Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128225
Oucati S4R over the cowl covering the stepped passenger seat, whose footrest clusters can be unbolted for track days. The sidestand isn't a spring-back suicide item any more, and you can also start the engine from cold and leave it running on the stand to warm up while you put your helmet on, previously a Ducati no-no. A digital temp gauge-cum-c1ock is incorporated in the right-hand tacho, one of the pair of rather old fashioned-looking analogue instruments comprising the dash, matching the speedo on the left, which also includes a digital trip/mileage counter. These were presumably chosen for styling purposes, but it's a pity the more comprehensive and easily viewable digital infocenter/speedo from the Multistrada/999 didn't find its way to the 54R. Once aboard, you're confronted by a wide, variable-diameter Magura handlebar bolted to risers incorporated in the upper tripleclamp casting, which deliver the same handlebar height as the 54's much shorter, f1atset clipons. Though it gives great leverage for a succession of hairpin bends, I felt the 'bar is just a bit too wide for a performance sportrod like 30 JULY 30, 2003' cue I e n eVIl's this: The 54's c1ipons felt better, just didn't look so trick - but both bikes have the same great riding position, aided by low-set footrests (2.8 inches narrower than the 54's, to assist ground clearance) and adjustable brake and clutch levers. You'll want to dial in the clutch adjustment to get maximum leverage, because even by Ducati's already herculean standards, the clutch on the 54R is mighty stiff - bad enough to make you want to avoid riding it in town if you possibly can in order to cope with the substantial torque on offer, says Malagol!. This is a hefty 21.3 Ibs. at 7000 rpm, 0.84 Ibs. up even on the already muscular 54, which also comes off second best in the horsepower stakes compared to the new bike, whose 996cc motor delivers 113 bhp at 8750 rpm, 12 bhp more than the 54. This is effectively the same engine as fitted to the 5T4's sports tourer, with identical camshafts and cylinder head treatment, but obviously a different exhaust system as well as a revised airbox housing the 2-inch throttle bodies, each incorporating a single injector per cylinder. The gearbox is completely new, though, with a sportier shift action thanks to a shorter lever throw, and different, wider, ratios compared to the 54, reflecting the new bike's greater power and torque - bottom is shorter (making power whee lies a cinch on the Rbike), the top two gears longer, fourth is the same, but second and third are equivalent to five teeth shorter than The exhausts are uniquely placed up and out of the way for comering clearance. on the 54, resulting in seriously impressive acceleration. 50 dial in some revs on the 54R, and get ready for some brawny performance from a bike that must be the ultimate traffic light GP tool. Once you master that stiff clutch's slightly unforgiving action, ain't nothing that will beat you off the line and down the strip, short of a street-legal dragster especially bearing in mind the 54R's 424.6-pound half-dry weight (so, including oil and water, no fuel). Midrange roll-on is also impressive. Even adopting Cap'n 5ensible mode, the 54R pulls cleanly away from as low as 2000 rpm, with some lumpiness from the motor that smoothes out just over 4000 rpm, where the gateway to that seriously potent realworld performance is located. Between there and the 8750 rpm power peak, there's a lovely flow of strong, usable power, making zapping between turns along a twisty mountain road a desmodromic delight, thanks to the 54R's beefy power delivery and muscular midrange. Accelerating hard out of a slow turn will have the front wheel pawing the air, and the engine's appetite for revs means you can hold a gear all the way down a short straight to the next hairpin, flirting with the 10,000 rpm rev limiter without any fall-off in performance up high. 5erious sportrodding ...