My new S4RS...kind of a let down

[Ironhorse]

Damn...this bike has been one of my dream bikes ever since it came out.  I've read alot of reviews stating that this is one fantastic bike.  Articles stating, "powerful motor", "incredible torque", or "a true monster", so my expectations of this bike were astronomical. 


First off, i gotta say this the monster is bone stock, with only 3000 miles to it, and i did change to a 14t before getting it from the dealer. 


Second, i guess i'm also comparing the monster to my CBR600RR, which i haven't sold yet, thankfully, i can't help comparing them as i thought the specs were similar.


So, why has it been such a disappointment?  The performance of the S4RS, or should i say the lack there of.  Where is the acceleration?  Where is the thrust? The torque?  The fun factor?  I don't see/feel the 0-60 in 3.1 seconds.  The roll on acceleration is equally anemic.  While in 2nd gear, doing 35 i twist the throttle, the revs climb quickly to 10000, but the speedo is still well below 55 before having to shift into 3rd.  What is up with that?  Where is the SBK engine?  I thought this was supposed to be a sportsbike.


So what is wrong with this bike, or maybe what's wrong with me?  Have i been spoiled by the inline 4's?  Is this lack of thrust/torque a typical ducati trait?  Or should i have been looking at the newer ducatis, Monster 1100, Hyper 1100 or the Streetfighter? Or, can this bike be salvaged?  If so what can be done to it improve this bike? 


There is one positive for this bike, if all i wanted was a cruiser, this would be the perfect bike.


Sorry for the rant, but i gotta let it out...

[Goat_Herder]

That S4RS is over-priced and mediocre at best.  the reason anybody would buy it was because of the genius marketing scheme and hype.  Have you heard that the Kawasaki ZX-14 puts out 210HP at the crank!  And it's greeeeeeeeeeeen!

[MadDuck]

Damn...this bike has been one of my dream bikes ever since it came out.  I've read alot of reviews stating that this is one fantastic bike.  Articles stating, "powerful motor", "incredible torque", or "a true monster", so my expectations of this bike were astronomical. 


First off, i gotta say this the monster is bone stock, with only 3000 miles to it, and i did change to a 14t before getting it from the dealer. 


Second, i guess i'm also comparing the monster to my CBR600RR, which i haven't sold yet, thankfully, i can't help comparing them as i thought the specs were similar.


So, why has it been such a disappointment?  The performance of the S4RS, or should i say the lack there of.  Where is the acceleration?  Where is the thrust? The torque?  The fun factor?  I don't see/feel the 0-60 in 3.1 seconds.  The roll on acceleration is equally anemic.  While in 2nd gear, doing 35 i twist the throttle, the revs climb quickly to 10000, but the speedo is still well below 55 before having to shift into 3rd.  What is up with that?  Where is the SBK engine?  I thought this was supposed to be a sportsbike.


So what is wrong with this bike, or maybe what's wrong with me?  Have i been spoiled by the inline 4's?  Is this lack of thrust/torque a typical ducati trait?  Or should i have been looking at the newer ducatis, Monster 1100, Hyper 1100 or the Streetfighter? Or, can this bike be salvaged?  If so what can be done to it improve this bike? 


There is one positive for this bike, if all i wanted was a cruiser, this would be the perfect bike.


Sorry for the rant, but i gotta let it out...

Are you sure that the clutch isn't slipping?  That bike pretty much has the same engine my old 999 did and I could hit 100 mph in second gear holding on for dear life it was charging so hard.

[Ironhorse]

A friend of mine has a 999, and that goes like ape sh1t.  Although he does have the termi kit. 

Naw, the clutch isn't slipping.  The engine just feels like it's being choked.

[Raux]

the 999 and S4RS have the same motor... if yours isn't going ape-shit, then something is wrong.

[muskrat]

I have the baby s4r and it's nothing like you describe.  I concur that there's something wrong Maybe the flywheel if it isn't the clutch?

[Ironhorse]

The guy i bought it from barely drove it.  I did bring it to a mechanic friend to check it out and he said everything was fine.  I guess i'll bring it in to ducati to get it checked out. 

Maybe it's just me...

[the_Journeyman]

That thing should be a wheelie monster if nothing else.  I can coax a wheelie out of my lowly M750 (62HP) with ease, so if you're not able to wheelie on command, something is up.

JM

[He Man]

yea theres something wrong with your bike for sure. that powerplant would destroy 600cc bikes off the line all day.

[Ironhorse]

Thats what i thought.    The 1100 Monster evo which i could easily beat with the CBR, got my ass handed to me on the S4RS.  Heck, i got spanked by everyone. 

If the bike seems to be running fine, what would the cause be for this loss of power? 

[Howie]

If you are in second gear, engine spinning at 10,000RPM and only going 55MPH there are only two possible causes:
  Slipping connection between engine and rear wheel (clutch or drive line part)
  Tach is way off and you are turning about half the RPM.

[DucRS]

(((The roll on acceleration is equally anemic.  While in 2nd gear, doing 35 i twist the throttle, the revs climb quickly to 10000, but the speedo is still well below 55 before having to shift into 3rd.  What is up with that?)))

            Do this ^^ and you'll be gnawing on a face full of pavement.

I call this thread complete horse crap! I've ridden a CBR600 and own an RS and after 20K miles later I still respect it's power and to say "it's been a dissapointment" is not the way I would describe it at all. You need to have it properly diagnosed and find the problem.

[sofadriver]

yea theres something wrong with your bike for sure. that powerplant would destroy 600cc bikes off the line all day.

even taking it easy in first they go like this ...........

[koko64]

It really is possible that half your horsepower is escaping out of the clutch before getting transfered to the rear wheel. Like others have said, it is worthwhile checking the clutch.

The Ducati dry clutch is easy to access and easy to work on, but wears quickly compared to many other bikes. Check it out with your buddy and let us know what you find.

You may find that it is as simple as a set of clutch plates and/or springs. If the clutch is good, then start checking the fuel system.

[Slide Panda]

Yeah something is wrong for sure. Blasting the throttle in 2nd with a 14 tooth is a good way to loop an S4Rs. My 900 will power up in 2nd.

Clutch slip sounds like the cause. Other low power conditions might be one cyl not firing, but then it wouldn't spin up fast.