130bhp down to 113bhp. It isn't just the engine, though. The suspension is significantly downgraded, even from the standard Mille. No compression damping adjustment front or rear, and it was set up pretty plush. The two that I rode could get into a strange oscillation mid-corner if the surface wasn't totally smooth. I didn't expend a lot of effort trying to dial it out, as I had already made up my mind. Besides, the looks of that bike never really did it for me, and I didn't like its size. The Mille feels so much smaller and more compact, which I like, despite my 220lb frame.
I do upwards of 15 track days a year, but I also tend to ride at least 24,000 miles. The 15 track days require track-ready suspension, and are certainly aided by the full power engine. The 24K miles necessitate some compromise for comfort. Noone makes (nor should they, as I imagine my riding habits are fairly rare, at least on just one bike) a bike that is really dialled in for both. I figured I would just build one myself, and still come up with a cheaper bike than the BMW K1200RS I just sold (I replaced both a Speed Triple street and track bike and a BMW sport tourer with a single Mille that will be modded to cover both tasks). The real trick is going to be the adjustability that will allow easy transition from track bike to street and back. I don't mind turning a few wrenches, but I don't want to have to carry different parts.
The ST4s is almost perfect, but who wants to pay for those valve adjusts ever 6K miles when you are going to put 24K on the bike every year. That is $2400 in service per year versus $1200-$1500 for the Mille, which will be easier to service myself once the warranty expires.
I figure that I'll buy some light wheels for the track for something like $2500 including rotors (I hope), and have handlebars and some kind of footpeg solution machined for about $700 combined. Throw in about $600 for quality soft saddlebags, tankbag and tailpack, plus the cost of the bike at $13K, and for $16.8K total (almost exactly the new cost of a BMW K1200RS), I get a bike that PERFECTLY suits my needs. Sure, I could have started with a Mille R to prevent the almost inevitable (knowing me, anyway) upgrade to Ohlins suspenders at a later date, but I am not a big believer in using credit to buy toys, and the Mille is what I could afford.