Hi from the UK

[cw]

Hi Guys,
Martin from the UK.
Been riding since I was 15, bit of a break whilst the kids grew up, now the son's just past his test and we got him a bros 400 (hawk on your side).
Decide it was time to do the midlife crisis properly and get another Ducati, first was a bevel twin back in the late 70's, we now go riding together, keeps complaining my termi's drown out his engine and the cars behind!

Bought a very nice low miles 2001 monster 916 s4. Always done my own bikes and have a few mod's I want to do already so expect will be asking a few questions shortly.

[Slide Panda]

Welcome - there's a a thread focused on mods to an already nice S4 going on presently
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=59284.0
- so you can follow along and get some good (perhaps the bank would think bad) ideas there.

With an older, but presumably low mile bike there's something you should check on - the cam belts. If you know, stop reading. If you don't:
- They are spec'd to be replaced at 2 years from being put into service or 12k miles - which ever is first. Lots of lower mile bikes over a couple years old have belts that are (over) due for replacement on the belt age limit. But folks not familiar with this foible are running around with old belts that are more failure prone. Failed belt is bad and expensive news. Good nes is that a set of belts is only about $80 (US) and not hard to do for a competent  DIY'er

You will need to purchase or make a little blocking plate that holds the two rollers locked in the proper orientation when installing the belt. It could even be done from wood as it doesn't take any stress if you want to home make one.

[cw]

Hi thanks, mine has 9.5k on the clock and spent all its life in a garage, summer time toy. Big buying point was the recent Ducati specialist service, cam belts change and cam/valves stripped/inspected, got a detailed written report on cams, shim values, over all condition of bike, they changed the fuel filter and sorted the suspension settings whilst they had it, so fingers crossed all is good and I have all the paperwork/bills back to the sale ticket. Usually do this stuff myself, so maybe next time, was always a bit worried I'd screw up the desmo valve clearance on the old one.

Has the termi's, ECU and air filter kit on it (dealer fitted from new), wife thinks its great, can hear it coming up the road, reminds her of the first one (twin conti's) but I suspect some DB killers are coming, ran it up to temp in the garage and had to stand in the garden ! Mind you on the 2hr trip home I did not get cut up at all...

Off to read that link now,thanks, Martin

[kiqueto]

Enrique Renteria
Mexico City, Mexico
Ducati Monster 696 2011
10 months
My first motorcycle and already in love with it!

Hi and Welcome! (I am new to the forum as well, this is actually my first post).

I am planning a road trip in the UK and would love some advice from a local rider (weather=gear/riding conditions, crossing borders with a rental vehicle, places NOT TO MISS). My plan is to rent a bike in London and ride to Manchester> Liverpool> Edinburgh> Glasgow> Belfast> Dublín> Waterford> Bristol> London from the 9th to the 25th of March.

Any advice is welcome!!!

[cw]

Hi Kiqueto saw your other visit thread so answered there

[Slide Panda]

Sounds like you go a gem Martin. Doing the valve clearances isn't really difficult. On the Desmo quatro it is tedious though. Access is poor and fussy so it requires a bit of extra time and patience. Far from impossible - just more surgical than the later 4v heads.

One other thing to mind might be the tire age. Have a look at the date code.  3-4 years is usually the age limit on sport tires