Which would you choose and why? MH900Evo vs S4RS

[Scottish]

I'm a Supa' Bike lovin' MoFo, But that 4V vrs MH ... MH all day!

Scottish, what are you showing us?  The fact there isn't oil all over the motor yet? 

No I'm showing you 15lbs of non-functional ballast, bolted to the bottom so it "looks cool"  Oh I forgot you were a HD guy too, so I get why you're puzzled at my reaction to that Keith. 

[Bill in OKC]

for a MH to be a collectors item it needs to be bone stock.

I talked to a MH owner - a beautiful MH - and he had a few non-stock bits on it.  The license plate bracket was one of them.  He said that all of those one-off MH bits were one-to-a-bike so once they broke, it was aftermarket time.  He couldn't get replacement MH bits from Ducati.

[Triple J]

Why can't someone ride that bike?  It's a 2V Ducati with some very cool nonstructural parts.

They could...but it has a very small tank, an uncomfortable riding position, crap suspension, and isn't known for reliability.

The S4RS is a better bike if you intend on putting miles on it IMO.

I also don't think the MH is much of an "investment".

[Cloner]

S4RS

The MH looks cool, but I like to ride my motorcycles.

Me, too.  I've hung about 5k on my MH900e this year.  The tires are scuffed to their edges.

Ask someone who owns one if you want a good opinion of a bike.  I'll tell you the truth, without bias, it you REALLY want it.

The bike is cool beyond coolness.  This is indisputable, and it's the ONLY reason I bought the bike.

The suspension isn't ideal for riding HARD, but for what 99% of the motorcycling population will do with their bikes, it's sufficient.  It's underdamped and mildly oversprung (and I'm quite large for a Ducatisti), resulting in a rather wooden feel out front that keeps me from pressing the bike as hard as I might otherwise.  That said, I don't believe I've ever held up my riding companions due to this limitation.  I can definitely ride it quickly enough to have fun.

The shock is at least as poor as the forks.  It's mildly undersprung (for me) and as underdamped as the forks, resulting in a rather mushy feel.  It's great around town, though, as it soaks up expansion joints and potholes better than bikes tuned to my liking.  If the forks were better I'd replace it, but as it stands the forks are the limiting factor when riding at a brisk pace, so why bother.

The fuel tank is petite.  The literature says it holds 2.2 gallons including reserve.  It actually holds 2.7 gallons including the 0.5 gallon reserve.  Ask me how I know EXACTLY how much it holds.  I rode it to Albuquerque from Atlanta when I bought it, and I ran it dry......twice.  The first time in just under 90 miles at a sustained speed of around 100 mph.  Luckily, I packed a supersecret reserve.  

The false sump is lame.  The good news is, it can be removed and kept for reinstallation when you sell the bike (if you sell the bike).  I know a number of other MH owners who have removed these.  

The x-shaped piece that supports the license plate is a weldment comprising both extruded and machined pieces.  The welds are insufficient and should be reinforced.  If you buy the bike and want one, there's a gent in Salt Lake City who machines them from billet, and his pieces are virtually indestingishable from the stock bits.  I happen to know this breaks because I lost the lower half of mine (along with the license plate, tag light, and turn signals) between Little Rock, AR and Dallas, TX.  I bought a billet one because the original is now unobtanium.

The instrument cluster is allergic to water.  Most of us who ride MHs travel with a ziploc baggie in our pockets to cover the instruments in case of rain.  When water gets inside the cluster it fries it, and the cluster costs about $2k to replace.  

Now for the good part.  Everytime I ride the MH I feel better when I get off than I did when I got on.  It turns heads like no other thing I've ever ridden.  It shifts better than any Ducati I've ever ridden (and I've ridden a BUNCH of 'em).

I've ridden with a few of you.  Speak up.  Will it hold a pace?

Last words and I'll leave this alone.  The MH isn't my primary ride.  I bought it because I could afford to have it as a "backup" ride, and I do ride it.  I wouldn't own any bike I was afraid to ride.  Green frame SS....ride it (I have, indeed, ridden one).  Brough Superior....ride it.  Vincent Black Shadow...ride it.  Henderson Excelsior......I wouldn't own that piece of junk, but if I did, I'd ride it!!!

Get what you like.  Like what you get.  It's your money.  Everyone else's opinons are shite.

[Scottish]

Get what you like.  Like what you get.  It's your money.  Everyone else's opinons are shite.

The absolute truth. 

[Zaster]

Cloner,
You need to ride the S4RS.....I meant to say mine ....and you will be able to give us an in depth side by side comparison. Let me know when you are ready for it.    I personally think it's aesthetics versus performance

[kingbaby]

I don't believe I've ever held up my riding companions due to this limitation.  

Never. If you guys saw him (and he aint a little guy) ride this bike you would want one...not that many of us don't.

They could...but it has a very small tank, an uncomfortable riding position, crap suspension, and isn't known for reliability.

The S4RS is a better bike if you intend on putting miles on it IMO.

I also don't think the MH is much of an "investment".

Ok

Oh, And as for motorcycles (any) being an investment, I agree, save that line of crap for your wives (or husbands) when you try to convince them to let you buy a new bike. 

No I'm showing you 15lbs of non-functional ballast, bolted to the bottom so it "looks cool"  Oh I forgot you were a HD guy too, so I get why you're puzzled at my reaction to that Keith. 

Aaaaand, ok.   

 

Cloner,
You need to ride the S4RS.....I meant to say mine ....and you will be able to give us an in depth side by side comparison. Let me know when you are ready for it.    I personally think it's aesthetics versus performance

Then you can let him ride your 1098S Zaster & the whole thread will be jacked.   

[Zaster]

Then you can let him ride your 1098S Zaster & the whole thread will be jacked.  

Too late....He already did Have to say he was slightly disappointed how long it takes the front wheel to come off the ground in fifth gear

[kingbaby]

Too late....He already did Have to say he was slightly disappointed how long it takes the front wheel to come off the ground in fifth gear

 

[Zaster]

 

Wait, I have to stick to the facts ....he was just pulling my leg about this while he used it to go to PJ's from CAD when his supersport
spit out a chain link he had to replace.....but he did ride it [moto]

[kingbaby]

All fun & games 

But when you open the garage door & turn on the light how could you go wrong with either of these bikes?

[Cloner]

Too late....He already did Have to say he was slightly disappointed how long it takes the front wheel to come off the ground in fifth gear

Yeah, what a POS that 1098 is.  That bike wouldn't pull a greased string out of a cat's ass.  I knew it was aenemic when it set the front wheel down before the 5th-6th shift.  Pitiful.  The MH'll hold a wheelstand as long as I want to twist the grip.   

Getting back on topic.......as to the direct MH vs. S4 comparison, I'd gladly ride your Monster and write a comprehensive comparison....but I'm pretty sure it would simply tell you that the S4 has more motor, more brakes, better suspension, a more comfortable riding position, but isn't nearly as pretty. 

My whole point here is that the MH isn't a dog, as some have inferred, by any stretch of the imagination.  It is a very capable machine with excellent geometry and a tractable power curve that, like most two-valvers, makes average riders look good and good riders look great.

I'll defer to my earlier assertion that everyone else's opinions are shite, and you should buy what stirs your soul.  I have followed this course of action several times and have rarely been let down by the results.

[El Matador]

All fun & games 

But when you open the garage door & turn on the light how could you go wrong with either of these bikes?

This thread has been officially New Mexico'ed. Damn you guys have a knack for jacking threads 

 

[stopintime]

I have read everything you've said and I'm happy that this "what if" case brought on many opinions
It has been very educational. The minor thread jacks doesn't bother me - just a part of the DMF good times.

Clearly the MH is evoking a lot of feelings - true Ducati. More so than the S4RS..... Perhaps only until ride time.

It's not going to happen soon, either bike would stretch my budget beyond comfort.
As a new Duc rider I still twist the throttle hard and the response I get is important for my happiness. My 800 has enough torque to keep me happy for now, the sound backs it up and the handling is inspiring (after the geometry, suspension and brake mods).

The MH is out because it's lacking in power and suspension, compared to what I lust for. Even if I had the money for a second bike I think the MH looks better than it is, and I would miss the power and handling it doesn't have.

It's a personal choice, but the cool factor isn't enough. I want a better bike, like a 1098 or a S4RS.


Before I allowed the (small) sensible/financial part of me decide to keep my 800 another few years to "pay off" it's mods,
the advice handed out by a wise member (who was that? Statler?) was exercised - - - flip a coin, if the result made me want best out of three, then the other result is what I want. The S4RS won.  
So, I'll keep my 800 at least another 20k miles/two years, then decide. If I had to choose today it would be 40/60 between a 1098 and a S4RS.

[kingbaby]

Bobspapa [nudge] 
Do you know someone with a 1098 for sale?