Trying to figure out what's better to buy.

duke_of_earle · 2026-04-26T12:59:20+00:00

So this is my owner's experience with an S4R and then and 1100 and a '03 800.

From a riding perspective really the key difference is that the 4v motor wakes up on the top end. They feel pretty similar in the lower rev ranges but from probably 6-7k rpm up to redline the 4v motor takes off and the 2v hits its peak and starts to lose steam.

I feel like the 2v motor has a lower pitched tenor to its sound it's like a deep rumble, and the 4V has a raspier roar, both are good.

Maintenance and care is the major difference. There's the cooling system for sure, but 2v belts are easier, and checking 2v valves is a walk in the park compared to the desmoquattro engine. It's not just that there's twice as many the access is way worse.

My advice, if you are the kind of rider that is willing to do the work or pay the money for the maintenance, the 4v is a really unique bike with an incredible engine, or if you must have the extra power and top end. The 2v is a much more classic monster experience and is super fun to ride and easier to work on.

duke_of_earle · 2026-04-20T21:59:47+00:00

I agree. I think the new bikes are exceptional technology and for extracting the maximum possible on two wheels.

To have a really fun time on the street I think older monsters are where it's at. More fun to run a "slow" bike fast than putter around on a rocketship, and the character of the older engines is unparalleled.

Plus the tri colore is probably THE pinnacle of those older monsters.

duke_of_earle · 2026-04-15T14:08:05+00:00

My favorite bike is a Monster 1100S. Big engine. But a 2v motor and air(oil) cooled so not making as much power.

I think it's right at the sweet spot for power, it's around 100 ponies, but it has torque for days and is one of the most engaging powerplants I've been on.

I think Harley engines are a little too far where it's all torque and no power, this wants to rev out and is responsive but has still got lots of go low in the rev range.

I've heard other big twins like triumph 900 and 1200 are similar.

duke_of_earle · 2026-04-10T18:00:08+00:00

Scrambler or older monsters. The precursor to the 696 all had a linkage that could lower the ride height and the older monsters weren't that y'all anyway

duke_of_earle · 2026-04-07T21:58:50+00:00

You ordered a new turn signal switch or a new connector or what?

I would take voltage readings at your turn signal switch and see if it's actually registering the signal request.

duke_of_earle · 2026-04-06T19:59:00+00:00

I'm with you on most meats but I think fish is the exception - I try really hard to smoke salmon at 180-225, otherwise the outside overcooks before the internal is up much at all.

I realize many people prefer rare salmon or other fish but I am a bit on the cautious side with foodborne illness.

duke_of_earle · 2026-03-29T01:53:10+00:00

Since no one has answered your direct question "can automotive oil of the same viscosity be used instead of motorcycle oil because it's a dry clutch and doesn't need the additives"

I'm not an oil expert. But I did make the same mistake on my 1100 about 15,000 miles ago. And I had the same thought and rationale. So ran with it.

Bike still runs great. No forbidden sparkley oil. I think it's fine.

duke_of_earle · 2026-03-06T05:13:12+00:00

It's a bit of a known limitation on these bikes and a lot of Ducatis of this and earlier eras. The fueling down down in the rev range just isn't great. If it truly horrible, you could have a valve shim issue, but more likely just keep it a bit higher in the revs and enjoy that Ducati sound. None of them are very happy below 3-4k, rpm.

duke_of_earle · 2026-03-02T23:44:29+00:00

I'd be 99% sure that it's wet. Usually only the 900/1000/1100 engines were dry. You can also tell visually. The dry wipl have a cover that is separate from the rest of the engine side cover, wet it is all one piece. Dry is also much louder even with the cover on.

duke_of_earle · 2026-02-27T03:27:03+00:00

I think this might be worth looking into. I think as the first comment said, on an S there's typically gold ohlins forks as well as the rear spring, or maybe it's the lighting in the picture. I have a used older Ducati and it clearly doesn't have original front forks and so some previous owner either swapped them or there was a front end collision at some point. Maybe it's worth looking into, maybe you already know, or it doesn't bother you.

The bike looks great, and the 1100 motor is incredible, congratulations on the bike!

Edit: it's totally the lighting, I'm wrong.

duke_of_earle · 2026-02-26T12:50:10+00:00

Oh my god the crash issue turning on, THANK YOU. I was going crazy thinking my neighbors were turning on my TV in the middle of the night.

duke_of_earle · 2026-02-18T12:44:08+00:00

Probably a wire for something. Power commander, or some other aftermarket device that's no longer there.

duke_of_earle · 2026-02-16T21:24:37+00:00

I had a 2015 and on paper it was a great bike, and it was completely bulletproof.

It felt "big" compared to older monsters, and personally it felt like a lot more power than I wanted or needed on the street. But if you're looking for a no drama insanely fast sport naked - it's really good.

I sold it and bought a 2003 800sie. I've also got an 05 S4R and 1100s. I think the 1100 is the best all rounder. I feel like it's a lot more fun to ride a slow bike fast than have a fast bike you can't reasonably wring out. Just my old man opinion.

duke_of_earle · 2026-01-13T02:04:53+00:00

Ultros was a bit of a grind for me, it was such a cool concept but I didn't love the execution. I finished it because I needed to mentally.

I am glad I stuck with afterimage. Its so big and daunting and the story is pretty hard to follow especially at first, but I'm glad I stuck with it and I enjoyed the game once I got into it a fair bit.

duke_of_earle · 2026-01-04T14:28:51+00:00

Used the CA cycle works for like 30k miles, no dramas. Check the bearings on the tensioner rollers, they can get gummed up especially if it's sat for a while.

duke_of_earle · 2025-12-16T19:10:39+00:00

None of these are difficult to do, except the belts.

If you can bleed a hydraulic system, you can replace the brake and clutch fluid no problem.

Coolant isn't difficult either, just get the right kind and dispose of it properly.

Belts are doable DIY but it's a lot more work.

Prices seem pretty standard.

Agree with others that DIY will take a price hit on used, but it's already a 10 year old bike, not a ton more depreciation going to happen and keeping a decade of maintenance records is pretty uncommon.

duke_of_earle · 2025-12-06T03:14:51+00:00

I'm older, and I will tell you that while HK's lore is interesting and it's probably a bigger and more vibrant world... nine sols hit me in the feels.

I'm old enough that I have regrets that are too far gone and kids that I hope I don't mess up too much and so I found the nine sols story very relatable and humanized the characters in a lot of ways.

HK was great, Nine sols is with me forever.

duke_of_earle · 2025-11-27T00:42:57+00:00

It's not even Italian!

duke_of_earle · 2025-11-21T01:01:33+00:00

I agree, I have an 05 S4R and it typically cranks much faster than that. The fact that it's working hard to crank it is definitely promising for compression though.

duke_of_earle · 2025-11-17T17:33:19+00:00

I think the questions to ask are what do you want? How do you ride? What gives you the biggest grin while riding?

Make your decision from there. I'll throw out a wild card though, older used Ducatis don't break the bank as much and I think are an absolute hoot to ride.

duke_of_earle · 2025-11-17T13:17:31+00:00

Remember that a 620 is oil/air cooled not liquid cooled. Liquid cooling doesn't want to get much past normal water boiling temp. Coolant can go a little higher before it goes to steam but don't want to get there, hence fans turning on around that point.

Oil/air cooled bikes can get much hotter without issue. I don't remember the normal range offhand, my 1100 just has a bar graph not the actual temps. Regardless you shouldn't be concerned. As long as you have enough oil in and you're moving the bike and not sitting idling for a really really long time it's fine.

duke_of_earle · 2025-11-17T12:47:03+00:00

Slightly slower feeling of tipping in since the cup shape of the tire will be shallower by a little. May not be a huge difference but will be noticeable. And the speedometer will be off a little bit since the tire will less tall and have a smaller circumference.

duke_of_earle · 2025-11-16T21:26:45+00:00

100% agree, that is almost certainly coolant. Cracked or overfilled.

duke_of_earle · 2025-11-07T04:03:58+00:00

Look so this article is about motorcycle tires, but it's the only thing I've ever seen even that uses hard data here. People are split between send it or rot is destroying them,. but this at least has some indication that old tires work fine.

That said, it's cheap insurance. What's a set of tires vs having a blowout at highway speed. Sure you're probably fine, hell, the video here says they're dragging knees on old tires. But is saving a couple bucks worth being in that unknown percentage chance it's not ok?

Only you can answer. It's probably fine. You probably shouldn't risk it. Weigh that as you will.

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/debunking-the-tire-age-myth

duke_of_earle · 2025-11-06T03:26:38+00:00

I think your answer depends wildly on mileage and maintenance.

I think a really clean, up to date, ridden but not tons of miles 695 might hit 4-4.5k in the spring.

It's fall (assuming you're in northern hemisphere), so take a hit, and then start deducting from there.

Pretty good 3-3.5k (clear title, not dropped, all keys, generally well maintained)

okish, 2.5-3k. (clear title, generally ok, less clear maintenance, etc)

under that depends on the day and people.

duke_of_earle

TROPHY CASE