Ducati Monster 1198??

[Travman]

You still have the 900SD? How many Guzzis now?  

I really love all of my bikes, but the Darmah recently reclaimed its rightfully place as my favorite. I didn't ride her over the winter. So after receving fresh oil and a general check over, we headed out on some of my favorite local backroads. I wish I was more elequent and could express how awesome it is to ride. It pulls so well. It sounds wonderful with those Conti mufflers. It handles superbly especially in higher speed sweepers. I love running it up through the gears. I can give it full throttle thru all the gears and it feels very satisfying, but I probably haven't exceeded 80 mph. I don't even feel guilty. (Try doing the same roads on my recently sold hopped-up Monster and there was always a risk of going to jail).

I wish all motorcyclists could have the opportunity to experience this.  It may not be a modern sport bike, but it does do well on the local roads that we ride. It is very capable for a vintage bike. The brakes work extremely well, but you have to use a strong hand. Unlike modern bikes where you use 2 fingers.

[ungeheuer]

...It pulls so well. It sounds wonderful with those Conti mufflers. It handles superbly especially in higher speed sweepers. I love running it up through the gears. I can give it full throttle thru all the gears and it feels very satisfying, but I probably haven't exceeded 80 mph. I don't even feel guilty. (Try doing the same roads on my recently sold hopped-up Monster and there was always a risk of going to jail).

I wish all motorcyclists could have the opportunity to experience this.  It may not be a modern sport bike, but it does do well on the local roads that we ride. It is very capable for a vintage bike. The brakes work extremely well, but you have to use a strong hand. Unlike modern bikes where you use 2 fingers....

...eloquent enough to evoke fond memories of my long gone black/gold SD900... damn   

[nickshelby500kr]

The more I look at this test mule, the more I realize Ducati is just king of the parts bin specials.

[hbliam]

The more I look at this test mule, the more I realize Ducati is just king of the parts bin specials.

I guess you are not familiar with the design/fit/finish on the Diavel, Panigale, newer Monsters, or Multi. Nothing parts bin about Ducati's bikes. Many manufacturers use the same motor in different models. When these motors are leaps and bounds ahead technology wise it makes even more sense. Lastly, I love that they keep stuffing the most bad ass motors into the model of bike I love the most. Then I don't have to figure out how to do it.

[Curmudgeon]

Trav,

Thanks for the snap! Down here there's a red SD with Contis on the loose.

Not as upright as a Harley, but a T-100 is a relatively standard European riding position with the footpegs perhaps 1/2" - 1" farther forward than is necessary. This water pipe frame has to serve four models and is a compromise.

On mine the forks are lowered 15mm and are valved and my shocks are 1/2 taller, the seat is 1 1/2"+ taller than stock. An 18' wheel would be better, but I've at least got it steering now on Sport Demons.  At least currently the knee pads make sense!

Know what you mean about your SD as I had an SS with the same frame for 6 months. With clip-ons in tight stuff it was knee out if you wanted to turn and that wasn't my style, so I swapped it for a 600 SL which WAS nimble. The SS was really designed with the Autostrada in mind; stable as a rock and good in sweepers with a 30 degree head angle. On your SD with a conventional flat Euro bar of ~ 28", you can do sweepers with less effort than my T-100.

Agreed, not much wrong with your cast iron Brembos. Had the same brakes on my SL. Effort was a bit less only because the bike weighed a lot less. I do miss the reverse cone megaphone sound of our old bikes vs the new ones. My old SL wasn't that load but sounded like a V6 Ferrari F1 in 3rd at speed. 

[Stormtrooper]

^^^ getting waaaay off track here.  So back to wild speculation about something we know almost nothing about...

I asked my buddy that works for DNA about these latest spy pics.  He is always very tight lipped about these things so I didn't expect to get much out of him.    I said the engine must be the 821 from the hyper right!?  His only response was..."think bigger"

hmmm...

[lawbreaker]

Did you feel the same way about the S4RS?

Or when Ducati dispo's the full trellis frame from the Monster?

[danaid]

I was just reading about this on Asphalt & Rubber, and came across a shot of the headlight. That looks new. Also, note the Streetfighter-style digital tachometer.
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/ducati-monster-s4-spy-shot/

Both tanks look shaped a little different at the filler to the key area from each other. the exposed upper corner of the left tank looks sharper than my monsters plastic piece, may be a one-piece metal tank?

[Duck-Stew]

<snip> "think bigger"

[Travman]

Wow. This is a nice development. I like the headlight. The 1098/1198 engine felt great whenever I've ridden different versions (1098 SBK, 1098 SF, 1200 Multi, Diavel).  Can't wait to see what it looks like and hope the chassis handles the power well. I could be back with a Monster someday.

[Greg]

Looks like it has the Street Fighter dash, which is  a good thing as I find the SF dash to be much more readable than the Monster dash.

[hbliam]

Looks like it has the Street Fighter dash, which is  a good thing as I find the SF dash to be much more readable than the Monster dash.

As I said earlier, I'd prefer a Diavel or Panigale type dash. The TFT's are amazing.

[jaxduc]

I want to see the trellis design.
How many miles do they put on these bikes?

[the_Journeyman]

Hmmm...  Can I have classic Monster styling with the Diavel motor?  

JM

[Speeddog]

Hmmm...  Can I have classic Monster styling with the Diavel motor?  

JM

Sure. I can write up an estimate if you want.

Wallet thickness will be important.