Hi All!
2007 s2r800 soon to be owner!
Welcome - some words to the wise
If you're buying an 'older' monster with a plastic tank (post mid 2005) there are a few things to watch out for, outside of normal used ducati items - the gas tank. IF it's been getting ethanol blended gas the tank will likely have expanded or warped. Ducati was replacing for a time. But I believe the era is over now. Though I'm not 100% sure since I have a pre-plastic tank
Some folks have reported that if one can dry the tank out, they will shrink back which is in line with what should happen with the nylon based plastic used. But I wonder about deformation... And you're looking at having the tank empty for quite a while probably.
Lots of folks who have gotten the tank replaced have taken the step of getting the new tank lined with something like POR-15 or Caswell, before installation and reports on these coated tanks have been good so far.
Signs of swelling from water (due to ethanol) exposure
- The two rubber bumpers on the bottom of the tank do not align center up on the frame tubes
- There is little to no gap between the tank buckle and the ignition. On a good tank, you should be able to wedge a pinky tip between
- bubbles or ripples in the surface
- Lateral asymmetry
With any used Duc, you need to check on the age of the cam drive belts. They are a 2 year, or 12k mile replacement item. Low milage, older bikes will probably need new belts.
How many miles? Will a valve check be due (very) soon? That should be kept in mind and factored into your net cost
How old are the tires? Not how many miles, but actual age. There will be a date stamp on the side wall of the tire. If they are originals or more than 4 years of age they will need to be replaced.
Has the suspension fluid (oil) been replaced within the last year? The oil does fatigue with age. Again if it original it's dump-water and needs to be replaced.
Hydraulic fluids, brakes and clutch should be flushed. Lucky for you this is easy DIY and DOT4 fluid is cheap.
As long as you're informed - good luck - the S2Rs are such lookers.