I can get to (or very close to) the edges on carby SS, carby Monster, MH900, and 916. Haven't ridden an S4 that hard yet. Zina, too, gets close to the edge with her m900ie. We run Michelins, which have Bib and an arrow along the edges, and both of us wear these off. I did jack up the ride height of my monster.

You point out the true defeciency of the Monster and SS family: ground clearance. I normally ride my monster with my butt mostly in the seat until my feet drag. And then I start hanging off if I want to continue my pace at that level of "hot". I consider touching parts down unacceptable and will alter my riding style to accomodate.

As far as ground clearance issues go, my 1997 M900 is all stock save for the 900SS sidestand. Stock header, stock footrests, stock shock, stock forks. I do have Scorpion slip ons, but do not consider the cans to be a ground clearance item.