2010 Ducati Streetfighter

It’s very enterprising for Ducati to have picked up the name Streetfighter for their new naked sportbike, because that’s the generic nickname Europeans have for a sportbike that has had its bodywork removed and a higher-mount handlebar fitted.

The name seems to be borne out by the bike’s appearance. The seat and tank look like they are straight off a 1098 sportbike, and so do the wheels, tires and frame. The exposed engine is clearly a liquid-cooled unit as used in Ducati’s superbike range, and as far as you can see, this appears to be an authentic, custom-built Streetfighter.

Except for the fact that this bike is a dedicated model straight from the production line. No removal of old parts necessary. And closer scrutiny reveals that all of the parts are exclusives. The tank might look like it came off one of Ducati’s superbikes, but a quick comparison shows it’s an original design. So, too, is the trellis frame, and so is the single-sided swingarm, which is 35mm longer than on the 1098.

Even the engine (essentially a 1098 powerplant in every respect) turns out to be an amalgam. The vacuum-casting technique adopted by the Borgo Panigale factory for the newer 1198 engine’s crankcases is used here too, reducing overall engine weight by a substantial 6.5 pounds. The cam belt and clutch covers have received some extra detailing for their new duties as visible moto-art, while stacked dual cooling radiators and shotgun-style rear exhaust canisters are exclusive to the model.

Packaging a powerful, liquid-cooled engine in a compact frame without the help of convenient, cloaking bodywork is a tough job, but Ducati’s engineers have managed extremely well. One really can’t appreciate how well until you’ve seen a 1098 or 1198 Superbike with the fairing removed. There’s a ton of stuff tucked in there.

On the Streetfighter there’s enough mechanical sculpture exposed to create keen visual interest, and most of the awkward and ugly bits of plumbing have been neatly integrated. As a design exercise, the Streetfighter is fully thought out. The unusual headlamp housing is compact and low slung, which makes it invisible to the rider. Add a small electronic instrument pod, and the effect is like having almost nothing visible between the rider and the front wheel. You look down and see the ground at an almost disconcerting proximity.

The lower fairing does much to hide the fact that there are two substantial cooling radiators serving the big twin. This generous chunk of bodywork could easily have ended up being an over-dominant aspect of the bike’s profile, particularly in red. But the clever shaping and faceting of the fairing’s surfaces help the piece blend in with the overall mix of angles and planes.

All in all, the Streetfighter is a striking piece of vehicular art, at once brutal and beautiful, muscular but balanced. Ducati claims to have carefully studied the handlebar, seat and footpeg triangle for maximum comfort and control, and it’s really only at the footpegs that some sacrifice of creature comfort has been made. The shortness of the pegs and the relationship of the right-hand side foot-perch to the conjunction of fat exhaust tubing and shielding is not perfect for the big feet of fully grown North American riders, forcing the rider’s heels out into a pigeon-toed position.

Other than that, the riding position is a nice change from the full stoop of the latest sportbikes, yet is considerably more involving than the slouch forced upon riders by some standards and most cruisers. The flattish bars pull the rider into a slightly forward-leaning stance, and this position, plus what might be some aerodynamic protection afforded by the petite headlight module, make riding at highway speeds tolerable.

We rode the base model, which has suspension components furnished by Showa, and found it more than adequate for riding around on the street. The S-model flaunts a fabulous, gold-colored Ohlins fork and rear monoshock, and doubtless demonstrates the superior control and damping that has earned that Swedish company the prominence it deserves in the two-wheeled world.

But the Showa equipment struck us as damn good. The fork controls brake dive very well while providing a firm but well-damped ride on rough surfaces. And the rear shock revealed conspicuously good rebound damping on pronounced undulations, surprising us with the way in which it quelled any dramatic pitching motions. Still, the ride is firm enough to produce pretty severe freeway hop on LA’s wavy concrete surfaces.

The whole package is confidence inspiring to ride, with quick turn in despite the slightly slower suspension geometry (fork rake is 25.6-degrees versus the Superbike_s 24.5). Mid-corner stability is outstanding, along with reassuringly high levels of feedback from the contact patches. Ground clearance is extremely generous, and the metal footpegs don_t even feature feelers.

As one might expect, the 1098 L-twin_s 155 horsepower endows the Streetfighter with more than enough scoot for most people. Like the superbike from which this engine came, the Streetfighter reserves most of its punch further up the tachometer face. And like most Ducatis, the 1098 vibrates quite a bit at low revs if you give it lots of throttle.

It’s happiest at engine speeds above 4000 rpm, but you soon learn to use less than that on carefully trimmed throttle openings. The full-throttle sweet spot extends from about 4500 to 10,000 rpm, so there_s plenty to work with if you don’t mind going fast all the time. That’s where all the best sound effects are anyway, the exhaust note varying from a mellow nasal snort to an angry, awe-inspiring drone as the revs climb and the thrust intensifies.

Riding the Streetfighter is a full-commitment business. All the controls are taut and direct, all responses emphatic and undiluted. The engine is always in the rider_s consciousness, with palpable communication that varies from raw and knotty at low revs to smooth grained and thrilling at ten grand. Start the Ducati up without your helmet on and you_ll hear it clatter and stumble at idle like a demented printing press. But when you twist the throttle it snarls with the promise of full-throated power.

There’s enough torque to provide meaningful thrust at most engine speeds, also enough to pop the occasional small unintended wheelie when all you_re looking for is a burst of acceleration to move through traffic. Although the clutch pull is a tad unyielding, coordinating gear shifts is simply second nature, requiring no deliberation. The next gear somehow picks up from the one before, and everything spins in synch.

With the extra leverage you get at the tapered tube handlebars, the bike seems to follow directional input with laser accuracy. And city riding is where the bike deserves its name, because it’s an absolute scalpel in traffic, slicing between cars with extraordinary flair. The same is true of its behavior in the canyons, where it clings to the chosen line and switches direction willingly.

The long wheelbase and relatively conservative chassis geometry make the bike less than totally flickable, with just a little more anticipation required than with the fastest steering machines, but the Streetfighter is nonetheless hugely rewarding to ride quickly, with stable and predictable responses.

It is also relatively comfortable on longer trips. While the wind protection is minimal, the riding position isn’t bad, and the seat is wide and accommodating. But it’s still true to the Streetfighter definition, so think of it as a sportbike with flat handlebars and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

At just about $15,000, the Ducati Streetfighter is relatively reasonably priced for such a premium brand. The Streetfighter S, with its Ohlins suspension, DDA data logging equipment, traction-control system and carbon-fiber pieces, commands $18,995. Since some of that extra equipment can also be had on the base model as optional, extra-cost items, that approach might be worth investigating by those shoppers for whom the extra four grand presents an insurmountable obstacle.

Either way, you get a head-turning motorcycle with all the performance you can use.

Official Ducati Streetfighter Video