Ducati Monster Forum

Since I just picked up my s4rs over the summer I'd like track down any old magazine reviews, comparisons, long term test, etc. articles on the bike. I have of course found a few online but was hoping to order a few old issues from cycle world or what ever major mag may have run stories.

Does anyone know which specific issues I should hunt down?  I am guessing they will be from 06 or 07.

Any suggestions would be appreciated...
 [beer]

*update*
in the meantime here are a few online articles i have run across, if you find others feel free to post the links...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/2739939/Forever-young.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/2739939/Forever-young.html)

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests/road-test-yamaha-fz1-v-ducati-monster/4761.html (http://www.visordown.com/road-tests/road-test-yamaha-fz1-v-ducati-monster/4761.html)

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/November/3-9/nov0508-PB100-3-ducati-s4rs/ (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/November/3-9/nov0508-PB100-3-ducati-s4rs/)

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-ducati-monster-s4rs-testastretta/4695.html (http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-ducati-monster-s4rs-testastretta/4695.html)

http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/monster-s4rs/ (http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/monster-s4rs/)

http://manicbiker.com/2012/05/ducati-monster-s4rs-motorcycle-review/ (http://manicbiker.com/2012/05/ducati-monster-s4rs-motorcycle-review/)

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/road-tests/ducati-s4rs-testastretta-416552.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/road-tests/ducati-s4rs-testastretta-416552.html)

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_0804_sex_in_the_city_bikes/viewall.html (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_0804_sex_in_the_city_bikes/viewall.html)

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/122_0604_2007_ducati_monster_s4rs_road_test/ (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/122_0604_2007_ducati_monster_s4rs_road_test/)

I think Motorcycle-USA.com might've done one, even though it is a new company.  It will be online only though, no print. 

Maybe the european mags like Visor Down or MCN can help.

ok thanks

There is a piece online here from UK mag Performance Bikes (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/November/3-9/nov0508-PB100-3-ducati-s4rs/) that is worth adding to your collection.

Of course, you may have already seen it. PB ranked it among the 100 bikes "you must ride". I am not sure whether the ranking of 4 put is near the top, or near the bottom. Nice piece, tho.

I have seen a couple of comparisons in print magazines but I am sorry, can't help you with dates or issue numbers. My memory of them is that they were not terribly complimentary. The grumbling low end from the stock tuning and overly firm stock rear compression damping didn't help.

I like the above piece because the writer seems to get a lot of what is so special about the bike.

Good luck with your search. You might have some success with writing or emailing likely mags. I am fairly sure that in Britain, Bike, Performance Bikes, Fast Bikes and SuperBike would have done pieces. Not sure about the US mags - but what they did do is more likely to have been posted online in any case.

Another online piece I really like is this review (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Apr/060417b.htm) from the press launch by Daniel Coe, for SuperbikePlanet. Sample pic below: he seemed quite happy with the way the chassis worked on the track.  :D

(http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/ducati/s4rs/coe5.jpg)

Very Cool Moronic, thanks for sharing.

I think i may have run into that article somewhere along the line, but will revisit it for sure.

And i think you're right, contacting the mags may be my best option.

i did however find this link for old cycle worlds if anyone is interested. sadly it looks like it may be an "E" copy only though.

http://www.zinio.com/browse/publications/single-issues.jsp?productId=77581896 (http://www.zinio.com/browse/publications/single-issues.jsp?productId=77581896)

thanks again!

Thanks for the archive link.

As you probably noticed, they covered the S4Rs on pages 46-48 of the October 06 issue. Short-ish write-up but they liked it a great deal.

"The chassis feels superbly planted when leaned over," Hoyer noted. Yep.  ;D

I don't know if it's available to order, but here's a copy of an article in Motorcyclist:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/122_0604_2007_ducati_monster_s4rs/ (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/122_0604_2007_ducati_monster_s4rs/)
There was also a comparison in one of the Brit mags (Performance Bike, maybe?) between the S4Rs, the Super Duke, and I think the Aprilia Tuono.  I'll see if I still have it.

yeah, thanks Reduc, i have this article bookmarked as well. I'm wondering if most of the mags will be like CW, where you can only order back copies a few years old. Its weird to think 2006/7 was so long ago now...

update at the top...