Hey all.  I'm a fairly new Ducati owner.  Bought a silver S2R 1000 last June from Ducpond in VA.

I took the MSF the year before, and that represented the entirety of my riding experience.  I know, brand new bike, brand new rider... but my wife wanted me to get something new so it would be mechanically predicatable - so, who was I to argue?

The first 70 street miles I ever rode were from Winchester, VA to Chantilly, VA.  I learned a lot in that first ride: 
1.) Turning your head on a bike is way different than in a car
2.) Monster mirrors really only tell you what your shoulders are doing.
3.) S2R's are way faster than the 125's at MSF
4.) Motorcylists wave to each other
5.) Motorcycles are neat.

So, in the subsequent 9 months I've put on 3500 miles.  1000 of those have been since Oct.  I guess I wasn't a fan of the 'winterizing' concept.

So, basically, I don't know much about bikes or riding... but I'm eager to get some insights from the board.  I've racked up about 100 questions, but I guess this 'Introduce yourself' Board isn't the venue for them.

Hope to ride with some of the CAM members this summer. 

Later,

Kevin

Welcome...

There are some good people on CAM.

Just watch out for that Statler guy...

I hear he's kinda flakey.

Welcome!!!! Silver S2Rs rule (IMO)
oh yeah...





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Welcome Kevin, sounds like you are off to a great start. [moto]

Quote from: grandpa nate on March 02, 2009, 10:22:10 AM
Welcome!!!! Silver S2Rs rule (IMO)
oh yeah...





pics
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Thanks Grandpa Nate - I'll get some pics out soon - but all I've done so far is chop the tail and take off the windscreen.  I've got another dozen or so mods in mind - but like I said, I have no idea the pros and cons.

Thanks,

Kevin

Quote from: grandpa nate on March 02, 2009, 10:22:10 AM
Welcome!!!! Silver S2Rs rule (IMO)
oh yeah...





pics
pics
pics

Alright - here is a pic of dubious quality - but it conveys the general idea. 


Next steps are:
Exhaust (all suggestions are welcome)
Clip ons
Integrated Tail-light

Kevin

You have ex cellant taste in motorcycles!!!!!


Since this pics was taken the tumor under the engine is now gone

Quote from: kfmarshall on March 08, 2009, 11:17:46 AM
Alright - here is a pic of dubious quality - but it conveys the general idea. 


Next steps are:
Exhaust (all suggestions are welcome)
Clip ons
Integrated Tail-light

Kevin

Nice bike. Just out of curiosity, why clip-ons so soon?

Quote from: grandpa nate on March 08, 2009, 09:37:49 PM
You have ex cellant taste in motorcycles!!!!!


Since this pics was taken the tumor under the engine is now gone

Likewise G Nate... how'd you go about replacing the udder?  Custom pipe or the Termignoni pipe?

Quote from: swampduc on March 09, 2009, 08:17:20 AM
Nice bike. Just out of curiosity, why clip-ons so soon?

Hey Swampduc - I'm glad you asked... because I'm guessing you've got a decent reason for me not to get them.

My logic is that I'd like to ride in a bit more of a forward position - I think.  It's how my mtn bike is configured.  However, my S2R is the only motorcycle I've ever had, so it's all I know. 

Let me know your thoughts.  It would be great to road test everything I want to do - but the board is pretty much my best means of determining the right answer.

Thanks,

Kevin

Quote from: kfmarshall on March 10, 2009, 06:23:31 PM
Likewise G Nate... how'd you go about replacing the udder?  Custom pipe or the Termignoni pipe?

I bought the Termi setup.  I likey much

Quote from: kfmarshall on March 10, 2009, 06:35:54 PM
Hey Swampduc - I'm glad you asked... because I'm guessing you've got a decent reason for me not to get them.

My logic is that I'd like to ride in a bit more of a forward position - I think.  It's how my mtn bike is configured.  However, my S2R is the only motorcycle I've ever had, so it's all I know. 

Let me know your thoughts.  It would be great to road test everything I want to do - but the board is pretty much my best means of determining the right answer.

Thanks,

Kevin

Just a personal preference issue. The wider handle bars do make the bike easier to turn, IMO, especially at low speeds. Mainly matters as a beginner. But there are plenty of people who start riding on sportbikes with clip-ons, so it's not that you can't.
The other thing is that, if you're not used to riding, your core muscles may not yet be trained to hold up your torso. You don't want to put too much weight on your hands, as many people do when they start riding, and clip-ons would make that worse. But if you're an avid cyclist, that shouldn't be a problem either.
I've been riding a few years, and I still prefer my wide bars, but that's just me. There are LOTS of riders around here running clip-ons on their Monsters.

Quote from: swampduc on March 11, 2009, 11:43:34 AM
Just a personal preference issue. The wider handle bars do make the bike easier to turn, IMO, especially at low speeds. Mainly matters as a beginner. But there are plenty of people who start riding on sportbikes with clip-ons, so it's not that you can't.
The other thing is that, if you're not used to riding, your core muscles may not yet be trained to hold up your torso. You don't want to put too much weight on your hands, as many people do when they start riding, and clip-ons would make that worse. But if you're an avid cyclist, that shouldn't be a problem either.
I've been riding a few years, and I still prefer my wide bars, but that's just me. There are LOTS of riders around here running clip-ons on their Monsters.

+1.  Wide bars rock.  I have had several bikes with clip-ons and I felt not as in control on tighter stuff.  Plus upright riding is way more comfortable for this old fat guy. 

Quote from: swampduc on March 11, 2009, 11:43:34 AM

I've been riding a few years, and I still prefer my wide bars, but that's just me. There are LOTS of riders around here running clip-ons on their Monsters.

G Nate and Swampduc - I appreciate the feedback - I'll push the clip-ons further down the list.  Maybe I'll get a chance to ride a demo and see how it feels before signing up for them. 

Peace,

Kevin

that's a very sharp lookin ride man enjoy it, the best advice I could give you... you're already doing, ride ride ride... and ride some more! I can't tell you how much it pains me when I see a bike a couple years old for sale with less than 1k mi on the odo.

re: clipons, I've had them, long time ago... GSXR750 circa early 90's if I remember correctly it was much like being tortured. I couldn't stay on it for longer than 100mi without my wrists feeling like they were going to snap, too much weight transfer. I like a more upright position, takes the stress off your wrists, long trips are much more comfortable that way. There is no right answer tho, do what makes you happy cause in the long run, if YOU don't like it then whats the point?