Ducati Monster Forum

I found a 2007 S4R, only has 2700 miles on it. 
My only concern is if this is to much bike for local city driving? Is the power of the bike controllable? I rarely need to get on a highway.  I basically want the bike cause of its great looks.    I need the opinion of S4R owners please.

This bike *can* cruise the city.. But you will never get it out of second gear if you don't take it out of the city..

A 600cc range monster would make a much better city bike.

I put 17,000 mi. on a 2004 and loved it.  Great thing is a PCMusb will work on that bike, so you can tailor the fuel injection perfectly with a dyno tune more cheaply than on the S4RS or other models with the O2 sensor.

I ran a 14t front sprocket which helps with low speed smoothness too.

I found the bike to be very docile around town and not loud at all if you are the least bit careful.

The bikes have plenty of power, but not too much at all - easily controllable. Smooth application of power with a deft throttle hand is richly rewarded.  At about 106 - 109 HP at the wheel or thereabouts, they are powered about like a new 600 inline four, but with great torque.

Pompetta's got over 30,000 mi. on his.

Very good bikes. [thumbsup]

LA

14t - make it great around town

I have an 05 and love it.  great around town (with changed gearing).  good power, good handling.

You might find the clutch action a little stiff for lots of stop & go traffic. :P

You have to take it out of the city on weekends.. [thumbsup]  all city riding makes a sad Monster... [moto]

take her out there and she'll show you what she got...it is the reason why I love my alone time with my girl... Betty

14T or two up in the rear and your all set. Good luck with  and ride safe.

put an evo clutch slave on it and you're good to go.    [thumbsup]

Is this your first bike?  If so I would hesitate to get such a powerful bike.  My 620 will go as fast as anything in town and is waaayyyyyy more forgiveable than a S4R.

My S4RS doesn't do well in the city at all.  Won't go less than 20 mph without lurching/chugging along.  This is with 14t front sprocket and waiting for chain to wear out so I can justify going up on the rear.  Fortunately Ducati has seen fit to provide you with an extra gear (6th) so you can make all the gear adjustments you want. 

My GF lives 30 miles out in the country and that's where the duc shines.  Maybe you could find a lonely girl waaay out of the city?

Buy it!

Rufkm,

You running stock exhaust and ecu?  It's a little expensive, but the full termi kit takes care of all that.

That's why I say it's good to have the pre O2 sensor bike like rcelik is considering, so that proper fueling can be attained with a PCM for much less money than having to buy the DP performance stuff.

As delivered, the S4RS is all chocked down and way too lean.  The Italians would sell em with the kit on them stock if they could.

Throttle body sync is way important for smooth running too.

LA

have to agree. i have on '07 S4Rs and after the changes it is great.

Running Zard's and the fatduc.  It's not that it doesn't run well - it's that it doesn't run well THAT SLOW.  It's a huge amount of horsepower for stop and go traffic no matter how you slice it.

Horsepower isn't the issue, its the gearing.

14 tooth drive sprocket + case saver and you're good to go.

Have to add my voice to the nay sayers. And sure, I've got an S4Rs, not the earlier desmoquattro being considered. But the OP did say he'd rarely get it out of the city. Sure, you can ride her in the city, and even enjoy, sort of. But it's like buying a hot Ferrari for the commute. Sure, she can do it ...

If you check my original post the 14t front is there.  It brought the slowest speed the bike will run from 25 mph down to 20.  Big help but the bikes just got so much ass it's an on/off switch from 0-20 mph. 

I'd say it's pretty inapproriate for a city bike-I'm not sure you'd get ouf of first, ever. You'd be better off buying a smaller air-cooled monster-it'll look almost exactly the same, but be better for the street.

ask three people their opinions and get three different answers  [thumbsup]

I commuted on mine daily and it was fine.  dunno.  A hyper would be more upright maybe...but for a power and gearing issue, I think its just fine personally.

My thoughts exactly. I love my S4RS in the mountains and on the local back roads, but I rarely ride it into the city. It's just boring and the clutch pull is a bit much if I find myself stuck in traffic.
However, if you're just wanting the look, you can definitely ride it in town. Just be sure to put straight pipes on it with no mufflers and rev it to the moon at every opportunity. At stop lights/signs, blip the throttle again and again as if you have to just to keep that beast running! ;D [roll]

(anyone watch the new SouthPark episode last night?) [laugh]

Just for the city??? get a vespa.If you're getting the s4r...take it outside the city,that's where you'll enjoy this bike. [thumbsup] preferably the twisties.

Um, if you are not going to take it outside of the city limits and use the extra power it has, why not get a 2 valve aircooled machine? Far less expensive maintence and up keep, less moving parts. And if you're getting it for the looks, they are less cluttered w/o the radiator etc.