New to forum

[mfbfl]

Hello, name is Mark in Florida.  I have had 9 bikes in 22 years.  Mostly sport and sport touring and now a cruiser.  Never had a Duc, but I am close to my 1st.  I am going to keep my cruiser since FL driving is rather flat and straight near Tampa.  But I miss the sporting aspect of  my previous bikes.  And I like naked bikes and V twins, so I focused in on a Monster.  Hope to buy one w/in the next month.  I do make trips to GA, NC and SC so the Duc would be the better bike in those conditions.  I joined to learn more about the nuances of the various Monsters S2 vs S4 etc.  I know I want the larger displacements but I am learning there are air cooled and water cooled and so on.....  thought I would ask the experts.

[bikepilot]

Welcome 

I'm sure you'll have a ton of fun on a 2 or 4 valve monster.  The 2-valvers are prettier (imho) and easier to maintain.  The 4-valve models are faster, particularly at higher rpms.  Others here have much more experience with these than me. 

FYI there are two S2Rs - an S2R 800 and an S2R 1000.  Sounds like you would be after the 1000cc model.

There is also the current 1100 Monster which has a different frame from previous generations.  The motor is a derivative of the 1000cc motor in the larger S2R.  Ducati no longer makes a 4-valve monster, but there is the Streetfighter with the 1098 engine. 

You might also take a test-ride on the hypermotard 1100 for kicks.