| Author | Message | ||
     Buellnewbie |
Just wondering if anyone here has had the chance to ride a Ducati Monster S4R Testastretta and if so, how it compares to a Buell XB12Ss. Please, no bashing...just wanted some honest comparisons. | ||
| Interex2050 |
Perhaps I cannot give you the most helpful info, but some info non-the-less. I do not have any experience with the S4R Testastretta nor the XB12SS... but I am currently using this one while awaiting parts for my XB12R:   It is a 2002 S4, basically the monster with the 916 engine. And even with the older engine this thing is plenty fun, and sounds incredible. Comfort wise its not the best, but this is likely due to the rear sets. My knees have nowhere to go, so they usually end up against the ridge of the tank, and not much foot room either. Whereas the Buell fits like a glove. Handling is great, very stable in the corners, its not the same as Buell where the bike feels like its on rails but still confident. So my guess is that the newer one is just that much better then this one. Also, check if they fixed the alternator/stator/starter issue. If they did not fix this, this thing will eat batteries. Despite the potential set backs, I would get an S4Rs anyday. These things just have so much personality, and they are just a blast to ride. Hope this is of some help. | ||
| Vikingdave |
Get the Buell. It corners better, it sounds better(with pipe), looks cooler, costs less, wheelies better, stoppies better, burn outs better. What more could ya want? Change the oil once in while, adjust the primary chain here and there and go! With the Duc, your gonna get to know your dealers'service writer real well.  | ||
| Interex2050 |
Well I cannot quite agree with the sound bit (but then that to do with preference), but agree with the rest... Especially the upkeep part. | ||
| Cycleaddict |
the duc is much faster than the xb and more stable at high speeds(130-150) but IMO the buell is a better "street" bike. | ||
| Teddagreek |
I love my buell but the Duc has the motor I'd love to have in my bike... *All 2007 ducati's have 50% Less maintenance cost.. *Ducati's Especially monsters have a great after market.. *Don't forget the Duc is twin so that HP and torque are totally streetable.. *I've ridden an SS a few times but I prefer the way my 9 revs.. I've sat on a SR4 it has good ergos but I think I'd like clip ons or some something similar to my crossroads... Got to look at Insurance the Duc is under a 1000cc's it might be cheaper to insure as well..  | ||
| Swordsman |
Ug. I hate Monster's. They're hideous. If you're gonna' buy a Duc, please, buy ANY Duc but a Monster.  ~SM | ||
| Crnrstr8nr |
only the 1098 has a 50%reduction in maintenance. The s4r engine is still a 996 motor and requires all the service of a 996 | ||
| Davy_boy |
I rather have the Buell unless it's a 1098 then I might reconsider ! | ||
| Moondust |
I've just come from a monster 900 & belive you me - the buell is the way to go ( post 05 XB models ) re: maintenance - the duc is a nightmare if it starts to glitch up - it snowwballs  The duc is a money magnet but I love the look of the 1098 - I don't think I would go back to a monster & unless they changed the steering/handling - the buell just corners like butter  (Message edited by moondust on February 27, 2007) | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
When checking on insurance, make sure you call Sentry Insurance. They have partnered with Buell and they quote to have much lower rates on the Buells then other companies. My two cents is stick with the Buell.... you wont like the maintenance costs of the Duc... | ||
| Teddagreek |
I've to a local dealer and thats what they told me. That's what is on their website.. I love my buell but I'm currently shopping around. I'd hit a few monster boards and get their opinions as well.. 50% less maintenance cost on every 2007 Ducati We are proud to announce that all 2007 Ducati models require less frequent service, fewer parts and less labour during each service and, as a result, greatly reduced scheduled maintenance costs – by as much as 50%. Reducing the cost of service when you visit your Ducati dealer for maintenance is one way to measure the new quality of Ducati. It also contributes immensely to making the Ducati ownership experience as satisfying as the Ducati riding experience. Research and development is the number one investment at the Ducati factory. This investment in performance and quality includes our factory processes, machinery and the people who build each Ducati. By ‘engineering-in’ quality through design, materials and testing, every Ducati owner will enjoy significant and quantifiable improvements in every Ducati motorcycle. To a rider, the best measure of quality is by the riding experience. You can feel a new smoothness to the legendary Ducati L-Twin, a more progressive nature to the powerful brakes and more confident road holding in every turn. Reliability and quality – one ride is all the proof you will need. 50% less – 100% Ducati – standard equipment in every 2007 model http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/service/maintenance .jhtml | ||
| Brucen |
I had an air cooled Monster 900 before I bought the Buell. Maintenance wasn't much worse than with the Japanese bikes I've owned. Valve adjustments on Ducatis seem to scare people, but the air cooled engines are no more difficult to work on than a typical Honda or Yamaha, just different. Most of the other maintenance is simple & you can do it with simple tools. Water cooled Monsters like the S4s are a different story. Nothing is as easy as a Buell though. | ||
| Rocketman |
An S4R is superior to any Buell in every way, period. Maintenance is always touted on the BadWeB as prohibitive, most often by those who are just spouting what they heard from someone who knew someone who knew someone who knew someone who had an old Desmo Ducati years ago. Rocket | ||
| 12r |
James Bond rode a BMW Steve McQueen rode a Triumph Blade rides a Firebolt Lara Croft rides a Ducati Monster. Go figure. | ||
| Davy_boy |
A duc is only superior if that's your taste ! I've driven Monsters and they are no way nearly as comfortable as a Buell and Buells handle just as good . So the Duc motor might be better but it aint the whole package . I bet I can take my Buell anywhere a Duc can go . In Real world driving the Buell is just as capable ! | ||
| Moondust |
I don't see how it can be that much better apart from the styling maybe - italians have style no doubt - japs are great at the technical - economical aspects & the brits & the americans are pretty good at engineering I'd say. But it really is all a matter of taste - the price between all machines mentioned is in the same ball park - over here in the Uk, the buell is slightly more exspensive than the duc ( comparing ...say the S4R & the XB12S ) yet most people here go Jap for all round - I found it difficult getting rid of my Duc M750 when I brought the XB9SX - I think that was based on the poor maintance record of the duc's & high service costs. Buells are probably not much better for any models pre 2004 so - its all down to how these new 2007 models fair out in the long term. I went for Buell over a new Monster based on the handing / steering - I just felt comfortable on it the min I sat on it. Yet the S2R I test rode - was fantastic but I still felt I would have to get used to it - the XB9SX still had an aura of fun about it & I felt right at home. Thats my personal opinion - which doesn't count for much - u really have to ride them untill u feel the force. | ||
| Rocketman |
A duc is only superior if that's your taste ! Nothing could be more true when buying from the heart. My head however tells me, comparing the likes of any air cooled Monster to an S4R is like the difference between a straight six 64 and a 1/2 Mustang to a 350 Shelby, then making out an XB12S is comparable to the 350 Shelby when in reality it's probably a 289 with an optional rev counter at best. An S4R is a Superbike engine fer chrisakes! Not some old V twin pushrod duffer tuned for hauling lard arses around. Rocket | ||
| Cycleaddict |
kinda like the emperors new clothes huh !?if the closed minded members never ride anything new(different), of course what you are currently riding seems to be the "baddest" thing on earth ! | ||
| Tommy_2stroke |
From the head... from the heart... Who on earth buys motorcycles from the head? If we bought from the head we'd all end up putting around on SV650s or something. Bleagh. Turn off that cranial computer and just let yourself fall in love. You might end up with a sexy Italian broad, who knows? | ||
| Xl1200r |
Turn off that cranial computer and just let yourself fall in love. You might end up with a sexy Italian broad, who knows? Mmmm... Got my eyes on one now, just gotta- oh wait, we're talking bikes here... Rcoket, I see your point but I still think it's coming down to your personal taste. Not everyone wants a superbike engine. I'd love to have one, but not in the only bike I have. To me, the ultimate Ducati is the Mike Hailwood edition of late (2002?). Bad-ass looking retro race-bike styled motorcycle with the more reliable and more wrench friendly air-cooled 2 valve. I truley beautiful machine. If you've never seen one, click the link: http://www.ducatiowners.com/mh900e/production_phot os/images/mh900e_gallery3.jpg | ||
| Davy_boy |
I can still ride my Buell anywhere you could ride an over priced Duc and still have a smile on my face at the end of the day ! And to me that's all that counts . Equally skilled rides can make both bikes rock in the twisties so what's your point? | ||
| Rocketman |
Thanks. I am very familiar with the Hailwood. Our very own infrequent Woz has one. Davy lad, funny you should mention over priced Ducati's. If a Ducati represents poor value for money, based on materials used, number of components used and build quality etc, I think you'd find Buell would have a hard time bettering most any Ducati. Take both brands of bike and strip down to every last nut and bolt and place on benches in front of you, then start counting the value of each component based on the quality and number of components used. There'd still be Ducati parts to count on the bench, and quality ones at that, long after the Buell bench had run out of parts to count. You want to see over priced Ducati's? Take a close look at any 916/999 genre superbike and think hard about your statement. Buell profit is founded on generating the myth that less is more, so there's no oil tank nor fuel tank, which saves on production costs, and Buell sell this little trick in the form of superior handling. If only it were true. Great maybe, but superior I've never heard from anyone other than a Buell owner. Rocket | ||
| Bads1 |
Rocket, I have a good friend and he is also a customer of mine....LOL I'm probably a better customer of his as he is my family's Dentist.....Big savings for me.lol Anyways he's got a 999S and also S4R. Its a really nice bike no doubt. The front forks are way better as far as feed back and the engine is well no joke its quick but for the money its apple's to oranges honestly. The Buell is awesome in its own right and is comparable just not that motor of the Duc. Also the fact that parts are to expensive for the Duc and if you have to replace body parts be prepared to dig deep. | ||
| M1combat |
"There'd still be Ducati parts to count on the bench, and quality ones at that, long after the Buell bench had run out of parts to count. " I KNEW you didn't understand Rocket. LOL! Oh and... "and Buell sell this little trick in the form of superior handling. If only it were true. Great maybe, but superior I've never heard from anyone other than a Buell owner. " You sure about that Rocket? I mean come on... sit there and think about that statement for a minute. Anyway... On the subject of whether the XB or Duck is the way to go... I think Davy_boy hit the nail directly on the head with this... "Equally skilled ride(r)s can make both bikes rock in the twisties so what's your point?" I haven't ridden a Duck but I certainly like them. I've never heard "legendary handling" come out of anyones mouth concerning a Monster but I've heard some VERY good things about XB's from people who don't own them (even top 50 cornering bike over the last 100 years...), even three well known testers taking one out to a tight canyon road with two Hosuk-yamakaw 1000's and after switching bikes a number of times between the three of them they couldn't keept the XB !NINE! behind the litre bikes... The XB gets better fuel mileage, wheelies better, sounds better (WAY better... try a Force pipe... I know, that's subjective  ), is so far seeming to be more reliable, is dead SIMPLE to work on, lasts a long time (40K on mine in 3.5 years), handles quite nicely, has a HUGE grin factor associated with it, has enough after market engine support that you can get to 125 N/A HP pretty reliably, has top shelf suspension (just not the back room stuff ), is a belt drive, has better brakes I'd bet... I'm sure I could think of some more but I'm off to play some Supreme Commander . | ||
| Bads1 |
M1, What I posted above is my opinion of my friends which is a 2005 model. Are the brakes better??? Yes they are. Does it have more after market?? Yes it does. Does it wheelie better?? I'll tell ya what... its easier. Yes you can get 125HP out of a Buell. Reliably?? I doubt it on a XB without it being a pain in the arse to own. The S4R is damn close to the 120 HP mark out of the box. You can't compare these two bikes they are apples to oranges. The Buell is a awesome bike. You won't go wrong in owning one. Other monsters you can easily compare it to but the S4R is a race bike in sheeps clothing. | ||
| Tunes |
I used to work at a Ducati bike shop. I've owned several Ducati's. I have a friend who owns several Ducati's... A Paso 750, an S4R, and I can't remember the other one... He loves 'em cause he gets to work on them... and work on them... and work on them. No really. He LIKES to work on them. His S4R is a bit faster than my XB12S but I get 'em in the corners. I've ridden his bikes. Nice bikes. Even after owning my own and riding my friends new Ducati, I prefer my Buell's, thank you. To each his own. | ||
| Rocketman |
I've never heard "legendary handling" come out of anyone's mouth concerning a Monster Heard of Carl Fogarty?  Not trying to knock the Buell, but the moral to this thread is, you can't compare an S4R to any Buell. It's a Superbike powered Monster, and anyone that tells you any Buell can hang with one is either lying, delusional, or can't ride well. I know. I own a 916, and my good friend owns, amongst other fine bikes, an S4R TOO. My 100 rear wheel HP S1W will not keep up with it on the open road ever, and in the twisties even with US spec gearing I have to work hard to try and keep up. Ok, an XB is not an S1W , but I have a lot more poke available than an XB, and it still isn't enough. So let's talk ordinary Monster v XB. Why would anyone want to if they're considering an S4R? THAT WAS WHAT THIS THREAD WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT, and in that case the S4R is leagues ahead of any Buell in every aspect. And yes that probably includes maintenance costs too if you're dumb enough to be taken by the bullshit surrounding Ducati maintenance. As for spare parts pricing, I'd wager the Buell is no less expensive for most common items replaced through maintenance or neglect of one kind or another. Like I said, not shitting on Buells here, but yes I am in favour of the Ducati over any XB. That said, I would not choose an S4R over my own S1W. Just my humble often outrageous opinion  Rocket | ||
| Davy_boy |
Hey Rocket no has ever called me Davy Lab that's pretty funny  Anyway I see your point but bottom line is I don't own a Duc I own a Buell which is serving it's purpose for know . Is strange that someone who own's a certain bike is going to defend his choice ? When I owned my gixxer there was no other bike for me. Will the Buell be my last bike , I doubt it but for now I only have eyes for her and as for an XB or a Monster whatever floats your boat !  Cheers | ||
| Crnrstr8nr |
The ducati dealer made a misstatement unless they have changed the S4R motor, it is still a 996, with all the same maintenance costs as any other 996 engine. Which is to say... a lot. @ the dealer intro we were invited to, the folks at Ducati of Modesto, CA said, as well as the 1098 brochure, that the "1098 and 1098S have a 50% reduction of maintenance costs due to less parts needed and the extension between valve adjustments on the new motor". As to cost that is subjective as my riding partner has both a 996 and a 999S (much to his chagrin after the intro of the 1098). His maintenance cost is nil since he does it all himself except for the price of the parts (which are astronomical i.e. $125 for air filters???). He has found, though, that upon inspection of valves, they really dont need much adjustment (on some intervals no adjustment required to get back to spec). So if you do it yourself you save lots, you take to dealership they charge you for a full valve adjustment no matter. As to which is better? I dont think I would kick either of em out of my garage |
