OCTOBER 29, 2003 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS 3332 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS OCTOBER 29, 2003

ROAD TESTJ APRILIA TUONO RACING 97% J DUCATI MONSTER S4R 95% J MV AGUSTA BRUTALE 96%

APRILIA’S Tuono Racing hasthe same ingredients fornaked fun as its Ducati andMV Agusta rivals, but mixesthem in much greater andmore effective quantities.

The Tuono beats the Monster S4R andBrutale by virtue of its user-friendliness,impeccable handling and a super-strong1000cc V-twin motor.

But each of these exotic and highperformance Italians can make a case fortopping the podium.

First, there’s the beautiful Brutale. Throwyour leg over the thinly padded saddle andwithin minutes you’re hooked, seduced bythe induction noise at full throttle, the

howling note from the exhaust sendingshivers down your spine. The handlingastounds and you’ll never get tired of theadmiring glances shot your way as you poseyour way through yet another busy street.When you’re in the mood, it’s one of themaddest, most fun motorcycles around.

But after an entire day sat on the rock hardsaddle, your body contorted around thedelicately curvaceous bodywork, you start toache. And the exhaust note that sounded soglorious in the morning when you left yourhouse has now given you a headache.

The 996-engined Ducati Monster S4R is aserious piece of kit, too. If you’ve riddenother Monsters before, they won’t haveprepared you for this beastie. The engine is

super-smooth and so powerful that theheadlight it often turned into an aerialsearch light at night: In the first two gearsthe front wheel rears up whenever you spinthe throttle. The fully adjustable suspensionallows you to set the Monster up toperfection either on the road or for the trackand you won’t be dragging half of theexhaust with you around corners as youwould on a standard Monster, thanks to themore than generous ground clearanceoffered by the upswept exhausts.

The Monster’s styling looks a little datedthese days, despite Ducati’s best efforts tofreshen it up with go-faster stripes runningdown the spine of the tank, a 916-stylesingle-sided swingarm and twin piggy back

exhausts. It’s got the lowest top speed of thebunch, too, recording a top whack of just144mph compared to the 154mph of theTuono.

But despite their differences these bikeshave one very tangible thing in common:They are fantastic fun to ride. Theirperformance really is blistering and muchmore than most of us will ever need on theroad.

And after a day hooning around at CadwellPark, they proved themselves to be every bitas fast around the 2.17-mile ribbon of thin,twisty Tarmac as all but the sharpest ofsuperbikes.

When the manufacturers stripped theirsuperbikes of fairings and clip-ons to create

these bikes, they took none of their sharphandling and blistering performance away.

And, all of a sudden, you can enjoy thesesuperbikes away from the track and fast A-roads, too. The straight bars andcomfortable riding positions allow you to rideslowly without aches and pains, and townriding is a doddle thanks to the bettersteering locks afforded by the absence offairings.

The Tuono Racing best sums up whatthese bikes are all about: Big, brash andconfident – a cigar-smoking tycoon of abike. It’s physically the biggest of the bunchand can seem quite intimidating at first. Butthat quickly gives way to a feeling ofconfidence thanks to the great view from the

high riding position.It’s roomy too and the most comfortable

proposition of the bikes here. Even after afull day in the saddle you get no aches andpains and the small bikini fairing issurprisingly effective at keeping thewindblast away from your head at sustainedmotorway speeds.

But the motor is the most remarkablething about the Tuono. The 997cc 60° V-twin motor is exactly the same as the oneyou’ll find in the RSV-R superbike. It evenmakes an identical 112bhp. It dominates thebike with the big dollops of torque it dishesout, so much so that it takes your breathaway the first time you crack the throttle –the punch almost blurs your vision. It is a pity

that the exhaust note is a little disappointing,though, and the bike could definitely do withan aftermarket can to add extra auralsatisfaction. At almost any point in the revrange there is always instant, urgent, arm-wrenching power. There’s never anyhesitation when you tickle the very light-action throttle. The bike sears forward even ifyou’re in lazy mode in top gear with just2000rpm showing on the tacho.

Higher up the rev range the Tuono Racingflies. The motor spins up quickly in a mannernot usually associated with V-twins. And it’ssmooth, too, with just a small hesitation ataround 6000rpm interrupting its relentlesscharge to the redline. At Cadwell, despite itslack of a full fairing, the Tuono Racing was

able to hang on to race-prepared 600s,GSX-R750s and even standard R1s downthe fast, uphill Park straight. That’s seriouslyimpressive.

Since the tall, upright riding position pullsyour weight away from the front wheel, theAprilia is very keen to perform impromptuwheelies, ranging from small shimmies inthird, to nice hovering ones in second anddownright trouser-browners in first gear.

Controlling the big V-twin entering slow,tight turns like Cadwell’s first gear OldHairpin is a piece of cake as, like all RSVs,the Tuono Racing is fitted with a hydraulicslipper clutch. Bang down the gearbox tofirst after completing the third gear HallBends section and instead of the back wheel

Tuono outstripsnaked rivalsBY MICHAEL NEEVES PICTURES HOWARD BOYLAN

Aprilia’s Tuono Racing takes the honours in a three-way tussle with the Monster S4R and MVBrutale to find the king of the high-spec stripped-down superbikes. But it was a close one...

APRILIA RSV-R MILLEPRICE: £9999 (2003 MODEL)IT’S plain to see that the Tuono Racing is a strippeddown version of the RSV-R. There’s no specially designedbodywork like on the Ducati and MV; it’s all the same asthe superbike. Even the bikini fairing is a trimmed-awayMille unit. But the Tuono also keeps the RSV-R’s heartand soul, retaining its 60° V-twin 997cc engine, retunedslightly for more midrange stomp. It also retains theMille’s exotic cycle parts, wearing fully adjustable Ohlinssuspension, Brembo radially-mounted front brakes andlightweight OZ wheels.

Performance andstyle in the blood

MV AGUSTABRUTALE S PRICE: £9345 TOP SPEED: 151.35mphPOWER: 108.4bhp

PROS:l Stunning looksl Electrifying performancel Spine-tingling exhaust note

CONS:l Buzzy engine gets tiresomel Cramped riding positionl Rock hard seat

DUCATIMONSTER S4R PRICE: £8250TOP SPEED: 143.94mphPOWER: 106.1bhp

PROS:l Rider-friendly powerl Easy to set up perfectlyl Sweet handling

CONS:l Dated looksl Down on speedl A little cramped

APRILIA TUONORACING PRICE: £11,399 TOP SPEED: 153.91mphPOWER: 112.3bhp

PROS:l Blistering performancel Dripping with exotic partsl Surprisingly comfortable

CONS:l Expensivel Muted exhaust notel Looks divide opinion

THE Tuono’s all-roundcomfort, manners,

handling and faultlesspower delivery give

it the edge

CONTINUES OVER

MV AGUSTA F4S PRICE: £12,700THE Brutale shares much with the MV Agusta F4Ssuperbike. But the beautiful stubby bodywork; theteardrop front headlight and the twin piggybackexhausts have been specially designed for the Brutale.

The Brutale uses the same short stroke 749cc four-cylinder engine as the F4 but revised porting to thecylinder head and milder cams has moved some of thepower down to the midrange. Gearbox ratios have alsobeen revised to give the Brutale more real worldperformance compared to the track-focused F4S.

DUCATI 996PRICE: £11,400 (WHEN NEW, 1998)THE S4R is the furthest of our test bikes from itssuperbike cousin – the now superceded Ducati 996.Although the steel trellis frame looks similar to that usedon the superbike, it’s specific to the Monster (thoughderived from the 888). The fuel tank, side panels, tailunit and fly screen are all uniquely Monster.

But the 90° V-twin engine is straight from the 996 andeven retains the superbike’s close ratio gearbox. Poweris down slightly due to the complicated route the twinpiggyback pipes have to take via the catalytic converter.

TUONO even sharesRSV’s top fairing

ENGINE on the S4R isidentical to the 996 motor

F4S motor is tuned formidrange in the Brutale

34 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS OCTOBER 29, 2003

ROAD TEST

AT almost half the price of theTuono Racing the Z1000 is agreat bike if you’re looking forpower and handling on a budget

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

FAST curves are the Tuono’s breadand butter, but its height makes ithard to hustle through chicanes

hopping and skipping under engine braking (asyou might expect from a big twin) you can feelthe clutch slipping, allowing the rear wheel torotate, keeping the bike beautifully in line andunder control.

The Brutale is physically smaller, constructedmore like a Swiss watch than the Grandfatherclock-like Aprilia. Legs are more crampedthanks to higher pegs. Delicately sculptured‘wings’ in the fuel tank wedge your knees intoposition. It feels altogether more sporty andpurposeful than the S4R or Tuono Racing.

The bright red MV proved to be an object ofdesire wherever we took it. It’s basically astandard F4 from the waist down. But theBrutale’s minimal bodywork has been carefullyand lovingly designed specifically for thismodel. Its beautiful lines were penned byMassimo Tamburini, the same designerresponsible for creating the F4 and of coursethe iconic Ducati 916.

The attention to detail is stunning, expressedin features like the quick-release front wheelclamp and the dinky choke lever mounted onthe right handlebar.

The way the Brutale makes power from itsshort stroke, 750cc four-cylinder enginecouldn’t be more different than the relativelylazy V-twin 1000s of the Aprilia and Ducati.Making an impressive 108bhp at a heady13,000rpm, just before the rev-limiter bangsin, the power delivery is thrilling. The motor justbegs to be screamed.

The MV feels the fastest bike here thanks tothat power delivery and shrill note from thetwin exhausts. And it almost is. It hits 151mphflat-out – that’s just 3mph slower than theAprilia despite the fact that it has no fairing toduck behind.

Acceleration is blistering, too, thanks to itbeing the lightest bike of the bunch, and withno plastics to weigh the front end down youcan just imagine how much it likes to wheelie…

But despite its revvy nature, there’s stillenough midrange to play with at more

everyday speeds – but obviously not as muchas the 1000cc twins of the Ducati and theAprilia. Although the Brutale’s motor isbasically the same as the fully-faired F4’s, itscylinder head has been reworked to give moremidrange power. The gearbox ratios have alsobeen revised to suit real-world street riding.

While the Brutale’s full-on performance isseductively addictive in relatively short spurts –say, half a day – it can get tiresome after a longtime in the saddle. If you’re not in the mood toplay, it will have you wishing for the more laidback chill-out vibes of the Aprilia or Ducati. It’sbecause of its absolute single mindedness thatthe MV Brutale ultimately misses out on topspot in this shootout.

Although powered by the 996cc engine, theS4R isn’t exactly a Ducati 996 with no clotheson. While the big 90° V-twin lump istransplanted straight out of the superbike, theMonster’s frame and bodywork are its own,although the former is derived from thesuperbike.

The riding position is somewhere between itstwo rivals, not as spacious as the Aprilia andnot as cramped as the Brutale. It’s comfyenough to ride all day around town or out onthe open road. However, at sustained highspeed there is a fair amount of wind buffeting,so the S4R’s natural comfortable cruisingspeed would be around 90mph.

The S4R’s engine is smooth with nopronounced lumps or bumps in the powercurve. Compared to the Brutale’s motor, whichscreams like a stuck pig, the Ducati’s enginehas all the manners of a mama-loving Armani-clad Italian gent.

Like the Aprilia, the engine note is somewhatmuffled thanks to the road-legal pipes and thecontorted route they take via the catalyticconvertor to exit on one side of the bike. Theystrangle the power slightly, too, and with atested output of 106bhp the Ducati is the leastpowerful here.

There is usable power from as little as

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OCTOBER 29, 2003 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS 35

AT over £11,000 you’regoing to need pretty deeppockets to be the proudowner of the winner of ourtest, the Aprilia TuonoRacing. And the other twodon’t come cheap either.

At a more affordable£6995 Kawasaki’s new-for-2003 Z1000 is worthconsidering if you’re after anaked bike with decentperformance (see Insider,page 23 for latest deals).

It won our group testagainst the standard ApriliaTuono and the TriumphSpeed Triple. So how doesit stack up against our threeglamorous Italians?

Aside from our test bike’s

orange paint, all of ourroad testers loved theZ1000. It is user-friendlywith no nasty quirks. Thefour-cylinder 953cc engineis smooth and the throttleaction and gearbox arelight and precise.

The riding position isroomy and comfy and youwon’t get off after a day’sriding with aches and pains.The smart bikini fairing isnot the most effective atkeeping off the windblastbut you can still cruise athealthy motorway speeds.

But don’t get theimpression that the Zed isall sweetness and light.Twist that throttle in anger

and it reveals seriousperformance. In a sprintwith the Aprilia, MV Agustaand Ducati, the Z1000showed them all a cleanpair of heels – from initialacceleration, through thequarter-mile mark and allthe way to its impressive154mph top end.

But while the Kawasakihas more stomp than therelatively small and revvyBrutale, you’re left tappingon the gear lever for muchof the time trying to staywith the effortlesslytorquey V-twins of theAprilia and Ducati comingout of corners.

Out on the track the

Z1000 is too soft straightout of the crate, causingground clearance problems,too much fork dive on thebrakes and a generalvagueness through theturns. This can all be fixedby increasing the pre-loadat both ends and firming upthe rebound damping,although the pipes andpegs still go down underhard cornering. Butultimately, without thebenefit of the quality, fullyadjustable suspension ofthe Italian bikes, the Z1000is never going to display thesame poise.

There has been a questionmark over the performance

of the brakes on previousZ1000s we’ve ridden thisyear, despite them beingbased on top-notch ZX-9Ritems. Under hard use,we’ve found them to fadequite dramatically – aproblem easily fixed by

fitting braided hoses andfresh fluid. However, thebike in this test offeredconsistently goodperformance, even brakinghard from fifth gear at theend of Cadwell’s ParkStraight.

The Z1000 isn’t quite inthe poster-on-bedroom-wall league as the Italianexotica but its faster,handles almost as well andit’s easy to live with.l First test of the newZ750 – page 38.

Pockets not deep enough?Try the Z1000...

FASTER, handles almost as well, and the Kawasaki won’t break the bank

THE Monster might be the slowestof the bunch, but it can be set up togive the MV and Aprilia a hard timeon the track

Each of these exotic andhigh performance Italianscould make a case for the

topping the podium

‘’

CONTINUES OVER

SMOOTH power deliveryhelps the S4R on the track

2000rpm, and the delivery is far smootherthan the Aprilia’s, with no steps or jumps in itsdelivery. The close ratio gearbox gives afeeling of seamless forward motion,preventing revs from dropping between gears.That makes it a pleasure to ride slowly aroundtown as well as quickly around the track.

Ultimately, though, the engine lacks thekiller punch of the Aprilia or the intoxicatingscream of the Brutale. In comparison the S4Rfeels smooth, warm and cuddly. But at thesame time it is devastatingly fast in real worldconditions.

Out of the crate the Brutale has the mostrace-focused handling of the bunch. AtCadwell, wearing its Dunlop D207RR tyres,(the same tyres used on the Yamaha R6 Cupbikes) the chassis is crisp, the steering preciseand mid-corner stability is excellent.

The Showa suspension offers tons offeedback at each end. Being the lightest andfastest-steering bike it’s easy to flick about,which is especially useful through the flip-flopHall Bends complex. There’s ground clearancein abundance, too, but the only problem sometall riders may find is that the riding position isvery cramped, making it hard to move aroundthe bike when in full attack mode.

Hauling the Brutale to a stop is never aproblem thanks to its powerful six-pistonNissin set-up combined with a lightweightchassis. The brakes are not grabby at townspeeds and they are powerful enough to slowthe MV down with ease at the end ofCadwell’s Park Straight.

The Tuono’s handling feels nowhere near asprecise as the lithe Brutale around Cadwell.Its sheer height makes it difficult to hustlethrough chicanes and hairpins – and this isaccentuated by the standard soft suspensionsettings. It is far happier when tackling fastercurves where you need a touch of finesserather than the firm hand required to getthrough the tighter stuff quickly.

However, the Aprilia’s quality Ohlins 43mm

BRUTALE is supremelyflickable but the cramped

riding position is ahindrance

36 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS OCTOBER 29, 2003

ROAD TEST

PERFORMANCE AND SPECS

OVERALL LENGTH: 2108mm

WHEELBASE: 1440mm

RAKE: 24°

HEI

GH

T: 1

245

mm

WID

TH: 8

00

mm

OV

ER S

EAT:

18

00

mm

FUEL: 38mpg, 15 litres, 125 miles

SPECIFICATION:Engine: Liquid-cooled, 996cc(96mm x 68.8mm), 8v dohcDesmodromic four-stroke 90°V-twin. Fuel injection. Six gears. CChhaassssiiss:: Tubular steel trellisFFrroonntt ssuussppeennssiioonn:: 43mmShowa upside-down forks,adjustable for pre-load, reboundand compression dampingRReeaarr ssuussppeennssiioonn:: Single Showashock adjustable for pre-load,compression and rebounddamping TTyyrreess::120/70 x 17 front,180/55 x 17 rearBBrraakkeess:: 2 x 320mm front discswith 4-piston calipers, 245mmrear disc with 2-piston caliper

PROS l Super-smooth V-twin motor l Very user-friendly l Excellent brakes l Suspension very tweakable

CONS l Catalytic converter restricts output l Needs a slipper clutch like the Aprilia l Fly screen wobbles and distracts 95%

DUCATIMONSTERS4R £8250 otrAvailable: Now. Colours: Blue, red,blackNew for 2003: NewmodelInsurance group: 14(of 17)Info: Ducati UK0845-122-2996 orducatiuk.com

TRAIL: 104mm

WEIGHT: 193kg (425lb)

770mm

875mm 440mm

OVERALL LENGTH: 2070mm

WHEELBASE: 1415mm

RAKE: 25°

HEI

GH

T: 1

20

0m

m

WID

TH: 8

00

mm

OV

ER S

EAT:

181

0m

m

FUEL: 34mpg, 18 litres, 135 miles

SPECIFICATION:Engine: Liquid cooled, 997cc(97 x 67.5mm) 8v dohc four-stroke 60° V-twin. Fuel injection.Six gears.Chassis: Aluminium twin-sparFront suspension: 43mmOhlins upside-down forks,adjustable for pre-load, reboundand compression dampingRear suspension: Single Ohlinsshock, adjustable for pre-load,compression and rebounddamping and ride heightTyres:120/70 x 17 front, 180/55 x 17 rearBrakes: 2 x 320mm front discswith 4-piston calipers, 220mmrear disc with 2-piston caliper

PROS l Sublime suspension l Aggressive looks make heads turn l Race equipment as standard l Slipper clutch

CONS l Tall seat will put off some l Clocks hard to see when sat up l Peakier power delivery l High price 97%

APRILIATUONORACING£11,399 otrAvailable: Now. Colours: BlackNew for 2003: NewmodelInsurance group: 15(of 17)Info: Aprilia UK0161-475-1800Note: Price includes racekit – nose cowling, endcan, ECU chip, bellypan,pre-drilled safety bolts

TRAIL: 99mm

WEIGHT: 191kg (420lb) est

720mm

890mm420mm

SPECIFICATION:Engine: Liquid-cooled, 749cc(73.8 x 43.8mm) 16v dohcfour-stroke in-line four. Fuelinjection. Six gears.Chassis: Tubular steel trellis.Front suspension: Marzocchi49mm upside-down forksadjustable for pre-load,rebound and compressiondamping.Rear suspension: Singleshock, adjustable for pre-load,rebound and compressiondamping.Tyres: 120/65 x 17 front,190/50 x 17 rearBrakes: 2 x 310mm front discswith 6-piston calipers, 210mmrear disc with 4-piston caliper.

PROS l Gorgeous styling l Spine-tingling exhaust note l Easy to ride fast or slow l Pin-point handling

CONS l Restrictive steering lock l Hard seat can be uncomfortable on long journeys l Limited availability 96%

MV AGUSTABRUTALE £9345 otrAvailable: NowColour: RedNew for 2003: NewmodelInsurance group: 17(of 17)Info: Three CrossMotorcycles: 01202-823344

STANDING QUARTER-MILE

THE light weight of the Brutale sees it get the drop on theTuono off the line despite having less power. The Aprilia sooncatches up, recording an identical time but a higher terminalspeed.

DUCATI APRILIA MV AGUSTASPEED TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE(MPH) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M)

10 0.63 1.27 0.56 1.16 0.61 1.2320 1.15 4.75 1.04 4.44 1.12 4.6330 1.64 10.19 1.68 11.70 1.59 9.9140 2.15 18.21 2.24 20.48 2.06 17.2450 2.95 34.74 3.00 36.53 2.62 28.4160 3.50 48.43 3.71 53.08 3.42 48.2370 4.14 66.91 4.33 71.29 4.03 66.2080 5.09 98.63 5.00 93.68 5.03 99.5290 6.28 143.68 6.05 133.15 5.92 133.30100 7.51 196.28 6.98 172.61 7.23 189.21110 9.32 281.56 8.38 238.82 8.56 251.60120 11.42 389.63 9.83 313.54 10.71 362.51130 15.37 609.79 12.16 443.52 13.69 529.88140 20.22 902.91 16.33 697.79 19.12 856.50150 - - 24.27 1215.59 28.57 1474.96

120.39mph 11.7sec

126.68mph 11.45sec

DUCATI S4R

APRILIA TUONO RACING

122.51mph 11.45secMV AGUSTA BRUTALE

Time to cover 1/4 mile Terminal speed

TOP SPEED

25.05sec 143.94mph

32.85sec 153.91mph

DUCATI S4R

APRILIA TUONO RACING

33.05sec 151.35mphMV AGUSTA BRUTALE

DESPITE having no fairing to hide behind, the Brutale posts animpressive top speed. The Aprilia has the best wind protection.The Ducati gives the rider little protection from windblast.

Time taken to reach top speed Top speed

BRAKING FROM 70-0MPH

THE Brutale has the same six-pot Nissins as the F4S superbike.This, coupled to its light weight, stops it faster and sooner thanits rivals. The others still give top performance, with little fade.

3.60sec 48.09m

3.77sec 49.23m

DUCATI S4R

APRILIA TUONO RACING

3.52sec 48.01mMV AGUSTA BRUTALE

Distance coveredTime taken

ACCELERATIONTHE power comes in hard and fast on the Aprilia and it’s difficultto keep the front down off the line. The other two beat it up to70mph. After that it surges ahead. The screaming MV beats theS4R from the off.

If you’re looking at short Sundaymorning blasts with the odd pose aroundtown, the Brutale beats the other bikeshands down. Its speed, looks andexcitement are addictive. But, like anyrush, at some point you want to comedown and chill out a little.

So the Aprilia nabs top spot by awhisker. It’s the complete package. It is asmad and bad as you want it to be but italso has a softer side, which makes ittotally user-friendly, and ensuresheadaches are kept to a minimum.

GORDON BROWN’S new front wheel taxencouraged a new form of commuting

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

OVERALL LENGTH: 2065mm

WHEELBASE: 1414mm

RAKE: 24.5°

HEI

GH

T: 1

155

mm

WID

TH: 7

65

mm

FUEL: 32mpg, 19 litres, 135 miles

TRAIL: 98mm

WEIGHT: 185kg (408lb)OV

ER S

EAT:

178

0m

m

710mm

440mm 860mmDUCATI APRILIA MV AGUSTASPEED TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE(MPH) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M)

40 0 0 0 0 0 050 1.65 33.21 1.50 30.27 1.85 37.4060 3.40 76.28 3.20 72.05 3.75 84.2570 5.10 125.65 4.90 121.44 5.65 139.4280 6.80 182.64 6.80 185.0 7.35 196.3790 8.60 251.03 8.65 255.51 9.05 261.09100 10.70 340.37 10.55 336.37 11.10 348.23110 13.10 452.99 12.45 423.98 13.55 463.35120 16.00 602.28 14.45 526.97 16.00 589.19

TOP GEAR ROLL-ONTHE massive stomp developed from the Aprilia’s 997cc enginesees it leap ahead of the other bikes as soon as the throttle istwisted and it holds its advantage all the way to 120mph. Thelightweight Brutale does a brilliant job of staying with the Ducati.

bhp

ftlb

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

40

30

50

60

RPM 4000 6000 8000 10,000 12,000 14,000

RPM 4000 6000 8000 10,000 12,000 14,000

70

80

POWER AND TORQUE CURVES

PEAK POWER- APRILIA 112.3bhp @ 9100rpm- DUCATI 106.1bhp @ 8900rpm- MV 108.4bhp @ 12,000rpm

PEAK TORQUE- APRILIA 70.35 ftlb @ 7200rpm- DUCATI 65.5 ftlb @ 7200rpm- MV 51.8 ftlb @ 10,500rpm

THIS graph clearly demonstrates the difference in powerdelivery between a four-cylinder and V-twin motor. Both thetwin cylinder Ducati and Aprilia make their power 4000rpmlower down the rev range compared to the four-cylinder MV.The twins peak around 9000rpm while the Brutale peaks at ascreaming 13,000rpm – with exceptionally smooth powerdelivery, too. The MV’s torque is way down on the twins,though. From 6000rpm the Aprilia’s power and torque curvegraphically demonstrates exactly what you feel on the bike -extreme and explosive acceleration.

NEXT WEEKMV AGUSTA F4SPR vs BENELLITORNADO vsDUCATI 999R

upside-down forks and rear shock allowyou to set the bike up for all types ofconditions – whether it’s on the road ofthe track.

For the road, we left the Tuono more orless standard. But once out on the trackit becomes obvious that what is suitablysoft and plush for everyday A-roadsoffers insufficient feedback on the racetrack. So we firmed up the Aprilia’sOhlins kit at the front and rear. The onlything we left standard was ride height.

Like the Aprilia, we know that the S4Ris capable of being a beautiful handlingmachine, thanks to its fully adjustablesuspension.

Raising the rear ride height, increasingthe pre-load and upping the reboundand compression damping at both endsallows the Monster to be steered withprecision and leaned over on its ear withconfidence. However, in standard trim

the rear of the bike sits low and it takes alot of steering input to get the bike toturn quickly. Admittedly this is more of aproblem on the track than the roadwhere the slightly lazier steering actuallyhelps the Monster to be the the moststable bike on this test. But even on theroad the S4R would benefit from somesuspension tweaks to sharpen it up.

For fast, sweeping A-roads thestandard settings are fine. But for someof the bumpy B-roads that we used onthis test the front end was softened upby a few more clicks of rebound andcompression damping.

If there were no such thing as theBrutale and Tuono Racing, the S4Rwould be one very special machineindeed, combining looks, comfort anduser-friendliness with superb handlingand a stonking engine. It comes close tothe top spot but... no cigar.