questions about tricolore s4rs

[humungus]

Hi all-- I owned a blue 04 s4r 4 years ago and used to participate on this board...so..its nice to talk to you guys again ! Back then I was getting a little crazy and in addition to my monster I bought a GSXR 600 and had started to take track lessons--well I cracked up the gixer pretty bad one day while practicing at the track and developed some complications from my injuries. I sold my s4r and havent ridden a bike since. Well, I'm all healed now and have the wife's OK to ride again. I have a much less crazy attitude (I'm now a grandfather ) and I'm ready to buy another bike and am seriously considering the s4rs. I sat on a Tricolore yesterday and just like my old s4r, it fit me like a glove.

My question is, how much more bike is this new s4rs than my 04 s4r ? I'm not someone who wants to do wheelies, especially accidental ones, but I do want a bike that has some guts. I was always very comfortable with my 04 and I loved it, but I'm a little wary of the new 998. As the supply of s4rs is very,very low in my area (denver/boulder),it appears that I will be unable to take a test ride.
I'm scheduled to take a 5 hour refresher course from my old instructor next week and then I'm going to buy a bike.
Any opinions or advice for me ?

Thanks !

[Duke Dave]

Originally Posted by humungus

Hi all-- I owned a blue 04 s4r 4 years ago and used to participate on this board...so..its nice to talk to you guys again ! Back then I was getting a little crazy and in addition to my monster I bought a GSXR 600 and had started to take track lessons--well I cracked up the gixer pretty bad one day while practicing at the track and developed some complications from my injuries. I sold my s4r and havent ridden a bike since. Well, I'm all healed now and have the wife's OK to ride again. I have a much less crazy attitude (I'm now a grandfather ) and I'm ready to buy another bike and am seriously considering the s4rs. I sat on a Tricolore yesterday and just like my old s4r, it fit me like a glove.

My question is, how much more bike is this new s4rs than my 04 s4r ? I'm not someone who wants to do wheelies, especially accidental ones, but I do want a bike that has some guts. I was always very comfortable with my 04 and I loved it, but I'm a little wary of the new 998. As the supply of s4rs is very,very low in my area (denver/boulder),it appears that I will be unable to take a test ride.
I'm scheduled to take a 5 hour refresher course from my old instructor next week and then I'm going to buy a bike.
Any opinions or advice for me ?

Thanks !

If you were already used to the the S4R its like this. Stock, the thing is probably tamer. It runs quite lean, and I expect this is because Ducati wanted to squeeze as many miles out of the tank as possible (about 110 to 120 for an average rider). It is extremely quite and soft spoken. Probably more so than the older S4R. The Testastretta is a great engine.

However it sounds like what you want is the S4Rs with an open clutch, 14t and DP full exhaust right out of the gate. It will have more Sac than the S4R, but you will find that it is a very balanced bike and will not pull wheelies unless you try to make it. The Ohlins is sweet, the Brembo's are sweet, and the the precise throttle really give you great control. Never compare a Duc to a 4 cylinder bike, because those things can just be unpredictable. They like to go up and down. Ducks like to go left and right.