[img]Hey y'all,
I'm from southwest Ohio. I've got a '08 S4Rs. I put a full Termi exhaust on it with DP ECU and the airbox mod. Adjusted the TPS a little and the rest is stock from front to back. I adjusted the suspension for sag and set the rear link for a bit more neutral steering. I've been riding streetbikes for 34 years, always Japanese and always leaned toward the cafe look; short bars, small fairng around the headlight, rearsets. In 1977 my buddy and I had a different look going on from the usual crowd. In years past, I've built engines from scratch, performed all the machining myself, timed cams, fit valves, undercut gears, etc. Finally started to buy the performance straight from the factory. Last owned a Honda 1100xx, but it was too automotive with its Accord-like engine manners and all the bodywork. It also weighed mightily when push came to shove in braking and cornering. But man could it blast long distances with a qualm. I saw the Ducati S4Rs tricolore sitting on a podium at the local dealership and was smitten by a streetbike for the first time in a long time. I have been ever since. The combination of appearance and lines along with that torquey engine and baritone sound is just the best. Besides it can go and stop as good or better than any Japanese bike I've owned. I also always wanted Ohlins suspension and now I've got it.
The issues that have cropped up so far are the swelling tank, the shifter linkage mounting slipped disallowing it to move out of third gear (factory bulletin), repaired it myself and learned a bit, and did two valve lash adjustments on the schedule. The first only took two opener shims but the second adjustment took 2 closers, so the cams had to come out. I've got the service manual, parts manual and some research on the forums, then bought some "special" tools and dug in. A guy ribbing me said that Ducati was making riders into mechanics since 1956! I know its tradition and all, but really, there is high quality spring wire out there now. It wouldn't break my heart if they ditched desmodronic valvetrain... I know sacrilege but it sure would make valve lash setting a bit less involved and I want to ride it more than prove my mechanical prowess.
The swelling tank will always bother me but that's for another entry. See ya out there.
welcome to the board. check out the tech section if you haven't already, and i think there might be a local group in your area as well. check out the local clubs section as well.
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