2007 Ducati Monster S4R Comparo Photo Gallery

Representing the streetfighter old guard, the Ducati Monster S4R brought its big Testastretta motor and traditional naked styling back for this year's comparo.

The Monster's information display exhibits a more traditional instrument cluster with analog speedo and tach.

The Ducati's front bars offered the farthest reach out of the testing class.

While the single-sided swingarm and Y-spoked Marchesini wheels are both lookers, time has caught up with the Monster's facade.

On the track the Ducati S4R showed off its handling skils.

Three-time AMA 250GP champion, Jimmy Filice, demonstrates the Ducati S4R's ability to crank it over in the corner.

In spite of its potent power delivery, the Monster's throttle is smooth and entertaining to dial-up anywhere, anytime and the sound it emits will stir even the most shallow soul.

The dual 320mm rotors with Brembo four-piston four-pad radial calipers up front and single 245 mm disc with two-piston caliper in the rear are almost identical to those on the class-leading Tuono, but the end result just feels different.

Without a doubt the Monster S4R exudes character from every pore, but what can we say, it didn't thrill this year's batch of testers like it has in the past.

The riding position on the Duc is the most aggressive of the lot, which helped its second place Handling score but hindered its Ergo rating, where it finished at the bottom.

Of our crop of 2007 streetfigher test bikes the Ducati was the most naked, with the Monster design helping to define the class since its inception 15 years ago.

A fully-adjustable 43mm Showa fork and Sachs shock combine to rank second-overall in the suspension category.

The Ducati S4R sports the most aggressive riding position of our '07 testing pool. The forward-leaning stance was helpful at the track, but tiring for long-distance street rides.

On the road and track the Ducati shined with its quick, stable handling, where it's 7.5 scorecard rating placed it all alone in second - although well behind the 9.0 of the Tuono.

The limber Duc was one of the most nimble handlers in our group with only the Tuono besting its agility.

With its torquey bottem end, our testers had a hard time keeping the front wheel on the ground.

The Grin Factor rating, and the Duc's overall third-place finish, aren't lagged behind the front runners, but believe us when we say the Monster was a whale of good time.

When it comes time to transition the S4R, its 430-lb tank-empty weight is a definite advantage.

Compared side by side with its Italian rival, the Tuono, the Ducati's 56.7-inch wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer, while its 24-degree rake is 1-degree steeper.

The Ducati's max torque output was 62.4 lb-ft at 7700 rpm. While those figures didn't make it top dog in our streetfighter pack, there are heaps of character rumbling out of that Italian Twin.

Churning out 110 horsepower at its 10,400 rpm peak the Monster's Testastretta engine was middle of the pack, but had tons of character.

"I said it last year, I'll say it again, the Testastretta engine is the highlight of the S4R," commented BC. "The power pulls from down low all the way up to redline and the torquey bottom end makes it a wheelie monster."

While the 31.5-inch high seat is comfy, shorter riders complained about the far reach to the bars with taller riders also growing fatigued at the forward-sloping position.

WIth its steel trellis frame, the Ducati Monster S4R is the most nekkid of the naked streetfighters.