DUCATI MONSTER S2R 800 (2004 - 2008) Review

The surprise isn't what the S2R is - the 800 engine and S4R chassis/style are proven. The surprise is how well it all blends together and how affordable it is. Under £6k for a posh Ducati? It'll deliver more pride per pound than anything else

The real trick with the S2R has been the skill in blending so many goodies with fairly basic (but posh-looking ) cycle parts and engine. So although the USD forks, Ohlins rear shock and motor look the business, in reality the forks are by Marzocchi and are non-adjustable and the Sachs shock is only pre-load and rebound adjustable. The engine is the familiar and versatile, but low-tech, 800DS unit (in place of the S4R's liquid-cooled, four-valve 996 animal) but items like the aluminium swingarm and new brakes help make the S2R a useful 6kg lighter than the old Monster 800. Cracking real world performance.

Although the engine was unchanged from the 803cc motor of the M800, the new exhaust helped nudge peak power up one horse to 77bhp, with improved midrange. The result is a lighter and more punchy bike than the M800. The 803cc unit was already a good mix of power and versatility but in the S2R there's enough low-down grunt and smooth delivery to launch out of hairpins with ease, yet sufficient top-end wallop to push the chassis to the full in the fast stuff. 

If anything's going to go wrong it'll be the electronics and not anything mechanical. They're put together well, but OE Ducati parts are expensive.

The impressive spec would be meaningless if the S2R's price was in the same league as other Ducati exotica - but it's not. So you can have your cake and eat it - a fancy, high spec Ducati for sensible money.

The right names and detail touches are all there: single-sided aluminium swingarm (identical to the S4R's), twin Termignoni pipes, wide Marchesini alloys and big Brembo twin discs, right down to the neat alloy badging on the side panels and swish, tapered Magura bars. It's sex on wheels.