S4R '04 vs '05 weight difference

[jvax]

Been reading Ian Falloons's "Ducati Monster Bible" (great book btw  ) and noticed something odd about the '04 and '05 models of the S4R.

The '05 S4R (399lb/181kg) is 26lb/12kg lighter than the '04 S4R (425lb/193).  But the only differences between the two models seem to be in the:

Engine
- Cylinder bore and stroke:  96 x 68.8 for the '04, vs 98 x 66 for the '05 model  (both result in 996cc displacement)
- Although the same 996cc displacement, the '05 year has slightly more power and torque

Brakes
- The rear brake disk is 1mm thicker in the '04 model 245 x 6, vs 245 x 5 for the '05 model
- The front brake pads on the '05 model are Toshiba TT 2172HH, vs Toshiba TT 2802 pads for the '04 model

Other than the engine and brakes changing slightly, everything else (frame, suspension, brakes, wheels) remained unchanged.

So my question, are there other differences that contributed to this weight loss? 

[matt922]

metal tank?

[jvax]

metal tank?

I thought plastic tanks only started in '06... 

[Kaveh]

I can very well be wrong here, but I remember somewhere around that time Ducati switched from measuring their bikes with all fluids, battery, tires, etc. VS without (like all their competitors have been doing for years prior).  So, they only difference might be how they weighed the bike, if you know what I mean.

[muskrat]

I thought plastic tanks only started in '06... 

nope, mine is an 06 S4R with a metal tank.

[jvax]

nope, mine is an 06 S4R with a metal tank.

So, the weight reduction is not because of a plastic tank.

Thanks for confirming.

[riffraff]

Been reading Ian Falloons's "Ducati Monster Bible" (great book btw  ) and noticed something odd about the '04 and '05 models of the S4R.

The '05 S4R (399lb/181kg) is 26lb/12kg lighter than the '04 S4R (425lb/193).  But the only differences between the two models seem to be in the:

Engine
- Cylinder bore and stroke:  96 x 68.8 for the '04, vs 98 x 66 for the '05 model  (both result in 996cc displacement)
- Although the same 996cc displacement, the '05 year has slightly more power and torque

Brakes
- The rear brake disk is 1mm thicker in the '04 model 245 x 6, vs 245 x 5 for the '05 model
- The front brake pads on the '05 model are Toshiba TT 2172HH, vs Toshiba TT 2802 pads for the '04 model

Other than the engine and brakes changing slightly, everything else (frame, suspension, brakes, wheels) remained unchanged.

So my question, are there other differences that contributed to this weight loss? 

The 2004/2005 S4R show the same bore and stroke engine. Not the first time I have seen gross mistakes in Falloon's books...

http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/s4r/2004/tech_spec.do
http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/s4r/2005/tech_spec.do

[jvax]

The 2004/2005 S4R show the same bore and stroke engine. Not the first time I have seen gross mistakes in Falloon's books...

http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/s4r/2004/tech_spec.do
http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/s4r/2005/tech_spec.do

Fair point.  I've emailed the author to request clarification.

If the engines are indeed identical, all the more reason for me to try to understand why the 05 bike is that much lighter.

[jvax]

The 2004/2005 S4R show the same bore and stroke engine. Not the first time I have seen gross mistakes in Falloon's books...

http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/s4r/2004/tech_spec.do
http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/s4r/2005/tech_spec.do

FYI - got an email response from Falloon, says the data come from the official press releases at the time.

[Triple J]

Fair point.  I've emailed the author to request clarification.

If the engines are indeed identical, all the more reason for me to try to understand why the 05 bike is that much lighter.

I think Kaveh answered the question above.

[Speeddog]

As Kaveh said, it was a change in how they weighed the bikes.

All of the Ducs magically dropped ~10 kg between '04 and '05.

'04 and '05 S4R are both 98x66 bore/stroke.
AFAIK, they're exactly the same bike other than the frame stickers.

I am skeptical of a claimed difference in rear disc thickness.