[zooom]

I'm looking at a 2004 Monster 1000S for around 6k with 5k miles. I'm debating whether I should go ahead and get this used one or buy a new one like the S2. In your opinion, is the 04 1000S a good bike? Is it better than the S2 800?

They are different....personally...I like the regular Monsters better than the S2R's...my 01 Monster 900ie is just the ticket...though a 1000 DS motor would be a bit better in some regards...for me...Monsters are about individuality...and the regular Monsters seem to be able to take on many different types of persona based on needs,wants,and desires as well as personal style...mine for example has dirtbike bars with bark buster type handguards and ATV covers to deflect wind for the winter time cold...and I have a Ventura Rack on the back for loading crap and hauling....I have hooked bungee nets full of stuff onto that rack or taken and put on the Spada45 bag and loaded it with clothing and gone on my way!...I ride mine a little bit more like a SuperMoto but not really and love to have fun with it!.....the S2R's seem to make it harder with the upswept exhaust because the space tolerances are closer...it can be done...but it is harder in certain ways....also...to me...the S2R's look very trick and sweet with that Single Sided Swingarm and big exposed Marchesini 5 spoke wheel...but then it gets to a point somewhat when you'll see a group of S2R's and it is like looking at a bunch of 998's....a little repetative....little modifications here or there....but usually nothing blatent that stands out.....looks at the pictures from Gary Eagan's multiple cities of the Monster Challange and you'll see what I mean about owners giving more persona to non S2R's versus S2R's and S4R's....but that is my opinion....Uif it were me...I'd go for the '04 and see if you can negotiate a deal on pricing for the up and coming 12K service kinda like you would for the 600 mile service if it was a new bike...but that is apon you to figure out for yourself!....plus the '04 is already broken in!

 

[zooom]

Thanks for the info zooom.

By the way, how is the M1000 (or the 900 in your case) for long distance driving? Is it comfortable enought to go on long trips? I know that the bars are a bit of a reach and I'm only 5'8". Do they make bars that curve in more so you don't have to reach as much?

in '04 I rode my Monster from here in the DC metro area up to Canada(Toronto and Montreal) and this year I might be riding it up to Nova Scotia(Cape Breton Festival of Speed)....the beauty of the handle bar and the aftermarket is the fact that you can get bars made with different degrees of height or of swept backness and so forth...just be careful not to get too radical or you'll have to get extended cables and hoses and whatnot...Spiegler makes complete kits for going hog wild if you want to go radical....but I just have a slightly different position bar from Pro-Taper....dirtbike shops will have tons of different bars with different widths and all that...so you may have to experiment and measure a little!