This Monster S4RS was the ultimate incarnation of Ducati's first-generation naked bike. The very first air-cooled Monsters were sporty and fun, but quickly outpaced by bikes like Triumph's updated, bug-eyed Speed Triple, Aprilia's Tuono, and the wild naked bikes from KTM. Luckily, Ducati already had the right engine for the job, and fitted their four-valve, liquid-cooled 998cc Testastretta engine into the bike for a huge jump in power that catapulted the bike back into class contention.
Unfortunately, although the bike had the parts and the pedigree, the resulting bike didn't really gel. In terms of pure numbers, it put Ducati back in the hunt, but it worked better in theory than in practice: the engine is stunning, but overpowers the bike a bit, handling isn't quite as good as it should be given the quality suspension components, and the uncomfortable riding position and limited tank range make this more of a toy than a daily rider. Basically, it was more hairy than fast, and was cursed with Ducati's frequent servicing requirements.
Styling too is a bit compromised, with Miguel Galluzi's elemental design burdened by several bulky radiators stuck to the front of the engine, with hoses and tubes running this way and that. Modern liquid-cooled Monsters have more thoughtfully-routed coolant systems, but the earlier bikes look a bit like a lash-up if you look closely. If posing and wheelies are your thing and the standard Monster's power just doesn't cut it, these make very fun and very fast point-and-squirt motorcycles with tons of sex appeal.
From the original eBay listing: 2007 Ducati Monster S4RS for Sale
This is my 2007 Ducati Monster S4Rs Testastretta. I bought this bike brand new in 2007. It currently has 7,400 miles, with brand new tires, a new Shorai lithium-ion battery, and is up to date on all services. Service work has all been performed at Hall's Ducati in Springfield Illinois. It has well over $13,000 in extras and performance upgrades. I'm not sure I can list everything it has, but I'll try.
- Full Termignoni exhaust system
- Ducati Performance ECU
- Ducati Performance airbox and high flow air filter
- Nichol's light weight fly wheel
- Ducati Performance silicone coolant hoses
- Oberon clutch slave cylinder
- Fast By Ferracci clutch pressure plate
- Speedy Moto clutch springs/caps
- PSR clutch cover
- PSR inspection plate cover
- MPL tuning billet frame plugs
- Rizoma bar ends
- Rizoma bar end mirrors
- Rizoma Graffio LED front turn signals
- LED taillight with integrated, sequential turn signals
- Rear tail chop/license plate relocation
- Oberon billet gas cap
- Ducati Performance rear sprocket carrier
- RK Racing gold X-ring chain
- Rizoma clip-on handle bars and triple clamp
- Custom Ducati fluid reservoir caps
- ASV control clamps
- Pazzo Racing adjustable levers
- Zero Gravity smoke windscreen
- Custom fairing stabilizers
- Dunlop Q3 tires-less than 500 miles on them
- Stainless steel oil filter housing w/reusable filter
- Shorai lithium-ion battery
The starting bid is $8,900 with no takers as yet and plenty of time left on the auction. For some people, a "custom bike" involves an Indianapolis Colts paintjob and chrome spikes. Seriously, you guys have no idea what sort of horrors we have to wade through to bring you these bikes featured on the site... Luckily, for Ducati owners, "custom" means a veritable smorgasbord of lightweight carbon, titanium bits, and booming exhausts, expensive updates to their already expensive machines. Honestly, you can pretty much buy a decent early carbureted Monster for what that full Termignoni exhaust costs...
-tad
