new rider: M696 or S2R1K?

[R.Douglas]

c'mmon.........you know you want it

Holy crap i love exbox's on S2R's...

So frickin sexy...

[Mash]

It's me again... the OP.

I was all set to drop a small fortune on a new S2R, when I came across an '06 S2R1000 in red/white.  I snatched it up for just over 7k.  The only mods to it are rizoma grips , bar ends, and round retro bar end mirrors (and a missing seat cowl  ).  I've been riding it all day today, and will probably do the same tomorrow.  if I knew how to insert bacon into my post, I certainly would....

[uclabiker06]

Sports bikes have much more power than people think.  I am the only person I know who had a Ninja250 for like 4 years as his first bike (cuz I was broke).  But I when I got my S2R800 I respected it that much more.  Oh and by the way this is what happened to my S2R recently:  http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=9084.0
Shit happens, and its way more likely gonna happen on your first bike.  Even if you get a 620 it will take you years to take the bike even close to its limits (on a track of course) and if anyone tells you anything else they are fooling themselves.  The 620 has way more power then you will ever need in the streets.  Don't learn the hard way.  Go put this same post in the "Racing and Trackdays" board and I bet you more people will tell you to get the smaller bike...go figure.     

[Raux]

not sure if you made your decision yet.

but here's my opinion.

First fact. I had a 99 M900, the original style. people will tell you the sss, high exhaust, or udder bikes are the original style but they aren't. to me the sss bikes are the 2nd gen and the 696 is the 3rd gen of the monsters. Now i have the 696.

2nd fact. I feel the 3rd gen bike far out handles the 1st gen bike. I haven't ridden the 2nd gen.

3rd fact. My M900 had 74hp, my 696 90hp.

There is no way i was ever going to touch the limits of the M900 and felt it was always too much bike.

The 696 is perfect for me. I plan on taking it to Europe and will ride on the autobahn and mountain twisties and still feel it will be the perfect bike for it. there comes a time when too much power is too much. Sure you can go faster, but do you need to?

Take the 696, you'll love it. later if you feel you need to get more power, buy a second bike. bet you ride the 696 more.

[uclabiker06]

people will tell you the sss, high exhaust, or udder bikes are the original style but they aren't. to me the sss bikes are the 2nd gen and the 696 is the 3rd gen of the monsters.

Interesting notion

There is no way i was ever going to touch the limits of the M900 and felt it was always too much bike.

With that attitude you can get a 1098.  Its just so important to understand and respect how far technology has come on these bikes while humans and street speed limits have remained the same. The only problem is as a new rider you are naturally going to want to see "what it feels like" to go fast and that should be left for the track IMHO.  I highly recommend "Ride Hard Ride Smart" and "Smooth Riding".  Both these books are for advanced riders but you could still benefit from reading them. 

[Raux]

With that attitude you can get a 1098.  Its just so important to understand and respect how far technology has come on these bikes while humans and street speed limits have remained the same. The only problem is as a new rider you are naturally going to want to see "what it feels like" to go fast and that should be left for the track IMHO.  I highly recommend "Ride Hard Ride Smart" and "Smooth Riding".  Both these books are for advanced riders but you could still benefit from reading them. 
[/quote]

Let me explain. The M900 had power and gobs of torque. more than i really thought i could use on the street, and to some extent more than i would ever use. and yes you could say that a 1098 or even a 848 would be more than you would ever use... on the street. For me, being smoother and being in better control of the bike was more important than POWER and TORQUE ratings. The 696 is a very smooth and in my opinion properly powered for its weight and MY uses. I won't be going to the track and trying to ring out ever last ounce of my skill (or lack there of) and the bikes capabilities. But on the street, the 696 is more than enough.

[uclabiker06]

Agreed.

[Mash]

okay, so I've had the s2r1000 for a couple weeks now, and I've ridden it every day since I got it.  I work from home, so I'm around the bike most of the time. This is my first streetbike.  Having a lot of experience on dirt bikes, it's been more about relearning some skills, as opposed to learning new skills. I've been driving cars for 35 years without an accident, and I drive my m/c the same way I drive my car.

The s2r1000, once I did the 14t mod, is a really streetable machine whether in traffic, or on an open parkway.  Staying under 5k rpm, i can travel in 40mph traffic nicely (in 2nd or 3rd gear).  On the faster roads,  I can use the same gears, tach it up past 5k, and it just purrs.  sometimes I get up into 5th gear, but other than to check if it was really there, I haven't used 6th gear.  I'm sure some of you may be hatin' on me about my slow-pokedness, but I don't drive my car faster than about 85, so why would I do it on my bike.  I'm not a racer, but I am a gearhead.

So I've found that the s2r1000 can be both a tame little monster rumbling along in traffic, or it can really put out a breathtaking amount of power (for me) if I want it to.  I'm happy with my decision to get the bigger monster.  extra happy.

[Labbedds]

Went on a ride with vindingo and his 620 and my buddy with his 996, plus my s2r800.  Vinnie rides the snot out of the 620, I had a hard time keeping up with him in some places.  It's more the rider than the bike.  My buddy on the 996 nearly shi7 himself when vinnie told him it was a 620