Hello ,which one to buy

turbod · 12-04-2012, 06:34 PM

Hello
Just joined & have read through all the posts ,i have always wanted a monster but never had the money, now i have the money but dont know which model to buy.
I like the look of the older style M900sie & the S4R ,but not the current models ,
I have seen nice examples of both models ,which would be better ? the simpler/older 900 or the newer but more complex S4R ? I will only be using this as a summer toy ,so dont need the best commuter
One problem i do have is i am six foot tall ,are any models physically larger than others ?
thanks.

Nickj · 12-04-2012, 07:17 PM

Don't forget the S2R's, they retained the look of the older monsters but had quite a bit of updating.
I'm thinking that's the one I'll be after next

Rally · 12-04-2012, 07:23 PM

Size wise, there is nothing really in it, all basically the same in size. (Possibly an inch at most between models) The air cooled ones are lighter and in some peoples eyes, the real ones! The water cooled have considerably more power which is good if you want it and can use it, but also are a bit heavier for it. Service wise, the air cooled are cheaper to maintain and the belt prices are a big part of that.

You pays your money and takes your choice.........

steeevvvooo · 12-04-2012, 09:41 PM

s2r1000... Although I'm biased and may have one or sale

Welcome by the way,and enjoy the hunting...

13-04-2012, 10:11 AM

Welcome...
S2R is a lovely bike. I prefer the 800 to the 1000 as it is a wet clutch.
The S4 is a bit bigger and a bit of a beast and is water cooled...which looks wrong to my eyes.
The 900 is a cracking bike, but looks a bit dated to me..
Conclusion...get an S2R 800.....

13-04-2012, 10:47 AM

I went through the same thought process. The 900s with twin low pipes looks great in a classic/unfaired kinda way. But the water cooled machines bring the meaning to 'Monster' - proper naked superbikes

J.P · 13-04-2012, 11:39 AM

Welcome to the club.
I'd go for the S4R any day of the week (just sold my one from 2007).

craigie · 13-04-2012, 07:48 PM

M900 - Cool
S4R - Faster

13-04-2012, 08:59 PM

I had exactly the same dilema last year and went for the s4r. I am 6ft 4" and it suits me fine, plus having a lot of fun

turbod · 13-04-2012, 09:05 PM

Thanks for all the advice ,hopefully i will be checking out a couple of bikes over the weekend ,anything specific to watch out for ,looking at a M900si & S4R.

LVC · 13-04-2012, 09:44 PM

Only problem with the Rs are the pipes on the one side - look unbalanced IMHO.

If you're after the power and classic looks the S4 is hard to beat - again I'm as biased as the others though.

Go have a test ride on several and you'll know which feels right for you.

13-04-2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigie

M900 - Cool
S4R - Faster

This about sums it up for me and personally there are other bikes out there in the world to go fast on so I went for the older 900 (plus it was cheap) and will enjoy thumping around on my monster as my girlfriend doesn't ride mega fast on her speed triple so my current tuono is a bit wasted.

The original 900 looks the cleanest and least cluttered but also had the lowest tech and power.

Wasta · 14-04-2012, 04:49 AM

I went for a 900, I like the simple uncluttered looks. They appear to be easier to work on, no doubt I'll find out soon as I intend to service it myself.
After riding my sportbike, the 900 seems low so I've purchased some ride hight raisers and will fit them when I get home.
I must add that I really enjoy riding it, and am sure it's a keeper.

14-04-2012, 04:55 PM

Yes I intend on raising the arse end of my 900 at the same time as chopping the tail

Funkatronic · 15-04-2012, 12:07 AM

as you can tell from others answers. there is lots of choice.
like others im biased towards bikes i own but for my money the S2R 1000 is the best looking monster ducati built, any day of the week and twice on sundays
classic clean monster lines, with that beautiful Single Sided swingarm and the stacked shot gun exhausts.
really think ducati got it right with this bike
also, once setup properly ridealbility is truely epic, the DS1000 engine has bags of tourqe and plenty of power (it will easiy do 145mph and gets there plenty quick enough for me), and handling is superb. It never ceases to put a massive smile on my face

the S4R is lovley (especially the S4RS tricolore) and is an absolutely insane hoon machine

but the excess plumbing and radiator etc looks clumsy to my eye, not to mention the extra sevice costs on the water cooled engine. but each their own

i have also loved my S2R800 to bits and its still my main all rounder and has done me proud for 20k miles of eveything from commuting to touring to track days. you would not be sorry if you bought one of these

that said, there were were some econmies made on the forks and brakes on the s2r 800, so unless you find one that has these upgarded already (look for gilps in the for sale section, its very special indeed) the s2r1000 is probably better value 2nd hand

I have also had 796 which while not as pretty as the older monsters out the box was a truly fabulous bike to ride and i was sad to see it go
Look at Bex's if you want to see how good they can look with a few tasteful mods

have probably muddied the waters even further now, sorry

12-04-2012, 06:34 PM	#1
turbod Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: london Bike: M900sie Posts: 27	Hello ,which one to buy Hello Just joined & have read through all the posts ,i have always wanted a monster but never had the money, now i have the money but dont know which model to buy. I like the look of the older style M900sie & the S4R ,but not the current models , I have seen nice examples of both models ,which would be better ? the simpler/older 900 or the newer but more complex S4R ? I will only be using this as a summer toy ,so dont need the best commuter One problem i do have is i am six foot tall ,are any models physically larger than others ? thanks.

12-04-2012, 07:17 PM	#2
Nickj Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Of Dean Bike: S2r Posts: 3,208	Don't forget the S2R's, they retained the look of the older monsters but had quite a bit of updating. I'm thinking that's the one I'll be after next __________________ "The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body." Song of the sausage creature

13-04-2012, 11:39 AM	#7
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	Welcome to the club. I'd go for the S4R any day of the week (just sold my one from 2007). __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

13-04-2012, 09:44 PM	#11
LVC The Loire Valley Monster Join Date: May 2006 Location: South of Le Mans Bike: S4 Posts: 709	Only problem with the Rs are the pipes on the one side - look unbalanced IMHO. If you're after the power and classic looks the S4 is hard to beat - again I'm as biased as the others though. Go have a test ride on several and you'll know which feels right for you. __________________ *Kiss French, Play Japanese, Ride Italian....*

14-04-2012, 04:49 AM	#13
Wasta Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Durham Bike: M900 Posts: 390	I went for a 900, I like the simple uncluttered looks. They appear to be easier to work on, no doubt I'll find out soon as I intend to service it myself. After riding my sportbike, the 900 seems low so I've purchased some ride hight raisers and will fit them when I get home. I must add that I really enjoy riding it, and am sure it's a keeper. __________________ 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100RR 1998 M900 monster

12-04-2012, 07:23 PM	#3
Rally Taking life easy........ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wiltshire Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 1,969	Size wise, there is nothing really in it, all basically the same in size. (Possibly an inch at most between models) The air cooled ones are lighter and in some peoples eyes, the real ones! The water cooled have considerably more power which is good if you want it and can use it, but also are a bit heavier for it. Service wise, the air cooled are cheaper to maintain and the belt prices are a big part of that. You pays your money and takes your choice.........

12-04-2012, 09:41 PM	#4
steeevvvooo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bromley Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,512	s2r1000... Although I'm biased and may have one or sale Welcome by the way,and enjoy the hunting...

13-04-2012, 10:11 AM	#5
jimbo696 Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome... S2R is a lovely bike. I prefer the 800 to the 1000 as it is a wet clutch. The S4 is a bit bigger and a bit of a beast and is water cooled...which looks wrong to my eyes. The 900 is a cracking bike, but looks a bit dated to me.. Conclusion...get an S2R 800.....

13-04-2012, 10:47 AM	#6
Spareparts Guest Posts: n/a	I went through the same thought process. The 900s with twin low pipes looks great in a classic/unfaired kinda way. But the water cooled machines bring the meaning to 'Monster' - proper naked superbikes

13-04-2012, 07:48 PM	#8
craigie Only bronze? Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: london Bike: M900 Posts: 424	M900 - Cool S4R - Faster

13-04-2012, 08:59 PM	#9
Muddyboot Guest Posts: n/a	I had exactly the same dilema last year and went for the s4r. I am 6ft 4" and it suits me fine, plus having a lot of fun

13-04-2012, 09:05 PM	#10
turbod Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: london Bike: M900sie Posts: 27	Thanks for all the advice ,hopefully i will be checking out a couple of bikes over the weekend ,anything specific to watch out for ,looking at a M900si & S4R.

14-04-2012, 04:55 PM	#14
Nottsbiker Guest Posts: n/a	Yes I intend on raising the arse end of my 900 at the same time as chopping the tail

15-04-2012, 12:07 AM	#15
Funkatronic another year another bike Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London Bike: S2r 1000 Posts: 1,597	as you can tell from others answers. there is lots of choice. like others im biased towards bikes i own but for my money the S2R 1000 is the best looking monster ducati built, any day of the week and twice on sundays classic clean monster lines, with that beautiful Single Sided swingarm and the stacked shot gun exhausts. really think ducati got it right with this bike also, once setup properly ridealbility is truely epic, the DS1000 engine has bags of tourqe and plenty of power (it will easiy do 145mph and gets there plenty quick enough for me), and handling is superb. It never ceases to put a massive smile on my face the S4R is lovley (especially the S4RS tricolore) and is an absolutely insane hoon machine but the excess plumbing and radiator etc looks clumsy to my eye, not to mention the extra sevice costs on the water cooled engine. but each their own i have also loved my S2R800 to bits and its still my main all rounder and has done me proud for 20k miles of eveything from commuting to touring to track days. you would not be sorry if you bought one of these that said, there were were some econmies made on the forks and brakes on the s2r 800, so unless you find one that has these upgarded already (look for gilps in the for sale section, its very special indeed) the s2r1000 is probably better value 2nd hand I have also had 796 which while not as pretty as the older monsters out the box was a truly fabulous bike to ride and i was sad to see it go Look at Bex's if you want to see how good they can look with a few tasteful mods have probably muddied the waters even further now, sorry Last edited by Funkatronic; 15-04-2012 at 12:10 AM..