Monster vs street fighter

[dmb80]

Just putting it out there monster s2r vs s4r vs 1098
Street fighter. All 3 are bike porn but I think
The street fighter trumps them both. Your
Thoughts. Would love one one of each.

[Sabre Brian]

Definitely.  The Streetfighter is incredible.  I am kinda old school and really like the round headlight look on a bike,
but outside of that the SF is motorbike perfection in my eyes.  If I had a choice of any bike, it would be a toss
up between a SF and the new BMW HP4 for top spot.

I still think the monster is friggin awesome.

[mattyvas]

I have always liked the SF, it's a pretty good looking bike except for the headlight which is....
Well which is (you make up your own mind).

Saying that the S4Rs was and is the top of the pile when it comes to Monsters, you won,t get better suspension, engine combination unless you make it yourself! Ask Andy he can tell you what it costs to make a ohlins suspension S2r and I,m sure it wasn't cheap.

[Two dogs]

I was also romancing the SF but new were hideously over priced
Some bargains now though.
Took one on a test ride holly crap it is a beast and even on the lame Fraser's
road test route I had trouble keeping the front wheel down in all of the first three gears.
It would be a difficult bike to live with day to day compared to the S2R until you get used to it
Head angle is a little slack on the 1098 so the steering is a little lazy , something they addressed
with the 848 powered version which by all reviews is a near perfect bike.

Downside: your foot is pushed out wide on the peg from the exhaust mid pipe  
and watch out for    
Service cost , just look at how tightly packed the engine bay is + 4 V = lots of labour  .
Seems you are not 100% committed to your S2R..... decision time spend coin on it or let it go
lose a bunch of money and spend even more on something else.

I love my S2R such a cranky little beast with the proper fuel delivery  

[Betty]

I have said (typed) all of this somewhere before but ... hey, since you asked:

The Streetfighter just isn't as nice looking looking as an old-style Monster ... not even in fridge-mode. As I don't have the same affinity with the new-style Monster I'd definitely prefer the Streetfighter. I agree with Dez ... the 848 version would probably be plenty (and plenty of fun) for street riding - but I have never ridden one.

I have only ridden a 1098S SF once just after they were launched (actually before they were launched here) and I thought it was fantastic. It was only a short ride and the bike was probably about twice as powerful as any bike I had ridden to that point but it felt good ... even sitting still - it just seemed to match my odd proportions better than other bikes.

I'd love to ride a Streetfighter on a road I know well now that my riding ability has improved a little. But I don't think I would like where that would lead me. Despite what it offers it will never be as aesthetically pleasing as an old-style Monster.

Then there is the cost. I don't even know if you can still get a new 1098 Streetfighter ... the last I saw they were hideously expensive and a 'special order' only. But I assume you are talking second hand ... so you can make your own value judgement.

Oh and from what I was told Dez is right about the exhaust. The Ducati Tours guys were telling me they couldn't work out why their right knee was playing up ... until they realised their boot was being kicked out at the heel. It made them walk with a limp. Dunno if there is a suitable aftermarket solution nowadays.

[Andy55]

I love my S2R1000 , I really can't see me ever getting rid of it.
With open Arrow pipes and open air box it sounds fantastic especially coming up through the revs at wide open throttle.
Admittedly I have gone a little crazy with the mods but these things happen!
I find the ergonomics perfect for me , it fits me like a glove.

I recently did one of the Ducati tours through Italy where I rode a Streetfighter S with Termis for a week or so.
I thoroughly enjoyed this bike , it too sounds fantastic. A completely different noise to my 2V but oh so enjoyable , especially at part throttle.
The riding postion is indeed slighty pigeon toed and knocked kneed but I didnt find it to be a problem.
The Ohlins certainy nicely damped and confidence inspiring with good compliance over the rough stuff.....showing up how over damped and hard my Ohlins on my bike are.....Hmm definatley need to start fiddling with some settings! 

For me the Monster wins in the styling Department hands down , but I still quite like the look of the Streetfighter.

My Monster feels as if it has every bit if not slightly more urge down low in the rev range as the Streetfighter but no question once the revs get up there the Streetfighter just keeps pulling hard where its no contest.

Both bikes are thoroughly enjoyable , I would love a Streetfighter S with a set of pipes on it but I am more than happy with my S2R.

[brad black]

the seating position is very different, sf is a 1098 with a bit higher bars.  seat is high, feels like you're tipping onto the front wheel.

I was somewhat let down by the sf engine performance, it wasn't as eager as I expected.  the s4rs with a full system is great, std it's flat.

[dmb80]

i have also been checking out the kawa z1000 streetfighter
it also looks like a very neat and tidy package. so many nice
bikes out there need to win the lottery. i may even look a bit
better than the duc. except for there exhaust

[duke8]

I've ridden all 3 and have to say the 1098 sf is the most fun

Monsters are more comfy but the power of the sf makes my monster feel slow

Only problem with the sf is its 33k....