By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Hyper Naked
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (515NJ) vs Ducati Streetfighter (MY2009-S)
Halfway through a long sweeper with the throttle rolling open, the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 doesn't push wide or wander off your line. The Ducati Streetfighter's L-twin pulls hard off that same twist of the wrist and doesn't stop building as the revs climb.
So which one do you buy?
The Speed Triple 1050 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
A touch ahead: Speed Triple 1050
For the Monday-to-Friday grind, the Speed Triple 1050 pulls a nose in front. Credit friendlier manners. Your own commute could easily flip it.
What makes each one tick
Speed Triple 1050
There's little stretch between the Speed Triple 1050's seat and its bar, and that short reach is where much of the bike's quickness comes from. On the Angeles Crest Highway, corner entry doesn't take more than a single input at the bar. The front tips in clean. The front end stays put as the lever bites.
Streetfighter
The Streetfighter's wide bars and rearset pegs pitch you into a committed crouch with no screen ahead. A bump mid-corner meets firm damping at both ends, and the chassis doesn't get knocked off course. The fork keeps talking. The exhaust barks back over the intake's gulp.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Speed Triple 1050 has the lower seat: 32.1 in (815 mm) vs 33.1 in (841 mm).
- The Streetfighter has the lower wet weight: 434 lb (197 kg) vs 472 lb (214 kg).
- The Streetfighter makes more peak power: 154 hp (113 kW) vs 128 hp (96 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
Traveling with luggage
Both miss here
Both of these make awkward travel bikes. Pack light and keep the trips short.
Look at twisty roads and riding two-up and you'll find two bikes doing the same job equally well. Fit is what breaks the tie.
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
Streetfighter
What owners say
Strengths
- Explosive 1098-derived engine
- Powerful Brembo braking system
- Race-level chassis and Öhlins suspension
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.
Streetfighter
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Speed Triple 1050 | Streetfighter | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) | 33.1 in (841 mm) |
| Wet weight | 472 lb (214 kg) | 434 lb (197 kg) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Streetfighter | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1050 cc | 1099 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | L-twin |
| Power | 128 hp (96 kW) | 154 hp (113 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 85 lb-ft (115 Nm) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Streetfighter | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Streetfighter | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 330 mm |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.1 in (1425 mm) | 58.1 in (1475 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Speed Triple 1050 | Streetfighter | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
