Ducati S4RS

A sportsbike engine in a naked chassis with all the quality components you can eat. A
wedding cake of a bike, dressed in the bridal gown but with the wicked intent of a best man on the pull.

The S4RS’s stylish, sensuous bodywork seems feminine. I’ll come right out and say it – in the same way as I’m not sure a ‘real’ man can sit comfortably inside a yellow, convertible Renault Megane – the S4RS is far from a symbol of masculinity.
Study it more closely (and objectively) and few bikes look as complex as the Monster. As Simon points out, it looks about as tidy as a scarecrow convention. It displays its function firmly on its sleeve like the Lloyds building in London or the
Pompidou centre in Paris. Those buildings are rightly held as works of modern art and it’s possible you could plonk this bike on a plinth in the V&A Museum for the same reasons. To the mechanically-minded eye the S4RS’s function is clear, it shouts motorcycle from every corner and curve – there’s the oilcooler, there’s the cam belt
cover, there’s the longest wiring loom on two wheels. Revvin’ lazy But enough of the
pontifi cating. It’s soft, small and long(not exageratelly). You stretch out your arms further, sit lower and, until we’d adjusted the shocking suspension settings it arrived with, the ride was far too soft. The combined effect of that, and a lazier-sounding motor, can quickly and easily fool you into thinking you’re not actually travelling very fast. Do not let that deceive you. It’s just as well this bike does have radial-mounted, superbike-spec Brembo brakes because you need them – the 999 Testastretta engine ensures this bike is fast. That 999 motor is widely considered to be a quieter and less revvy twin cylinder lump than its rivals.
Trust me, the reality is that the S4RS can shift plenty fast enough. The speed comes at you in suddenly, as in when you catch up with a caravan, or whisk into your favourite bends. Suddenly your actual velocity hits you between the eyes like the
biggest, fattest, juiciest bee exploding on your visor. On the road the lower and flatter chassis can help. Fast and smooth A-roads are a breeze and you have to try hard not to ride quickly. It loves waltzing along and with the lazy speed of the torquey Testastretta motor you can happily enjoy life inside your own little bubble of easy speed, probably more than you would on a faired sports bike. That’s not to say it doesn’t remain responsive and sharper than other Monster models if you knock down a gear and wind the throttle open. At the other end of the speed equation the
super-strong Brembo brakes can feel too fierce at times, especially if you’re feeling
nervous on a damp road in town.
The lower seat height, spread-eagle wide bars and flatter stance of the chassis makes it harder to feel for grip at the front, and this points to a general problem
with its standard set-up. It’s fast and long so you have plenty of time to consider what’s happening. Around Coram the Ducati feels like it’s pushing the front tyre and struggling to keep a tight line. Unless you’re having a minor panic on the brakes, the Michelin Pilot Power tyres are well up to the job of holding onto the tarmac, either on track or more importantly on the road.
The chief criticism of the Ducati S4RS though is a sudden feeling of old age.
My first instinct is to say Ducati needs to stop bolting shit on and revamping the
existing Monster. But the truth of the matter is an all-new Monster might be better, one powered by the new 1098 engine ideally.


Some Technical specs:
Engine
Essentially stolen from the stock 999, this is the Testastretta motor. It’s not the tidiest designed collection of casings, pipes and covers but you will not care about that when you’re aboard. Some say this adds character. 50mm throttle bodies, 12-hole injectors, revised airbox and cam timing are concessions from the 999 and to the
environment.

Brakes
Brembo radial caliper with a radial master cylinder on a 320mm disc means you have
superbike-spec stoppers and no mistake. These beauties work. Almost too well for the road tyre and soft standard suspension set-up. Not lacking performance.

Frame
Stronger tubing gives the S4RS more rigidity than other Monster models (with less
powerful engines). The red, steel tubular trellis frame is trademark Ducati though and if MotoGP’s Casey Stoner is anything to go by, possibly the best chassis type.

Suspension
Titanium nitride coated fork stanchions sit upside down in these gold forks. Ohlins
supply specially-tailored front and rear, fully adjustable suspension with bags of adjustment. Rear ride height can be adjusted too – and it needs to be for better
track performance.

Wheels/tyres
Michelin Pilot Power tyres are road biased but suit the Monster’s handling perfectly well, even on the track. The lighter (than standard Monster) matching white cast aluminium wheels carry classy Marchesini labels.