Riding the 2004 Ducati 749S

The S model's mill boasts a few key changes from the standard 749 to gain more ponies. The aforementioned crankshaft lightening, a bump in compression ratio (11.7:1 to 12.3:1), one-millimeter larger intake valves (38mm vs. 37mm), and lighter opening rocker arms work with more aggressive cam profiles to yield greater valve lift on both intake and exhaust. Claimed horsepower increases from the standard 749's 103 hp to the S-model's 110 hp, while torque sees only a slight increase.