instead of a manual
fast-idle lever.
On the
track, the enSine
is impressive
say rhe least. The engine
makes power
down low in rhe middle. up
everywhere.
And
the
new bike
in a claimed 20
pounds lighter
than
further adding
to the bike's impres-
acceleration.
Ducati claims that the
makes 130 hp. and that should be
accurate, as
the most recent 9995
we dyno'ed
made 129 hp at the
our sessions
at Ascari, we rode on
Pilot Power tires, which
proved
to the task. at least for a
while.
a couple of sessions however, rhey
completely shagged,
looking like
they
come off a four-cTlinder
1000.
and
needed to be changed.
Even with my earplugs in, the sound
emitted from the new vertically stacked
silencers was
beautiful,
not to mention rhat
the
inrake noise,
unprotected
by fairinSs,
got
my blood flowing. The exhaust
pipes
are
now 45mm in diameter (up from
40mm)
and
head into a pre-sileocer under
the engine and then inco the silen.ers. The
system
features a three-way catalytic con-
verler
that meets the stflct Euro 3 emrs-
sion standards.
Understanding
how to
ride a Ducati can
really help
get one around a track
With all that
at
your
disposal, it
always
necessary to rev
the engine to
redline. As a
of fact. sometimes it
you
down.
ln most
's
tight
corners it
was more efficient to stay a
gear
hi8h and
let
the
torque
do the work.
The
engine
makes its
peak power
about a
1000 rpm shy of redline, so
shift-
ing at that
point
basically
gives you
1000
rpm
of
overrev for when the bike is leaned
over and
on the smaller diameter edge of
the tire.
The
S4Rs
seriously hauls buft, especially
through
the tiack's two ultr-afast kanks.
The
head of steam built up on the way definite-
ly made me think twice before
flicking it in
(Eclow)
A
dorh
qrrcmbly
i!
stylirh
ond informolivc.
The S4Rs wouldn't work as a bike if the
same motor was thrown into a standard
Monster chassis. lt would be completely
overwhelmed. Using the term naked
Superbike is completely appropriate in the
case
ofthe
S4Rs. as the level ofthe suspen-
sion and brakes are a mirror image of the
9995' excellent chassis components.
The ALS 450
steel trellis
frame is
stiffer
than the
unit on the
54R,
while the black tubular alu-
minum swingarm (painted
black on all three colors),
is
not only a l'lonster trade-
mark
but also
more than
capable of dealing
with
that
Testastrefta horsepower. The chassis
boasts
a
l440mm (56.7 inch) wheelbase,
almost three-quarters of an
inch longer
rhan a 999, with 96mm of trail and 24
degrees of rake.
On the track
it was
the excellent
invert-
ed 43mm 6hlins fork with Ti nitride-coar-
ed stanchions and the Ohlins
piggyback
reservoir shock with
ride-height adjust-
)
A
poir
of 54Rr
MonrteE ot th€ A5ao.i Ro
