2020-01-01_Motorcycle_Trader

and the lines are more directional. I also put
it on steroids – more muscle. I really wanted it
as the ‘pissed-off’ alternative!”
Pissed off? Yep, that kinda works – the first
1098 version had plenty of attitude. Described
rather unkindly by a UK mag as looking
like a crashed 1098, the whole concept was
meant to be Ducati’s most powerful-ever
naked bike, with a target weight of 160kg. The
development team got close, with a claimed
167kg dry for the S (169kg for the standard).
However, Basset declared that he would
have liked to have produced a ‘director’s cut’
version with more exotic materials and hit
that 160 number. It never happened, but that
would’ve been a hell of a bike.
The engine was in fact a 1099cc variant

of the just-superseded 1098 superbike

powerplant, tuned for a claimed 155 horses

(114kW) at 9500rpm. Peak torque of 115Nm

chimed in at the same level, or 1000rpm

short of redline. Most folk who rode with this

engine variant rate it as a particularly user-

friendly unit with super-accurate fuelling.

When it came to the chassis, the front end

was raked out and the swingarm extended

35mm for additional stability and less twitchy

turn-in. Suspension was Showa or Ohlins,

depending on which variant you stumped up

for, with Ohlins fitted to the S. Both sets of

suspension were rated highly. Both had full

adjustment. You also got a steering damper.

Braking was, of course, by Brembo. Up front

you got twin 330mm discs with monobloc

MOTORCYCLE TRADER 87

While the

Streetfighter’s

1099cc engine

might be described

as user-friendly,

running this thing

anywhere near

redline means the

pilot is flapping off

the back like a

rag doll.

DUC

ATI

ST

RE

ETFIGHT

ER