2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta

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2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta
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2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta

2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta

2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta

2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta

2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta

• 2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta

2006 Ducati Monster S4RS Testastretta

Style

A true masterpiece of technology and styling. A bike that, when observed on the stand, gives vent to hidden emotions and takes the breath away with its superbly-balanced lines and exquisitely complex engineering, where the magnificent and exclusive "Testastretta" powerplant is given a scintillating setting in a state-of-the-art trellis frame characterising unmistakeable styling that is the true hallmark of all Ducati Monsters.

The appearance is that of a breathtaking special machine, hither to only present in the realm of fantasy: the Monster S4RS Testastretta is now an alluring reality that breathes sheer force of personality in every tiny detail. The headlight shell, the dual vertically stacked silencers and the classic racing stripe (in this case wider and in a central rather than lateral position) that characterises all the naked bikes in the "single-sided swingarm" family, is now enhanced by several pure racing features that can hardly be missed and that serve to exalt the raw thoroughbred looks of this fantastic machine.

The S4RS is characterised by a red frame and balck-painted swingarm, by the evolved front end, derived from the 999 series, and also by the Y spoke wheels that underscore the concept of the quintessential stripped Superbike. There are many more details taken directly from the Ducati race division that may go unnoticed on a bike with fairings while they're right in the spotlight on this Monster street fighter. Consider, for example, the triangular oil cooler and the large number of carbon fibre parts, including the silencers cover, the front mudguard, the timing belt covers and the exhaust pipe heat shield. There are also numerous apparently secondary components, such as the cooling circuit ducts, now forged in aluminium rather than moulded in rubber, bearing witness to the rigour of the design project and the painstaking attention to the tiniest detail.

Two attention-grabbing vertically stacked silencers, manufactured by Termignoni in aluminium fibre, complete the overall super-aggressive and beautiful styling, with a hard-hitting statement of performance, technology, and exclusiveness.

And the same attention was dedicated to the cockpit, equipped with the same instruments as the S2R but with dedicated graphics for this version. Finally, there's one highly original solution that may be missed at a glance: the tank, while apparently identical to that on the earlier versions, has been given a new base, which incorporates a revolutionary new fuel pump.

There are also brand new colours, coordinating the stark black of the frame with three colour schemes for the tank and headlight shell: red, black, and an all-new pearl white. All the bikes are distinguished by the racing stripe (white for the red tank, red for the pearl white, and grey for the black) that slashes the machine from fore to aft, located in a more central position and wider than that of the previous SR machines.

The end result of the S4RS Testastretta is nothing short of a dream ticket that satisfies the eyes and feel of even a casual observer even before they get a chance to get to grips with the astonishing performance.

Chassis

The heart of the most sports oriented and most powerful of all Monster machines is the super high strength steel tube trellis frame, which has been stiffened still further on this bike with a series of solutions that leave the dimensions unchanged. The frame is combined with the same single-sided aluminium swingarm found on all versions of the SR family. The main differences are to be found in the areas of suspension and brakes, which incorporate elements from even more exclusive series than those on the Monster S4R, which was the top of the range up to the end of 2005. The front end is equipped, almost exclusively, with all the parts of the most prestigious and high performance 999 machines, starting from the Ohlins 43 mm upside-down fork with low friction TiN treatment to reduce sliding resistance and provided with all imaginable adjustment facilities for preload and damping.

Also the two 320 millimetre discs represent the top of the production range, but in this case there are a few differences with respect to the axioms of the Superbike world, as can be found in the reservoir and master cylinder mounted on the variable section aluminium handlebar - specially designed for this version; the front brake callipers and handlebar-mounted master cylinders are of the radial type. The Ohlins trademark can also be found on the rear shock, which in this case hails from the most professional series and comes with a host of adjustment facilities for compression, rebound, and preload. The similarities with the chassis of the 999 family don't stop here but continue with the adoption of the Y spoke wheels which, apart from their undeniable aesthetic appeal, bring exceptional qualities of rigidity and low weight.

Powerplant

A massive 130 HP for this super-naked machine. When speaking of a new benchmark in the world of bikes in this segment, inevitably the S4R was billed as a machine at the top of its class in terms of performance, with its daunting 117 HP, but the S4RS takes things much further. After having transferred the Desmoquattro engine of the 996 onto a naked machine, we set about making the most difficult and daring transplant, leading to the installation of a twin cylinder Testastretta series powerplant in the classic Monster trellis frame. Of course, we hardly need to introduce this engine, since it has won fame and acclaim right where it counts, on the circuits of the SBK World Championship. The maximum technological expression of Ducati genius: a twin cylinder engine able to counter the well-documented power of its rival four cylinder units and awaken sheer thrills whenever the ignition key is turned.

Equipped with an automatic choke, for this project the engine on the S4RS was given a dedicated oil cooler designed to offer optimum performance on a naked machine. Further details designed specifically for a more powerful and more exclusive Monster can be found in the airbox and the throttle body with IWP 189 injectors, not to mention the exhaust system with catalytic converter, which helps to bring the emission levels to within the limits imposed by Euro3 regulations, which is a pretty impressive feat for a 130 HP naked bike that is tagged to become a benchmark in its class from all standpoints.

The Testastretta - a milestone in the Ducati story. The name of this engine (literally "narrow head") derives from the specific layout of the timing gear, which results in a reduced angle between the valves in the cylinder heads. The result is a compact and clean combustion chamber for the maximum combustion and compression efficiency: the flat crown pistons are perfect to ensure a smooth and linear flame front. The specific architecture of the heads, combined with a highly evolved electronic engine management system, guarantees optimal combustion at all speeds for smooth and effective power in all conditions.

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