By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (515NJ) vs Ducati Monster 1100 (MY2009)
Open the gas mid-corner on the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 and it doesn't push wide; it holds the line you picked. The Ducati Monster 1100's air-cooled twin hauls you off the corner.
So which one do you buy?
The Speed Triple 1050 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: Speed Triple 1050
The Speed Triple 1050 is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. Thank better suspension and a sportier chassis for that.
What makes each one tick
Speed Triple 1050
The Speed Triple 1050's triple snarls as it pulls, yet there's no savage surge waiting near the top of the revs. One smooth input at the bar tips it in cleanly, and the short reach from seat to bar keeps that steering quick. In tight bends, sharp jabs make it resist. Hard braking won't unsettle the fork.
Monster 1100
Light on its tires and plush over the pavement, the Monster 1100 still tells the bar what the road's doing. The throttle's barely past idle when the engine starts shoving with real grunt. Overtakes need one short twist.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Monster 1100 has the lower wet weight: 417 lb (189 kg) vs 472 lb (214 kg).
- The Speed Triple 1050 makes more peak power: 128 hp (96 kW) vs 95 hp (70 kW).
- The Speed Triple 1050 has the larger fuel tank: 4.8 US gal (18 L) vs 4.0 US gal (15 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Hours in the saddle won't flatter either of these. They're happier on shorter runs.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Look elsewhere
For a brand-new rider, both are the wrong place to start. Learn the basics on a smaller bike first.
Traveling with luggage
Both fall short
Loading up for a long trip isn't a strength of either bike. Expect to compromise on what you bring.
Nothing splits them on commuting. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Speed Triple 1050
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Tips In With One Input
- Brakes You Can Trust
- Planted When You're On The Gas
- Clean, Honest Fueling
- A Big Naked Anyone Can Ride
Trade-offs
- No Savage Top-End Hit
- Rewards Smooth, Not Sharp
- Tight For Bigger Riders
- Gearbox Still Feels Vague
Monster 1100
What owners say
Strengths
- Grunty, characterful engine
- Iconic Italian styling
- Lightweight, agile handling
Known problems to check before you buy
Speed Triple 1050
- Sprag clutch/starter gear failure The starter sprag clutch and starter idler gear can fail, producing a loud grinding noise during engine startup and leading to starter slipping or failure to crank.
Monster 1100
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Speed Triple 1050 | Monster 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 472 lb (214 kg) | 417 lb (189 kg) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Monster 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1050 cc | 1078 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | L-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled | Air-cooled |
| Power | 128 hp (96 kW) | 95 hp (70 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) |
| Top speed | 150 mph (241 km/h) | 125 mph (201 km/h) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Monster 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg (US) / 7.06 L/100 km | 37 mpg (US) / 6.28 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 4.0 US gal (15 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Speed Triple 1050 | Monster 1100 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
