By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Hyper Naked
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (515NJ) vs Ducati Streetfighter (MY2009)
Hard on the brakes at the end of a fast straight, the Triumph Speed Triple 1050's front end doesn't squirm, and the lever's effort feels right. The Ducati Streetfighter bites hard, stop after stop.
So which one do you buy?
The Speed Triple 1050 has the edge if…
Riding two-up with a passenger
Small edge: Speed Triple 1050
The Speed Triple 1050 nudges ahead with two aboard. It's close enough that seat shape could flip it.
What makes each one tick
Speed Triple 1050
On the long sweepers of Angeles Crest Highway, the Speed Triple locks onto its line and won't budge. Even a big handful of throttle at the apex doesn't push the chassis wide. The inline-three keeps pulling in one steady swell, with no savage hit waiting near the redline. It tips in on one nudge.
Streetfighter
A mid-corner ripple won't unsettle the bike: the suspension takes it and the rigid trellis frame holds the line. Low bars and high pegs pitch you forward, and that crouch wears thin on a long ride.
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 (840 mm).
- The Streetfighter has the lower wet weight: 439 lb (199 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
Both miss here
Hours in the saddle won't flatter either of these. They're happier on shorter runs.
Traveling with luggage
Not built for this
Multi-day trips with luggage aren't their thing. Travel light, or travel on something else.
For commuting and twisty roads, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
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
- Powerful and characterful L-twin engine
- High-spec braking system
- Race-derived chassis and suspension
Trade-offs
- Aggressive, front-biased ergonomics
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
- Fuel line recall (potential leak) Recall 09V170000 Incorrectly fitted fuel line to an injector could cause fuel leak and fire hazard. Affected early 2010 models.
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 (840 mm) |
| Wet weight | 472 lb (214 kg) | 439 lb (199 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) | 88 lb-ft (119 Nm) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Streetfighter | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 4.4 US gal (16.5 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 | Option |
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Option |
| Heated Grips | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
