Ducati Monster S4 R 2004 — Specifications

A decade ago, the roadster was shaken up by a machine with a stripped-down silhouette. Ducati, with its Monster 900, had dropped a bombshell. But with the Italians, one never settles for a good idea; one must make it obsessive. So they grafted the heart of a 916, giving birth to the Monster S4. And then, as if to defy all logic, they pushed the envelope even further. This is how the S4 R was born in 2004, a beast that is nothing like a toy: they installed the 996 cm3 V2, the one from the Superbike championships, the engine that screamed under Fogarty. The result? A roadster that is only a roadster in name, but whose soul is purely track-focused.

Visually, it doesn't go unnoticed. The single-sided aluminum swingarm, inherited from the 900 MH, is a work of mechanical art. The two raised and adjacent exhaust pipes give it an aggressive attitude. The only aesthetic drawback is this bulky catalytic converter that spoils the clean line. But the essential is under the tank: this 996 cm3 twin protrudes everywhere, promising raw sensations. With 113 horsepower at 8750 rpm and a torque of 95.5 Nm, the figures are eloquent. On the scale, the 193 kg fully fueled doesn't make it a featherweight, but its mass concentration and wheelbase of 1440 mm give it surprising agility in the curves.

On winding roads, it behaves like a sports bike in disguise. The 43 mm inverted Showa fork, fully adjustable, and the mono-shock associated with the progressive arm offer precise feedback. However, once engaged, you wish it had a little more stability in corners. It’s not misplaced nervousness, but a slightly too lively character that demands a firm hand. The beast is not vicious, it is simply demanding. And when you open the throttle, everything becomes clear. The V-twin delivers its torque with treacherous generosity, then explodes in the high revs with a rage that recalls the original 996. The braking, entrusted to a Brembo system, is of exemplary efficiency and progressiveness, far superior to that of the Monster 1000 of the time.

The riding position is typical of naked sportbikes: slightly leaned forward, the low handlebar offers direct control. But it’s Italian, with all that entails of charm and flaws. The controls have gained smoothness, except for the hydraulic clutch, which remains notoriously hard, a reminder that comfort was not the priority. On faster roads, the S4 R reveals its true temperament. It swallows the asphalt with impressive acceleration and a top speed of 240 km/h that is nothing like a deception. Compared to its S4 sister, it is much meaner, more radical. The finish is not exceptional, but that's not the point. At nearly 12,500 euros at the time, it cost almost the price of a pure sports bike, but offered a much more exhilarating and immersive experience.

This roadster is clearly not intended for the city or daily commutes. With a 15-liter tank and a 800 mm seat height, it targets the sporty touring rider or the thrill-seeker looking for the adrenaline of a Superbike without the extreme position. Faced with competitors like the Honda Hornet 900 or the Yamaha FZ1, more refined and versatile, the Monster S4 R fully assumes its role as a passion machine, demanding, brutal and terribly charismatic. It’s a distributor of pure emotions, a concentrate of mechanical madness that doesn’t make gifts, but gives you memories for life.