Help for a slow S4RS

23-02-2009, 04:05 PM

I bought my dream machine last August, a S4RS with short termi, only 1800 miles on the clock. After a day in Wales, was a bit underwhelmed with performance, similar to a Jap 600. Took it for a dyno run this weekend and it's producing 108bhp at the back wheel but dyno chart has fluctuations. Mechanic says it is typical of Ducati, some suffer from fuelling and a Power Commander will cure all. He is an agent for Power Commander. Can anyone advise on this, thanks greatly appreciated.

J.P · 23-02-2009, 04:21 PM

Is it one of the 996cc engines or the 998 cc Testastretta engine ?
The later having 10% more power anyway. The book says 117 bhp if I remember for the 996 cc engine which by the time it gets to the wheel loses some, hence your 108 bhp level.

I own the 998 cc engined S4R. I have had a power commander fitted in conjunction with a performance ECU and the open air filter. Dynoed at 140 bhp at the wheel. It's much smoother and made a big difference in unleashing the power.
I find that more than enough and it's only me holding it back.

J.P · 23-02-2009, 04:22 PM

And a welcome to the club obviously.

23-02-2009, 04:41 PM

Hi J.P, thanks for the quick response. It is the 998 testastretta engine. The baffle is still in the termi, shouldn't really make that much difference though. Is the performance ECU a Ducati part and is it easily fitted. Do you mind telling how much it was.
I used to have a Tuono with chip and Aprilia race can, the power was brutal and I suspect your S4R has a similar punch. This is what I expected from the Duke and what I want to achieve.

Nickj · 23-02-2009, 04:51 PM

Welcome Paul, hmmmm one of them watercooled things LOL

Well the power is similar, depends on the motor as JP points out..... but you do have nearly twice the torque. It's a totaly different beast to ride as you don't need to be hitting 10,000 before the engine wakes up which if you#ve hopped off jap multis does take a while to adapt to.
LOL Has fluctuations.. so do the jap bikes, infact everything does these days... holes in the power curves to handle the euro 2/3 regs. Its trading power for less noise and different emission characteristics, they tend to be set up on the rich side. A power commander ought to trim the fueling to what the motor actually needs to run efficiently, the engine uses less fuel to make the same power.
I tried a mates S4 when I had a blade, I thought it went really well and almost got one myself. Now I only have a teensy 750 but I get to work faster..

JerryXt · 23-02-2009, 04:52 PM

2 things - the shortie fixes directly to the bladder, so if you're chasing power, you need to ditch that (the bladder) straight away. JPs 140 is achieved without the bladder and with fatter pipes all the way from the heads.

The bladder will be increasing back-pressure in the headers, hence the power fluctuations. The db killer won't help either.

TBH, the shortie looks the dogs, but it was originally marketed as being for showbikes only. I can't think what putting two pipes of gas into one would be, but it can't be good.

Remember, this motor is basically a 998 - I know of one that produces 153 at the wheel with a little headwork and a powercommander. But that has 60mm 998RS pipework on it

Welcome to the club. And don't be bullied by the tractor drivers - it's important that we stick together!

J.P · 23-02-2009, 04:53 PM

ok, If you want a power commander to smooth the whole thing out and release the full potential, as I did, you have to have a Ducati Performance ECU chip, £700 as a guess.
You also need to ditch the Catalytic converter, change all the manifold to fit either new cans to open the airflow, or the standard ones. The CAT is very heavy and slows the airflow down.
All the manifold, cans & Chip could be anywhere around about £1300. The Ducati Performance package is actually good value, amazingly.

23-02-2009, 05:06 PM

Sounds like the shorty with it's 2 into 1 style will have to go, especially if the cat goes too. As a short term cheaper method would a power commander, link pipes and OE cans return the motor to 130 + bhp.

JerryXt · 23-02-2009, 05:09 PM

JP, I've heard the DP full system (one of which I happen to have for sale

) is closer to £2k now. You can thank the Dear Leader for shagging the exchange rate.

Oh, looks like you can say shagging here!

J.P · 23-02-2009, 05:12 PM

Well Jerry, you may well have a buyer. (see first post from Paul !)

23-02-2009, 05:34 PM

Hi Jerry, this is a question I shouldn't be askin but how much for the whole DP system an exactly what does it include, thanks.

23-02-2009, 07:35 PM

Am I happy I didn't buy the shotie off ebay the other day, sounds like I'd have less power than completely standard!!

23-02-2009, 10:03 PM

Good job they gave me the standard OE cans when I bought the bike. The shorty will only stay on if removal of the baffle helps.

26-02-2009, 09:36 PM

I'll give you £50.00 for your shorty Paul

26-02-2009, 09:48 PM

Hi Jim,

I'm looking at options with specialist that may convert the shorty into a real sexy little tail. It's all down to cost but will let you know if I do decide to part company with it.

23-02-2009, 04:05 PM	#1
Paul Towers Guest Posts: n/a	Help for a slow S4RS I bought my dream machine last August, a S4RS with short termi, only 1800 miles on the clock. After a day in Wales, was a bit underwhelmed with performance, similar to a Jap 600. Took it for a dyno run this weekend and it's producing 108bhp at the back wheel but dyno chart has fluctuations. Mechanic says it is typical of Ducati, some suffer from fuelling and a Power Commander will cure all. He is an agent for Power Commander. Can anyone advise on this, thanks greatly appreciated.

23-02-2009, 04:21 PM	#2
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	Is it one of the 996cc engines or the 998 cc Testastretta engine ? The later having 10% more power anyway. The book says 117 bhp if I remember for the 996 cc engine which by the time it gets to the wheel loses some, hence your 108 bhp level. I own the 998 cc engined S4R. I have had a power commander fitted in conjunction with a performance ECU and the open air filter. Dynoed at 140 bhp at the wheel. It's much smoother and made a big difference in unleashing the power. I find that more than enough and it's only me holding it back. __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

23-02-2009, 04:22 PM	#3
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	And a welcome to the club obviously. __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

23-02-2009, 04:51 PM	#5
Nickj Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Of Dean Bike: S2r Posts: 3,208	Welcome Paul, hmmmm one of them watercooled things LOL Well the power is similar, depends on the motor as JP points out..... but you do have nearly twice the torque. It's a totaly different beast to ride as you don't need to be hitting 10,000 before the engine wakes up which if you#ve hopped off jap multis does take a while to adapt to. LOL Has fluctuations.. so do the jap bikes, infact everything does these days... holes in the power curves to handle the euro 2/3 regs. Its trading power for less noise and different emission characteristics, they tend to be set up on the rich side. A power commander ought to trim the fueling to what the motor actually needs to run efficiently, the engine uses less fuel to make the same power. I tried a mates S4 when I had a blade, I thought it went really well and almost got one myself. Now I only have a teensy 750 but I get to work faster.. __________________ "The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body." Song of the sausage creature

23-02-2009, 04:52 PM	#6
JerryXt everyone gets home safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Bike: S4Rs Posts: 933	2 things - the shortie fixes directly to the bladder, so if you're chasing power, you need to ditch that (the bladder) straight away. JPs 140 is achieved without the bladder and with fatter pipes all the way from the heads. The bladder will be increasing back-pressure in the headers, hence the power fluctuations. The db killer won't help either. TBH, the shortie looks the dogs, but it was originally marketed as being for showbikes only. I can't think what putting two pipes of gas into one would be, but it can't be good. Remember, this motor is basically a 998 - I know of one that produces 153 at the wheel with a little headwork and a powercommander. But that has 60mm 998RS pipework on it Welcome to the club. And don't be bullied by the tractor drivers - it's important that we stick together! __________________ There is no depth to that mans talent... Sorry, there is no END to the depth of that mans talent. Last edited by JerryXt; 23-02-2009 at 04:55 PM..

23-02-2009, 04:41 PM	#4
Paul Towers Guest Posts: n/a	Hi J.P, thanks for the quick response. It is the 998 testastretta engine. The baffle is still in the termi, shouldn't really make that much difference though. Is the performance ECU a Ducati part and is it easily fitted. Do you mind telling how much it was. I used to have a Tuono with chip and Aprilia race can, the power was brutal and I suspect your S4R has a similar punch. This is what I expected from the Duke and what I want to achieve.

23-02-2009, 04:53 PM	#7
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	ok, If you want a power commander to smooth the whole thing out and release the full potential, as I did, you have to have a Ducati Performance ECU chip, £700 as a guess. You also need to ditch the Catalytic converter, change all the manifold to fit either new cans to open the airflow, or the standard ones. The CAT is very heavy and slows the airflow down. All the manifold, cans & Chip could be anywhere around about £1300. The Ducati Performance package is actually good value, amazingly. __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

23-02-2009, 05:06 PM	#8
Paul Towers Guest Posts: n/a	Sounds like the shorty with it's 2 into 1 style will have to go, especially if the cat goes too. As a short term cheaper method would a power commander, link pipes and OE cans return the motor to 130 + bhp.

23-02-2009, 05:09 PM	#9
JerryXt everyone gets home safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Bike: S4Rs Posts: 933	JP, I've heard the DP full system (one of which I happen to have for sale ) is closer to £2k now. You can thank the Dear Leader for shagging the exchange rate. Oh, looks like you can say shagging here! __________________ There is no depth to that mans talent... Sorry, there is no END to the depth of that mans talent.

23-02-2009, 05:12 PM	#10
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	Well Jerry, you may well have a buyer. (see first post from Paul !) __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

23-02-2009, 05:34 PM	#11
Paul Towers Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Jerry, this is a question I shouldn't be askin but how much for the whole DP system an exactly what does it include, thanks.

23-02-2009, 07:35 PM	#12
leslie_dash Guest Posts: n/a	Am I happy I didn't buy the shotie off ebay the other day, sounds like I'd have less power than completely standard!!

23-02-2009, 10:03 PM	#13
Paul Towers Guest Posts: n/a	Good job they gave me the standard OE cans when I bought the bike. The shorty will only stay on if removal of the baffle helps.

26-02-2009, 09:36 PM	#14
Jim66a Guest Posts: n/a	I'll give you £50.00 for your shorty Paul

26-02-2009, 09:48 PM	#15
Paul Towers Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Jim, I'm looking at options with specialist that may convert the shorty into a real sexy little tail. It's all down to cost but will let you know if I do decide to part company with it.