Overheating S4Rs - FIXED!

[♣ McKraut ♣]

I was kidding about the warrantee bit at RaceTrac, I know, and they know, that pursing any claim is not worth the cost in money or time. I'm just glad that it's all sorted so I can ride again.

...

I typically go after the good stuff, I bought Ducati for a reason... I wanted an S4R for 2 years before I bought this one, and it has been all that I hoped it would be. However, when faced with $1000 per 7500 mile service fees... I have to ponder my financial sensibilities.

believe me, i hear you there, man...  especially when that service cost comes to almost 25% of the value of the bike...   

[fastwin]

I typically go after the good stuff, I bought Ducati for a reason... I wanted an S4R for 2 years before I bought this one, and it has been all that I hoped it would be. However, when faced with $1000 per 7500 mile service fees... I have to ponder my financial sensibilities.

Hate to be buzzkill #2 but as much as I love my Ducatis I love my rice rockets just as much. This might be considered heresy or treason but the lower entry prices are hard to beat and the service is zero. Well almost zero when compared to Ducatis. Parts and aftermarket parts are everywhere and by Ducati or Termi standards dirt cheap. There is an advantage to their crazy two year life span cycle. When your bikes are a model or two old then all the aftermarket parts get discounted. The Akrapovic pipes on my Gixxers were heavily discounted and the Ohlins shocks too. My Gixxers are both passed their "sell by date" (hell, I'm passed my sell by date!!!) but try and get me to believe that! They still look great to me, handle and ride great and both are faster than I will ever ride. A whole lot of bang for the buck.

It is a great tribute to Ducati that they can compete so effectively in today's marketplace with the Japanese manufacturers. There is a aura of something special and out of the ordinary with Ducati that the Jap bikes just can't build into an assembly line. That old world Italian craftmanship, design and racing history. It's certainly not the same but Harley has that same sort of aura of American iron and muscle that draws so many owners. Some folks feel the Jap bikes are cheap, poorly made and soul-less. I certainly don't feel that way but if I did I am lucky enough to have a Ducati to ride to make up for it.

... now, if those parts weren't so darned expensive and the $100/hour shop rate. Ouch! But we all knew that going into it. If you want a diamond from De Beers instead of a cubic zirconia you already know what you're in for. [moto]

[newslacker]

Hate to be buzzkill #2 but as much as I love my Ducatis I love my rice rockets just as much. This might be considered heresy or treason but the lower entry prices are hard to beat and the service is zero. Well almost zero when compared to Ducatis. Parts and aftermarket parts are everywhere and by Ducati or Termi standards dirt cheap. There is an advantage to their crazy two year life span cycle. When your bikes are a model or two old then all the aftermarket parts get discounted. The Akrapovic pipes on my Gixxers were heavily discounted and the Ohlins shocks too. My Gixxers are both passed their "sell by date" (hell, I'm passed my sell by date!!!) but try and get me to believe that! They still look great to me, handle and ride great and both are faster than I will ever ride. A whole lot of bang for the buck.

It is a great tribute to Ducati that they can compete so effectively in today's marketplace with the Japanese manufacturers. There is a aura of something special and out of the ordinary with Ducati that the Jap bikes just can't build into an assembly line. That old world Italian craftmanship, design and racing history. It's certainly not the same but Harley has that same sort of aura of American iron and muscle that draws so many owners. Some folks feel the Jap bikes are cheap, poorly made and soul-less. I certainly don't feel that way but if I did I am lucky enough to have a Ducati to ride to make up for it.

... now, if those parts weren't so darned expensive and the $100/hour shop rate. Ouch! But we all knew that going into it. If you want a diamond from De Beers instead of a cubic zirconia you already know what you're in for. [moto]

Don't worry about buzzkill around here Brian. We all know full well what the total cost of ownership of a Ducati is... but where else do you find this kind of community? It's a rare thing to find a bunch of eccentrics that get along so well.

[never2loud]

Hate to be buzzkill #2 but as much as I love my Ducatis I love my rice rockets just as much. This might be considered heresy or treason but the lower entry prices are hard to beat and the service is zero. Well almost zero when compared to Ducatis. Parts and aftermarket parts are everywhere and by Ducati or Termi standards dirt cheap. There is an advantage to their crazy two year life span cycle. When your bikes are a model or two old then all the aftermarket parts get discounted. The Akrapovic pipes on my Gixxers were heavily discounted and the Ohlins shocks too. My Gixxers are both passed their "sell by date" (hell, I'm passed my sell by date!!!) but try and get me to believe that! They still look great to me, handle and ride great and both are faster than I will ever ride. A whole lot of bang for the buck.

It is a great tribute to Ducati that they can compete so effectively in today's marketplace with the Japanese manufacturers. There is a aura of something special and out of the ordinary with Ducati that the Jap bikes just can't build into an assembly line. That old world Italian craftmanship, design and racing history. It's certainly not the same but Harley has that same sort of aura of American iron and muscle that draws so many owners. Some folks feel the Jap bikes are cheap, poorly made and soul-less. I certainly don't feel that way but if I did I am lucky enough to have a Ducati to ride to make up for it.

... now, if those parts weren't so darned expensive and the $100/hour shop rate. Ouch! But we all knew that going into it. If you want a diamond from De Beers instead of a cubic zirconia you already know what you're in for. [moto]

That sounds like the Corvette vs Ferrari debate; one is mass-produced *cheap* with lots of performance and the other has lots of performance with the "right" pedigree but is insanely expensive to keep.  I'd like  to have a Ferrari (who wouldn't?) but at some point the money vs benefit issue gets to be, well... a decision based on, "is it really worth it ?"  Everyone has their own answer.  (Jury is still out on the Ferrari Question  ).

The Japanese brands vs Ducati thing fall into the same category.  For me, the Ducati is  worth the 'insanely expensive to keep' scenario.  I put a big premium on Ducati racing history, craftsmanship, and style which the Italians seem to have masterd a long time ago.  Not everyone is going to care about the same things so the Ducati "mystique" is totally meaningless to them and therefore a terrible value.

But yeah Brian, I agree 100% -  in a perfect world, we'd all own both a CBZXGSXR1 and Duc   

[never2loud]

Oh yeah, almost forgot - I'm glad you've got your bike running normally Patrick!  Woo-Hoo 

[newslacker]

But yeah Brian, I agree 100% -  in a perfect world, we'd all own both a CBZXGSXR1 and Duc   

I really only want one bike and I think the CBZXGSXR1 could be it!

[never2loud]

I really only want one bike and I think the CBZXGSXR1 could be it!

Well just save your lunch money and buy the new BMW sport bike they're going to race next year in WSBK 

[♣ McKraut ♣]

Hate to be buzzkill #2 but as much as I love my Ducatis I love my rice rockets just as much. This might be considered heresy or treason but the lower entry prices are hard to beat and the service is zero.

actually, i think pretty much everyone at least in our little group tends to have some very favorable opinions of a lot of japanese bikes.  i like quite a few of them myself.

[Giannis]

actually, i think pretty much everyone at least in our little group tends to have some very favorable opinions of a lot of japanese bikes.  i like quite a few of them myself.

i like whatever has two wheels and an engine from old school panhead bobbers to 916, 1098 to GSXR1000

i never rode a bike that i didnt like...

[Kevin848]

Im thinking once I get a Monser Ill have my sites set on a CBR or GSXR in the liter range. I like all bikes even HD ( did I just say that  ) its usually the demographic that they cater to that doesnt sit well with me. 

[fastwin]

I also am a lover of all things two wheeled. Just got hooked on that whole gyroscopic effect thing as a tyke and I am still trying to figure it out. Just like life, you have to keep moving or you will lose momentum and fall over. Damn gravity. I also haven't ever ridden anything that didn't make me smile... it all started with a 1968 Rupp mini bike and where it stops no one knows!! [moto]

[Kevin848]

I also am a lover of all things two wheeled. Just got hooked on that whole gyroscopic effect thing as a tyke and I am still trying to figure it out. Just like life, you have to keep moving or you will lose momentum and fall over. Damn gravity. I also haven't ever ridden anything that didn't make me smile... it all started with a 1968 Rupp mini bike and where it stops no one knows!! [moto]

Honda Mini Trail 70 

[pipeliner1978]

Honda Mini Trail 70 

Suzuki DS 80

Thread Jack!

[dallas2r]

Suzuki DS 80

Thread Jack!

S2R1000   

[Kevin848]

Thread Jack!

I blame Fastwin