A stylish bike from one of the most stylish bike-makers in the world. The Ducati Monster 1100S is about performance and charisma. This ‘special’ version, at 169kg dry weight is a few pounds lighter than the standard 1100 and has some premium components in its running gear like Ohlin’s titanium – nitride coated USD forks, carbon-fiber as the materiel of construction for cam covers, front fender and muffler guards. The aluminum alloy wheels and front-brake disc carriers are state-of-the-art. But then, it’s the entire package that oozes road-presence, power, performance and style. The Desmodromic 1078cc L-Twin is air-cooled and carries 2 valves per cylinder. Running on a compression ratio of 10.7:1, it develops a healthy 95 bhp at 7500 rpm and a super-healthy torque of 10.5 kgm at 6000 rpm. With spot on fuel injection, the engine responds is taut and crisp and riding the torque curve takes an entirely new dimension for the rider. The hydraulically operated dry clutch is firm yet light and shifting through the 6 speed close-ratio box is a pleasure. What goes must stop and handle well while doing both. The Tubular steel Trellis frame allied with the not-at-all-radical 24 deg rake and 1450mm wheelbase make for the near-perfect combo of straight-line stability with superb flickability. Suspension is top-notch with full adjustability at both ends for pre-load and damping. The 180 section low profile rear radial in conjunction with 120 section front make the Monster sure-footed as a mountain goat on crags. Brakes are again top of the class with twin 320 mm discs up front clamped upon by 4 piston calipers and a single 245mm disc doing duty at the rear. The 15 liter fuel tank may be a slight disadvantage for touring but then tarmac, the home-ground for the monster, usually has enough fuel bunks around for topping up even if at short intervals. The instruments are a study in detail too like the rest of the bike hardware. There’s the usual speedo, the tacho, odometers, clock, temp gauge and fuel gauge. In addition are indications for oil temperature and pressure, warnings for scheduled maintenance and over-rev indicators. To top up the pudding, there’s the Ducati Data Analyzer (DDA) that gathers and stores vital data about throttle position, gear selection, road speed, engine revs stc for later analysis of the ride. All in all, a true connoisseur’s machine, sheer pleasure on two wheels to own and enjoy.
155 bhp and 12 kgm torque at 9500 rpm on a light-weight chassis is more about a stripped down superbike than a pure streetfighter. The 1099cc 4-valve liquid-cooled L-Twin rumbles at idle through a pair of stacked mufflers and screams like a banshee gone berserk near its 10,700 rpm red-line. But whatever the rpm, the torque motor has enough oomph to snap necks and dislocate shoulders. The Streetfighter is all muscle and lean. And of course with a strange and primeval harmony between the chassis and engine that makes the rider revel in anything and everything the bike offers. Fueling is spot on with Marelli FI that makes the engine breathe through elliptical throttle bodies. There’s an addictive crispness and urgency in the throttle response which keeps the rider’s adrenalin glands primed all through from idle to red-line. The close-ratio 6 speed gear-box is a pleasure to shift through though the stupendous amounts of torque makes it almost redundant, at least on public roads. The hydraulic clutch is precise and gradable and a true friend of the tranny. The bike geometry is biased towards providing the right mix of flickability and stability with 25.6 deg of rake and a wheelbase stretching to 1475 mm. The front suspension is again Ohlins on the S version giving a wheel travel of almost 5 inches. Rear is Ohlins monoshock with progressive linkage and both front and rear are fully adjustable for pre-load and damping. A wide 190 section tyre does duty at the rear while the front is shod with 120’s, aiding the light steering. The 10-spoke light alloy wheels not just look good but being light and rigid, contribute in a great manner to the bike’s amazing handling. Radially mounted 4-piston Brembo’s clamp down of twin 330mm discs up front to slow the Streetfighter down from warp speeds while a 245mm 2-piston disc does duty at the rear. With the Testastretta Evoluzione engine’s class leading power to weight and torque to weight ratios, the Streetfighter weighing in at a slim and lean a 169 kg dry weight makes for one of the most potent two-wheeled packages in the world. The naked look adds to the ‘eye of the tiger’ effect i.e. mesmeric. Wiring and other sundry stuff is tucked away neatly out of sight, leaving just the beautifully crafted chassis and that amazing engine for view. Detailing like with the headlamp and its led cluster, the y shaped 5- spoke wheels, the cannon style stacked twin mufflers when accompanied with Ducati’s colours and finish make the Streetfighter a virtual work of art in metal. In a nutshell, the Ducati Streetfighter S is a rare and very convincing case of superlative form and function mated to perfection.
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