Ducati Streetfighter Review - Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Pictorial

A visit to Eastern Creek Raceway in the afternoon showed that there was certainly no shortage of herbs at the top end with speeds on the main straight nudging 240km/h. The Streetfighter still pulls hard above 200km/h and runs the same 15/38 gearing as the Superbike.

If your riding doesn’t generally take in fast racetracks a switch to a larger rear sprocket, thereby shortening the overall gearing, would certainly make the Streetfighter a lot sprightlier around town or in the hills.

But then again if you wanted maximum bottom end urge and an engine more attuned to the needs of street riding you might be better off with a two-valve 1100 Monster anyway...

However, the Streetfighter mill is to my mind the sweetest four-valve per cylinder Ducati twin yet produced. It is much smoother at every point in the rev range than the Superbike engine it shares many of its part numbers with. For a bike that is predominantly going to be used on the street, the Streetfighter engine is clearly a much better option than the distinctly more gruff 1098 or 1198 Superbikes.

The suspension is also much more suited to street shenanigans. Mid corner bumps that would threaten to bounce you off into the bushes on an 1198 are dealt with nicely by the Streetfighter. A 35mm longer swingarm and more raked out front end no doubt also help to endow the Streetfighter with the manners that its Superbike brethren missed out on. In contrast to its name the bike does not fight the rider at all and is much less brutal in every respect than its sharply dressed big brother.

Of course the steering isn’t quite as quick as the Superbike, a side effect of the more upright riding position that necessitates changes to the chassis geometry to ensure stability. A steering damper is fitted as comforting back up but the Streetfighter hardly requires it. If carrying a pillion or pumping ten-tenths at the racetrack however that might be a different story and the damper may then prove its worth.

Ride height is adjustable independent of preload and whether fitted with Showa or Ohlins components, there is a wide scope of both rebound and compression damping adjustments. Due to the upright riding position the front end never feels quite as secure as a sportsbike, particularly on corner entry. I would be adding a little more ride height at the rear while firming up the front to try and tune that trait out a little before I would be game to explore the limits of front tyre adhesion.

The Brembo monoblock calipers up front work brilliantly once warmed, while the rear is completely devoid of any feel whatsoever, just like pretty much every other Ducati.

Even when the 330mm rotors and four-piston calipers are used to their absolute maximum the Streetfighter remains composed and never threatens to get out of shape. Buell should buy one to find out how a bike should behave under brakes...

A tad of controlled clutch slip helps to keep the rear in check. There is no slipper clutch however, so I am afraid the slipper clutch on this baby is courtesy of the fingers on your left hand. Likewise there is no ABS fitted to the Streetfighter.

At a standstill the bar ergonomics seem similar to an early Buell or Cagiva Xtra Raptor. On the move the top of the mirror housings can hardly be seen let alone the actual mirror lenses. Seeing anything behind you requires the rider performing something akin to yoga’s downward dog.

Everything else about the ergonomics seemed perfectly fine. The bar placement eventually makes sense with only a little tightening of the stomach muscles required for the weight to be taken off your wrists. The peg position is amicable enough and the seat proved to be very posterior friendly. Amazingly I never had a problem with any wind buffeting either on the road or on the track. It almost sounds unbelievable but I swear the airflow over the rider seems cleaner than on its fully faired siblings. I am confident you could tour on this bike without a problem. I am 178cm tall and during the test was wearing a Vemar helmet.

The levers are adjustable for reach and nicely finished while the all new switchgear is intuitive. The comprehensive instrumentation will prove familiar to Ducatisti as it is lifted straight from the 1098 Superbike parts bin.

Ducati Streetfighter Review - Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Pictorial