With a trip to Indy looming on the S4Rs, I have to ask about a few comfort features:

1) My clutch arm kills after 30 minutes in traffic... is there anything that can be done about clutch pull?

2) My throttle arm kills after a few hours... anything that can be done about the spring tension? A throttle lock of some kind would be fine on the freeway, but any riding around in the country is tiring on the wrist.

3) Rear peg lowering... this thing must be designed for someone with really short legs.

1. May look into one of those evolutionize slave cylinders?  That might reduce the clutch pull.

2. You can try one of these.... http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=CRB_07-4071&tier2=3092

3.  Could you rest your legs on your passenger pegs for a bit to change your position?  I think aftermarket rearsets will probably raise your pegs up.

Swanny

Quote from: newslacker on July 09, 2008, 02:52:57 PM
With a trip to Indy looming on the S4Rs, I have to ask about a few comfort features:

1) My clutch arm kills after 30 minutes in traffic... is there anything that can be done about clutch pull?

2) My throttle arm kills after a few hours... anything that can be done about the spring tension? A throttle lock of some kind would be fine on the freeway, but any riding around in the country is tiring on the wrist.

3) Rear peg lowering... this thing must be designed for someone with really short short legs.

What Swanny said.

Also, you could fabricate peg lowering aluminum plates but it would depend on whether you rear brake master cylinder set up will allow it.

Are you going to the Indy races?  Steve is going and I am thinking of going too.  I think Giannis post that he wanted to go also.

cdc

Quote from: swanny on July 09, 2008, 02:56:59 PM
3.  Could you rest your legs on your passenger pegs for a bit to change your position?  I think aftermarket rearsets will probably raise your pegs up.
Swanny

I'm 6'2" with long legs and my S2R1k default rearsets are uncomfortable on long stretches of slab. If I'm cruising on a straight stretch of highway with sparse traffic, I'll rest my feet on the passenger pegs to stretch my legs. This only works when I'm wearing my Sidi's to protect the top of my foot and shin where they make contact with the pegs. For added leverage you can push up against the passenger pegs with the balls of your feet. Be prepared to feel weird when you come back upright. Even after brief "stretches" I feel REALLY cramped when I sit up again so it takes a minute to readjust. Be sure and give yourself plenty of time to reconfigure yourself when you're coming up on traffic, a tight corner, etc.

Swanny's on target. Clutch slave will help a good 20% in reduced lever pull effort. I use Evoluzione brand on all my Ducs but STM, Motowheels, etc. makes the same thing. Lost LOTS of arm and hand strength due to the turkey attack/broken neck thing. Got a set of spring tension grip/forearm hand exercise things at Academy Sports to help strengthen the hands and forearms. Cheap and they have helped a bunch. Keep one where I sit and veg on the couch and watch the tube and the other stays in my car. I just sit and squeek away squeezing the little guys until I can't squeeze anymore.

Lisa swears by her Crampbuster extension on the throttle grip to help with that issue. PM her and I am sure she'll tell you all about it if she doesn't post it here. Also cheap and very effective from what I have heard.

Sounds like adjustable rearsets may help. I'm vertically challenged so I can't relate very well. I have adjustable Vortex rearsets on my GSXRs but mainly for the fixed, non folding pegs. They are pretty much set where the stock peg position was. Any feedback on adjustable rearsets for S4RS Monsters?? Speak up people!

O.K. so I'm reading the original post, composing this killer, detailed response... and now all this!!! 

Y'all have got it totally covered (Evoluzione slave cylinder, throttle rocker, rear sets, blah, blah, blah, thank you-very-much) - can't add a damn thing   

Well that's not entirely true; MotoLiberty sells the CrampBuster/throttle rocker for $11.00.  Buy two - they're worth every penny.

So...

1) Evolutionize slave cylinder (where to buy)
2) Crampbuster
3) Adjustable rearsets ... or ... Booster seat (cheaper) ...

I'm going to Indy and I have an extra ticket for the full 3 days with motorcycle parking spot.

I'm 5'11" so I can't imagine being any taller and being comfortable on long trips on the thing. I made it to Nashville in one day with several breaks (mostly to work out the leg cramps). Using passenger pegs does work until going back to the normal position. In this case I think I'll just wear extra padding on my ass... it feels like I only need a half inch adjustment to be comfortable. Maybe an adult diaper would do the trick... a dual purpose booster seat if you will.

Would the DP "comfort" seat help?? I think Swanny and Cory have them on their S4RSs. I hear they are really nice. Might not help pretzeled leg cramp problems but at least your butt would be mo' comfy and last time I checked your legs start there. I don't know... more feedback on "comfort" seats is needed. I'm still thinking adjustable rear sets. That and the seat upgrade and it should be like a Lazy Boy recliner. [moto]

For the cost of rearsets and a DP seat, I could get my old Triumph Sprint ST back.

DP gel seat is $200 but it would make your legs feel more cramped as it is shorter than the stock seat.  Your ass would be more comfortable though.

Swanny

Yep, the DP touring seat is outrageously affordable for a Ducati part, but it is really cushy and does make a difference on trips longer than a couple of hours. 

The only thing about it that might potentially be a "negative" is that it's wider where your legs go down to rest on the pegs.  This isn't too much of a problem on the highway but when things get twisty and you wanna be gripping the tank with your legs, the extra wide-ness in the DP seat just makes everything feel kinda clumsy (yeah you read it right - I'm blaming it all on the seat  ).

Seriously, for 200 bucks, it is a worthwhile mod.

Anyone have a lead on a place to buy the clutch slave? A simple google was not sufficient, and I don't know where to look beyond that.

Try ca-cycleworks.com

You can try Evoluzione's website. I have always ordered directly from them. Gee, as you might guess their Ducati sh@t is not cheap... it's a $180 bucks no matter how you look at it. And that's not including labor if a shop installs it. It's really no different than changing a brake line and bleeding the hydraulics. Shop around. I really don't see a whole lot of difference between brands... money-wise. I'm sure they all have the same positive effect. It's worth the money to me for sure no matter what brand you settle on!

Clutch slave cylinders....http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myproducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=442%7CDucati&CategoryID=502|Clutch%20Slave%20Cylinders&collection=165%7CClutch

I have bought parts from these guys in the past and had no issues.

Swanny