Ducati Streetfighter: We crashed it first
But still managed to put in a few sessions on Ducati's latest naked to give you the first full report
Posted: 25 March 2009
by Rob Hoyles
Hoyles...still sunny-side-up on the Ducati Streetfighter
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I DON'T know about you, but whenever I hear the word ‘streetfighter’ I instantly think of over-anodised GSX-R1100s with polished rims, nasty paint jobs and third grade models draped all over them.
For me, the words ‘Ducati’ and ‘Streetfighter’ go together about as well as ‘Gibernau’ and ‘Champion’ but it has to be said that both the thinking behind this bike and the execution are there to be applauded.
Essentially a pared-to-the-bone 1198, the design team behind the bike have worked hard, not to mention cleverly, to give the bike a clean look. With no fairing panels to hide behind, the routing of the wiring and plumbing has been carefully planned. This visual cleanliness makes the Streetfighter as good-looking as it is unique.
Out on the track, the bike doesn’t feel as crazy as the spec sheet might suggest. The claimed 155bhp is well managed and any thoughts of a mental, wheelie prone piece of engineering lunacy soon disappear as I relearn a track I last rode two years ago. The Ducati makes it pretty easy with minimal gear changes helping me to relax my way round the sinuous five-kilometre playground.
The Öhlins forks are set a little soft for hard track riding – getting on the awesome Brembo brakes with any kind of aggression unsettles the bike as the forks dive too quickly. Two turns of compression and rebound damping improve things, but unfortunately I don’t get the chance to try any more changes due to… erm, falling off it…
I’m pretty confident that the Streetfighter is a better track bike than KTM’s Superduke. Within two sessions I’m merrily chamfering the bellypan away and decking things out with very little in the way of protestation from the chassis. During the third session however, I missed a gear downshifting into a reasonably fast, third gear left-hander, found a false neutral, overloaded the front tyre and down I went, wrecking my leathers and ending my day somewhat prematurely.
In the three sessions I had though, my confidence grew and grew with the bike and I was surprised at just how easy it is to ride quickly. The only thing I will reserve judgement on is how it will fare as a road bike – with just a track test and the subsequent high-revs way of riding, there are still plenty of questions that the Streetfighter needs to answer.
Discuss this story
Why do the manifacturers insist on calling them street fighters?, a Street fighter is an old sports bike and/or a sports bike that has been crashed, the fairing is then ripped off and the bike customised up. Bikes like Honda hornet, Triumph speed triple etc are factory fighters NOT street fighters, there is a difference. Dont worry about crashing it, it would have broken down sooner rather than later anyway and probably costs a small mortgage to service. Mind you crashing the bike had now moved it closer to the slot its trying to fill.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 17:55
I'd suggest, having produced the thing, they can call it what they like!  BTW - Ducati service costs are now much closer to jap bikes.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 18:12
People know that Streetfighters are now a factory produced item, as were Cafe Racers, then Choppers, Customs, Tourers. It's a modern design theme given a name to identify, or pigeonhole, a particular class of bike so that the punter will be able to identify with it. I agree with Pete though, that if Ducati had wanted to call it the Streetwarmer, Thaiboxer, Twinshitter, or whatever, it's up to them. They make them and they name them. If you don't like it don't buy it.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 18:19
I'd suggest, having produced the thing, they can call it what they like! BTW - Ducati service costs are now much closer to jap bikes.
With a name like Street fighter, there suggesting something it aint.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 19:00
How are Ducati suggesting anything other than this is our new bike and we've given it a tasty name. Have a look and then buy one? As before. If you don't like it, don't buy it.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 19:10
It's bollocks anyway, none of them are street fighters. I can kick the shit out of any of those bikes on the street and they never put up much of a fight. I'm well 'ard me, especially when fighting inanimate objects. 
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 19:20
Dear T.W.O magazine, I am writing in to your wonderful and informative publication to warn other readers of a cynical marketing trick currently employed by Ducati. I recently ordered a 1098 streetfighter. I assumed, under the goods description act, this would be a sportbike that had been crashed. After the crash, the owner would have realised he couldn't afford to replace the fairing and left the bike naked. The law also states that various bad taste additions would have been made. Imagine my horror when the bike delivered was new! I inspected the machine from every angle and I couldn't find so much as a blue anodised brake lever. My dissappointment increase further on a short test ride. It would appear that the Italian cads have provided perfect fuelling and state of the art traction control. Please pass this warning on to other honest bikers. I have heard that KTM also employ this cunning trick. RGDS A stoopid person.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 19:22
Dear T.W.O magazine, I am writing in to your wonderful and informative publication to warn other readers of a cynical marketing trick currently employed by Ducati. I recently ordered a 1098 street fighter. I assumed, under the goods description act, this would be a sport bike that had been crashed. After the crash, the owner would have realised he couldn't afford to replace the fairing and left the bike naked. The law also states that various bad taste additions would have been made. Imagine my horror when the bike delivered was new! I inspected the machine from every angle and I couldn't find so much as a blue anodised brake lever. My dissappointment increase further on a short test ride. It would appear that the Italian cads have provided perfect fuelling and state of the art traction control. Please pass this warning on to other honest bikers. I have heard that KTM also employ this cunning trick. RGDS A stoopid person.
Dont be a fucking plonker.
Years ago Yamaha decided to make a bike to mimic a popular street sport, they later released the bike called the Vmax, which was created for people who didnt want to make a drag bike. Now you have Factory fighters, which basically mimic a popular style of bike called a street fighter, every else names there bikes Hornets, speed triple, aprilia tuono etc etc. Basically Ducati are retarded and name a Factory fighter after a bike style they were mimicking, they can call the fucking thing whatever they like, I can just imagine the person who named the bike being a complete fucktard and missing the point.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 19:52
Are you sure it's the man at Ducati who's missing the point?
The point is, the other manifacturers like Ducati has released a large capacity Factory fighter, that mimics the looks of a street fighter and the basic principle I.E sports bike with fairing off etc etc however Ducati with no imigination has called it the very thing they are emulating, everyone else didnt call their Factory fighter " street fighter " because they are emulating that style. So do YOU get the point.
Yes I agree, street fighters can be tacky as hell, Bandits rate as some of the poorest Examples of a street fighter when people have a go at them. If Yamha had called the Vmax " Drag bike " it would have an idiocy and unimaginative thing to do, as the bike ISNT a drag bike but an emulation of the Drag bike style. I can imagine the board room meeting when they named the bike. Mario : Letsa make a bike like those German and British peoples make. Luigi : ah you mean we ah rip off the fairing of a sport bike and retune it. Mario : Ah yezza and heres the clever bit......Wez a call itz a Street fighter. Luigi : Wowza Mario you is such a clever and imaginative man.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 21:15
So I take it you object to the Hypermotard as well then? You really need to get out a bit more.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 21:27
So I take it you object to the Hypermotard as well then? You really need to get out a bit more.
Actually I know sod all about off road/on road type bikes as I can ride.
And yes I really do need to get out more often but being a dad and having my wife work weekends renders me stuck in, so i'll be as petty as I want. I'll stand by my words. Ducati = unimaginative fucktards.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 21:42
I've just ordered one of those new Ducati Fucktards - they sound ace
That sounds good as it goes, maybe Ducati will name their next bike Fucktardmondo.
I bet the 900SS drove you crazy! Nope. The Monster drove me mad as it the name kept reminding me of a cockney violinist.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 21:49
Anyway, you got off the thread on why Rob was such a fuckwit to crash the bloody thing... What kind of numpty goes out and has such little awareness of what the machine is doing? Racers push the envelope once they have a feel for the bike, for God's sake! He had it for 20 minutes and then chucked it down the road. I thought testers took a bike and then, based on years of experience, gave us their considered opinion (admittedly in 20 minutes). Or not... Anyway, how did it crash? Barney
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 22:07
I read in a seperate article that he crashed due to anxiety caused by the name of the bike.
Just as unimaginative as the name of the bike.
Oh, wait! did you see what I done there, I made a funny like you.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 23:03
Anyway, you got off the thread on why Rob was such a fuckwit to crash the bloody thing... What kind of numpty goes out and has such little awareness of what the machine is doing? Racers push the envelope once they have a feel for the bike, for God's sake! He had it for 20 minutes and then chucked it down the road. I thought testers took a bike and then, based on years of experience, gave us their considered opinion (admittedly in 20 minutes). Or not... Anyway, how did it crash? Barney
Shit happens, he crashed the bike because he did, sure he didnt crash it on purpose, crashing hurts a lot and feels worse when its someone else's bike. Ask whitham he'll know what I mean.
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 23:05
Speedy, you're making an ass of yourself Wikipedia says nothing about a street fighter having been crashed, just that it is a sports bike with the fairing removed and a few other mods, which essentially this is. Who gives a fuck?
Posted: 25/03/2009 at 23:39
Speedy, you're making an ass of yourself Wikipedia says nothing about a street fighter having been crashed, just that it is a sports bike with the fairing removed and a few other mods, which essentially this is. Who gives a fuck?
If Wikipedia says its true then it must be true.
No, I'm not making an ass out of my self, I'm arguing because I am right even if its petty and not important. Go back and read what I said about a street fighter, I never said it had to be crashed, but most of the time they are. I'm not going to buy a shitty Ducati, today, tomorrow or ever TBH. I am merely pointing out the idiocy of Ducati picking out the name " Street fighter " for its bike, when all other manufacturers have used their imagination and named their Factory fighters ( which evidently is what the Ducati Street fighter is ), instead.
Posted: 26/03/2009 at 05:28
Hi Guys, Just to set the record straight as I may not have explained it well enough, I was at the end of my third twenty minute stint when I parted company with the Ducati - therefore I had almost an hour on the bike, not twenty minutes. Perhaps I was a 'numpty' for falling off it, but again, as explained in the brief review, I missed a gear, found a neutral and was riding at a pace that didn't leave much room for error, so ended up dumping it. On track I tend to push as much as I feel comfortable with to find out as much as I can about the bike in the hope that I can give you, the readers as much information as possible. If that makes me a numpty, then that's fine with me. As for having little awareness about what the bike is doing, I think perhaps that's a bit harsh seeing as this is my first launch test crash in nearly eight years of testing bikes. Anyway, you all have your own opinions and your own views which you are perfectly entitled to. Happy and safe riding, Rob P.S I'm fine by the way, thanks for asking...
Posted: 26/03/2009 at 10:37
I see ya point Speedy, it is unimaginative, kinda like if they'd called the new 1098 the Ducatti Sportbike, but it doesn't really matter does it? Maybe once streetfighter solely meant crashed repaired now naked sportsbike, but the meanings chnaged to include the Tuono's etc. language evolves as do definitions. i think the bike looks lovely, and I'm kinda glad the journo crashed it, least it shows he's trying and riding it like most punters will.
Posted: 26/03/2009 at 10:55
Hi Guys, Just to set the record straight as I may not have explained it well enough, I was at the end of my third twenty minute stint when I parted company with the Ducati - therefore I had almost an hour on the bike, not twenty minutes. Perhaps I was a 'numpty' for falling off it, but again, as explained in the brief review, I missed a gear, found a neutral and was riding at a pace that didn't leave much room for error, so ended up dumping it. On track I tend to push as much as I feel comfortable with to find out as much as I can about the bike in the hope that I can give you, the readers as much information as possible. If that makes me a numpty, then that's fine with me. As for having little awareness about what the bike is doing, I think perhaps that's a bit harsh seeing as this is my first launch test crash in nearly eight years of testing bikes. Anyway, you all have your own opinions and your own views which you are perfectly entitled to. Happy and safe riding, Rob P.S I'm fine by the way, thanks for asking...
numpty 
Posted: 26/03/2009 at 13:24
Big up to Hoylsey for putting the record straight. I hope you are OK. By the way. Although I think the debate about the name is utter nonsense, to put a spanner in the works, the Tuono's full title is Tuono Fighter. A Hornet is not a Streetfighter, never will be, as it is not based on a sports bike. I personally agree that a factory produced bike can't be a streetfighter. (Consequently a Speed triple isn't a Streetfighter either.) However I accept that Ducati can call their bike whatever the bloody hell they like. My insurance company calls my TRX a streetfighter, as I removed the faring and fitted conventional bars. I however do not consider it a streetfighter at all. (I do not wish to be associated with the Simpson helmetted, combat trousers, unfaired GSX with a polished frame crowd) Hey ho.
Posted: 26/03/2009 at 15:48
" <img title="Click image to view full size." src="http://image.hotbikeweb.com/f/17076193/0904_hbkp_02_z+custom_street_fighters+swap_meet_louie_bike.jpg" width="350" height="262" /> this is what traditionaly was known as a street fighter" No its not. Thats a custom. That is most definatly not a street fighter.
Posted: 26/03/2009 at 15:56
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