The original Ducati Monster, way back in 1992, was creating by dropping a well-proven 900SS air-cooled engine into an 851 World Superbike frame and attaching the bare minimum of bodywork.
Since then almost every prime mover out of the Borgo Panigale factory has found its way into a Monster chassis, from the SL400(no kidding, I've ridden one) to the fire-breathing 996cc testastretta superbike engine - its called the S4R and it's a blast.
But the essence of Monsterhood remains a big two-valve, air-cooled engine; the 916 family of desmoquattro engines was never intended to be on public display and they're encumbered with a rat's nest of cables and plumbing.
The cleaner lines and neater layout of the air-cooled engines are still where it's at for the pared-down, minimalist look that defines a Monster.
Two years ago Ducati brought out the S2R, with the 800SS dual-spark engine, quality suspension and both pipes on the right for a bad-ass custom look. Now, for 2006 it has upgraded the format with the biggest and strongest development of the air-cooled SS engine yet, the 992cc Multistrada 1000DS engine.
Meet the S2R 1000.
In this application the included angle between the valves has been reduced ( testastretta means narrow head) to reduce the volume of the combustion chamber for more efficient burning and allow the use of bigger valves - 45mm inlet and 40mm exhaust - set in beryllium bronze seats, a material that affords better heat dispersal and wear resistance than the usual cast iron.
The camshafts run on oil-pressurised plain bearings, reducing the number of components and making the cylinder heads more compact. The cylinders are even more oversquare at 94x71.5mm bore x stroke, with two spark plugs each to create a "double flame front".
The 94mm pistons have nitride steel rings and are attached to the crank with new con-rods forged from 30NiCrMo4 alloy steel while the crankshaft itself is both more compact and more rigid.
The clutch basket and its metal plates are now made from a special aluminium alloy rather than steel; Ducati claims a longer service life as well as quieter running, thanks to the lower resonance of aluminium compared to steel, which significantly reduces the trademark Ducati "dry clutch rattle".
Induction is by Marelli, feeding through two 45mm throttle bodies - the inlet tracts are vertical and so straight that if you remove the air box and crank open the throttle you can see the inlet valves.
All of which adds up to a claimed 70kW at 7750rpm with a stomping 99Nm available at 5000 - on a dry weight of 178kg that should translate to hair-raising wheelies and serious acceleration away from the lights - or, quite likely, both at the same time.
Top-drawer running gear
Ducatis are not about straight-lining, however, and the S2R 1000 benefits from increased ground clearance, obtained by moving the footpegs closer to the centre line of the bike rather than raising them. This also allows the rider to tuck in tighter, which is more comfortable as well as more efficient in terms of rider input.
The steel swing-arm of conventional Monster frames has been replaced by a braced, single-sided unit welded up from oval-section aluminium tubing for maximum rigidity.
The design also allows a more compact exhaust system, including the S2R's distinctive stacked tailpipes - never insult a Ducati by calling them silencers.
The front wheel is guided by 43mm Showa upside-downies, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping, while the rear end is taken care of by a fully adjustable Sachs monoshock, including an adjustable-length linkage to vary the ride height independent of the preload.
Braking is entrusted to a pair of 320mm discs and four-piston Brembo callipers, with a two-piston calliper clamping a 245mm platter on the rear wheel - more than enough for a 178kg motorcycle.
The wheels are beautiful cast Marchesini items, the rear wide enough (5.5") to take a 180/55 gumball.
New colours
In addition to the standard red - now with a white stripe and rather impractical white rims, the S2R comes in metallic silver grey with black rims and stripe (very tasty) a well as your Basic Black with a white stripe.
Ashley Baud of SA Ducati importer RossoMoto reckons they'll be here by the end of November or early December 2006 at about R90 000 each.
I hope he puts one aside for us mediapeople to play with; I can hardly wait.