Streetfighter throws its hat into naked arena
November 2008 |
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Words - Mark Fattore
BikePoint
Lots of muscle, in standard and S guises
Ducati claims it has vaulted to the top of the nakedbike food chain with its 1098-powered Streetfighter, unveiled in Milan on November 4.
Whether the reality matches the rhetoric remains to be seen, but the Streetfighter, available in standard and S guises, is certainly no shrinking violet.
As well as stellar performance - 155hp and 119NM -- the Streetfighter has forged monoblock Brembo brakes, an aluminium singled-sided swingarm and Ducati's signature trellis frame.
It also has an "upright and commanding riding position".
The S has scored Ohlins suspension instead of Showa on the standard model, and also has forged wheels and traction control. Otherwise, both bikes are identical.
The Streetfighter will face some serious nakedbike opposition when it lobs Down Under next year from the likes of Triumph's Speed Triple, the MV Agusta Brutale and Aprilia Tuono.
The Streetfighter was officially the best-looking bike at the 2008 Milan show. Twenty-five percent of the 20,000 respoindents voted it No. 1, ahead of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory and the Brutale 1078RR.
No pricing has yet been announced.
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