more so than S2R800).
PhilB

If I had bought an S2R instead of an S4R, I'd probably still own it.

[cdovego]

If I had bought an S2R instead of an S4R, I'd probably still own it.

Why?

[whynot]

Why?

What PhilB said, the S4R is more complex and more expensive to maintain. And it turns out I like air-cooled, I like to see fins. That's just me.

[cdovego]

What PhilB said, the S4R is more complex and more expensive to maintain. And it turns out I like air-cooled, I like to see fins. That's just me.

Those are reasonable reasons, I get it. I loved the big hp and upright position of the s4r engine so I overlooked the ugly lines from the cooling system.

[jcbell1007]

Just buy it. I'll help you wrench on it and change tires for you.

[whynot]

Those are reasonable reasons, I get it. I loved the big hp and upright position of the s4r engine so I overlooked the ugly lines from the cooling system.

The current owner is very happy with my old S4R, loves the power, I see the bike at Seacoast now and then. Once I put on the full exhaust and open airbox, the reserve light would come at 65 miles haha. So my message to the OP, is, get the S2R for sure.

[PhilB]

The current owner is very happy with my old S4R, loves the power, I see the bike at Seacoast now and then. Once I put on the full exhaust and open airbox, the reserve light would come at 65 miles haha. So my message to the OP, is, get the S2R for sure.

Yikes! I couldn't live with that; I'd literally be buying gas twice a day. My good old M900 Monster has an operational range of 200 to 220 miles, with another 30-40 miles in reserve.

PhilB

[highsider]

I passed on it, I had nightmares of trying to put the motor back together after changing the center line gasket....

[OreoGaborio]

Hondabond

[whynot]

Yikes! I couldn't live with that; I'd literally be buying gas twice a day. My good old M900 Monster has an operational range of 200 to 220 miles, with another 30-40 miles in reserve.

PhilB

But I looked cool, even if I couldn't handle all the power