Monster owner in waiting

A bit like boobs and bums then.......the sun brings them out too.......

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by Jennoe

Ok......plans have been put back a bit as it seems I can't sit my Theory and Hazard Awareness test until the 4th May......are there really that many people taking this test in my little city.......Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.!!!!!!!!!!!

Its only a few weeks away amigo. Have you been practising the hazard perception videos? If you're not careful you spot the issue too soon and don't score any points... I know it sounds crazy but its true. I totally recommend the government cds available from Halfrauds for a tenner to ensure a first time pass!

[Darren69]

Hazard perception videos? Nah, just watch "Closer To The Edge" !

I downloaded a few Hazard Awareness apps and practiced when I was sat in the chair having Chemo.....amazing how much you don't see at first and how much you think you know but don't......good shout about spotting things go soon...........I read somewhere to press when you see something then press again 2 seconds later....being careful not to press to often.......

[Darren69]

I don't know what the videos are showing you. But in reality you just need to imagine that you're invisible and expect no one to have seen you. Treat every other road user as a complete imbecile and you won't be far off the mark, most car drivers and cyclists are either just that or too busy texting on their phones anyway!

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by Jennoe

......good shout about spotting things go soon...........I read somewhere to press when you see something then press again 2 seconds later....being careful not to press to often.......

The two second delay is about right. With the cd you take mock tests, and then review when you clicked in relation to the points you have scored. It was 10 pounds well spent.

Evening everyone. Could I impose on your vast knowledge somewhat.?..........there's a very nice S4R for sale on eBay.........I'd add a link but I've no idea how it's done ......however the item number is......232279786916...........if you've a few odd moments could you give me your considered opinion.....be truthfull now...don't think you have to spare my feelings............cheers fellas..

[Darren69]

This one? :-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUCATI-MON...IAAOSwuLZY0qLh

TBH It looks really clean and tidy for such a high mileage bike. The paint looks good, the carbon is faded but could be made good fairly easily. The engine paint doesn't look too bad from what I can see, but its usually underneath that suffers most.

The forks look tired, the nitride has worn off so I don't know if that means they're worn out and they'll leak. The stanchions are about £300 quid each new so maybe you should consider that factor that into the price . I guess the price reflects the mileage. I honestly don't know what those engines are like at that mileage as mine has done less than a quarter of that, but there are plenty of ST4S's around with similar mileage, same engine. Maybe speak to a Ducati mechanic about likely issues or maybe someone on here has a experience of a bike of that sort of mileage.

The bike looks pretty standard apart from the disks, horn, rear reflector and the wheels, which were usually white on those blue bikes so maybe they've been refinished in black for practicality, as white is a nightmare to keep clean as I know all too well.

Rear tyre looks a little flat to me too.

Yep.....that's the one............as you can see there's no rush,plenty of time to purchase. There's a Ducati dealer near me in Cardiff..Riders......worth a chat with them about things by the sounds of it...............
Thanks fella..you've been great.........ill let you know what Riders say...

[Darren69]

Did you see this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-Mon...3D232279786916

I'm thinking that considering the high mileage on the other one, which may be nothing to worry about considering that it has kept going strong for so long and things like flaky rockers (which are a known issue) has been mentioned. Its probably been well looked after. But the forks look like they may need work and for an extra £1000 there's one with half the mileage! I would consider that one over the other one for sure. It looks clean and original too; radiator has either been replaced or repainted though so maybe crash damaged and its missing the rear cowl which is a few hundred quid.

[Darren69]

Abouk 4k should get you a really, really nice one. This one is beautiful:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-Mon...3D292053156066

[Darren69]

About 4k should get you a really, really nice one. This one is beautiful:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-Mon...3D292053156066

Thank you my friend ..........I really do like that rich,lustrous blue.............all advice taken under consideration....

[utopia]

A few random points on the S4R ....
You're committing to a single sided swingarm, which has implications re special tools and massive assembly torques needed.
The 4v water-cooled motor is more complicated to service and generally less clean looking than the 2 valve motors.
Both of these make it less suitable for home maintenance as well as making dealer maintenance more expensive. (which has even more relevance for a high mileage bike.)
It will have more power than you will probably need, as a beginner.
Its probably not the lightest of monsters.

All of the above may or may not matter .. its a personal thing.

That one is nice in that its clearly been well cared for but being a high miler its a good price.
The blue looks particularly nice, especially with the black wheels .. though I may be biased.
But for me, the S4R is too complex.

For background, I run an aircooled 750.
Blue, with black wheels.