Bikes

Ducati 1098 Streetfighter Unveiled

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Well it is in the wild now, Ducati has finally cast a light on the dark corner of their factory in Bologna where they have taken the prized Ducati 1098 Superbike, and made it anew in streetfighter form. The result? A 1099cc 155hp v-twin motorcycle capable of urban doom. There will be two models, a standard Streetfighter and the Streetfighter S. Sharing the same motor, the Streetfighter S will boast Marchesini 5-spoke rims, traction control (as seen on the 1098R Superbike), a data acquisition unit, and Öhlins rear shock and forks. More after the jump.

The Streetfighter will borrow the Superbike frame, motor, and suspension, but will have a smaller airbox, longer single-sided swingarm, longer rake, unique bodywork, exhaust, headlights, and style to call its own. Expected to be released in the Spring of 2009, the Streetfighter will sport either red or white trim, with a black frame and grey wheels. The Streetfighter S however, will be available in red or black trim, with a bronze painted frame and wheels. The Streetfighter S will also sport some additional carbon accents to set it apart from the base model.

The release of the Streetfighter series shows a further segmentation in Ducati’s model lineup. Leaving the Monster to continue to use its air-cooled engine, the Streetfighter is set to be priced higher and made in less volume than the Monster. With the base model starting at $14,000-$15,000, the Streetfighter will cost $3000 more than its air-cooled partner-in-crime, and will serve as Ducati’s more premium naked/standard bike, ahead of the Monster and Hypermotard.

The bike certainly looks the part, but only time will tell how it will earn its stripes on the street with the big shoes left behind by the 1098 Superbike and Monster. I guess we’ll just have to take all three out for a spin and see how they stack up.

Source: Ducati

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