2008 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Italian Fury, Collector's Edition
The S4R S Tricolore takes the 998 cc Testastretta L-twin out of Ducati's 999 superbike and puts it in a naked chassis. 130 hp at 9,500 rpm and 77 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm is a serious amount of engine for a 441 lb (200 kg) bike carrying no electronic safety net. Fully adjustable suspension at both ends, 320 mm front discs, a 180-section rear tire and a 56.7 in (1440 mm) wheelbase. The Tricolore paint is why the bike now gets read as a collectible first and a used naked second.
This is a back-road motorcycle and nothing else pretends otherwise. Below 5,000 rpm the twin is lumpy and impatient; above it the thing wakes up and the chassis will hold whatever line you commit to. Firm damping, a forward riding position and a heavy clutch make it poor company in traffic, and there is no ABS or traction control to cover a bad decision. One ownership note: ethanol-blended pump gas can swell the plastic fuel tank, which shows up as poor fitment against the tank fairing and seat. Buy it if you have good roads and no illusions about comfort.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 130 hp (96 kW) @ 9,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (104 Nm) @ 7,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 998 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Wet weight | 441 lb (200 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 gal (14 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Two decades of paddock conversations, club-night talk, and the messages owners send me directly have built a steady picture of this bike. The pattern holds across almost everyone who has lived with one: they describe a motorcycle they ride for the occasion, not one they lean on every day.
The engine leads every conversation. Owners describe a hard rush once the twin clears 5,000 rpm, and a desmo bark that makes the ride itself the point. The chassis draws nearly as much praise, with adjustable suspension and a stiff frame giving riders the confidence to carry real speed through a set of corners. Brakes come up less often but always favorably, for stopping power with genuine feel at the lever. And a fair number bought it for the limited-run paint and carbon trim, treating it as a keeper from day one.
Under 5,000 rpm the twin feels coarse and unwilling, and owners talk about working the gearbox constantly to stay clear of it. The firm ride and missing weather protection turn a commute into a job. Mechanical clatter splits the room; riders raised on Japanese smoothness never make peace with it. A few mention the fuel light arriving around 160 miles.
Plastic fuel tank swelling
Some owners report swelling of the plastic fuel tank due to ethanol-blended fuels, a common issue on Ducatis from 2006–2014. It can cause fitment problems with the tank fairing and seat.
Where this Ducati Monster S4R S Tricolore pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Monster S4R S Tricolore is actually built for.
This is the road it was built for. Keep the revs above 5,000, spend an afternoon setting the suspension, and remember there's nothing catching you when a corner turns out dusty.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
Tight, repeatable corners suit this chassis and the feedback it hands you. The firm seat and heavy clutch make the drive out from Atlanta or Knoxville the hard part, not the twisties.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
The chassis and adjustable suspension are honest tools, but with no rider aids, this one belongs on the road. A great second bike, not your session machine.
Made for Barber Motorsports Park · WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Circuit of the Americas
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2003–2006
Superbike Soul, Civilized Manners
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
