Seems mighty big praise gets laid at the wheels of the S4RS. I myself being a 620 Dark owner am unbiased but being in the market for a new big boy Monster there's two bikes that meet my criteria (i.e. More Power, SS-SwingArm, Ohlins, Lots O Style) the S4RS and the new 1200s. The thing is ...I can get an S4RS for about half of what a 1200S will cost me plus I can get a DRY CLUTCH!!
which for some reason looks and sounds incredibly cool. On the other hand a new bike is ... a BRAND NEW BIKE!!
plus all the latest gadgetry, better brakes, even more power and possibly the most comfortable Monster ever made. What are the thoughts on the S4RS here? I see most are fitted with Steering Damper... why? Are they prone to tankslappers? Just wonderin...
Well this is a subject close to my heart.
I love my S4Rs and can't imagine releasing it. I've not ridden the 1200 and so can't make a first-hand comparison. I have ridden the Multi whose motor the 1200 has adapted.
So this is part speculation but I think if you were to ride the two you'd be pretty shocked at the differences. The S4Rs is a parts-bin hot-rod that just happens to work really well in its own weird way. The 1200 is a fresh design. It's intended to be much more versatile than the S4Rs.
The S4Rs will be smaller and shorter and lighter and you'll lean forward more onto the 'bars. Its chassis transmits beautifully the feel of that wonderfully smooth, short-stroke Testastretta 998 engine. The engine is very cammy - a bit soft in the 3.5-5.5K range then picking up sharply around 6.5 and really hauling from 7500 to 10K or more. In theory it is the opposite of what you want from a big street twin but in practice it is so entertaining. Even in the soft bit there is a fair bit of go for the street.
The 1200 will likely feel a lot stiffer in the chassis, which could be good for steering precision at high speeds. Whether you get that same feel for the engine I don't know but with the seat essentially bolted to the rear cylinder you're bound to feel something. The motor will offer about the same power up top as a DP-kitted S4Rs but there will be a lot more grunt off the bottom and it won't have that cammy feel. You will be able to carry a passenger much more comfortably and it will be much easier to strap luggage on. The 1200 should also have a much better fuel range.
I rode another S4Rs recently and was a bit shocked to notice how much better I liked mine with the reworked shock and slightly taller, much flatter seat. I think one reason why the S4Rs works so well is that you get that hot-rod motor in a package that is really pleasant to ride at sane street speeds.
Edit: Oh, and a steering damper won't be necessary if you use the proper Ohlins fluid in the front fork.
