streetfighter

[monstermick58]

Under five foot heh? I'm confused. Vertically challenged with long legs?

Kaz.

Yup, if I had the time and know how, I would show you a photo of him stood next to his Monster, his shoulders are level with the seat.   





                       Mmick

[pigmy]

Ding dong - that's me chiming in 

Rode the streetfighter last Thursday in Hobart. Me likey a lot.  [moto]
I'm 5'5" ish and was concerned about seat height but was no problem and a much shorter guy rode it before me.

Didn't get it out of 2nd gear around town - twisty hills in 60km zone.  It was rideable but a bit like a dog pulling on a lead - it wanted to go.  Of course it needs pipes etc. Only did a little on the hwy and I was right behind Warren Lee so couldn't do more than the speed limit and no wheelies  . I started out riding quite forward over the tank but ended up wriggling back in the seat.  You don't end up with all you weight on the bars and I was surprised that you don't feel much wind with the way the front end is.  I spoke to a bloke on turismo who's riding one and he loves it (has a S4 that's he selling too).

Pigmy - I think you should at least take one for a test ride. They are very nice - just a tad expensive and not as practical as my monster.

My idea would be for someone to buy me one for my birthday and I would use it as a toy for day rides and I would keep my monster for the multiday road trips. 

I think I would prefer to ride the streetfighter or a 696 monster round town rather than the 1100 monster which is just as tall and heavy as mine.

And for those considering buying me a birthday present - it's in June. 

thanks heather.hey my birthday is in june and im 5'5'....but i think i will buy one for my fat little selfish meee seroiusly heather that was a good description and the fact that we are the same height i will take your experiences as gospel.hopefully will ride one tommorrow and compare to another brand bike.having ridden the s4 everyday just takes the shine out of riding on days off.

[pigmy]

Yup, if I had the time and know how, I would show you a photo of him stood next to his Monster, his shoulders are level with the seat.   

   yeah go on say it ..."the plane the plane"




                       Mmick

[signora monster]

Yup, if I had the time and know how, I would show you a photo of him stood next to his Monster, his shoulders are level with the seat.    


                       Mmick

Mmick, I hate to tell you, but five foot five is not that short. If Pigmy's shoulders are level with the seat, my shoulders are approximately at foot peg level. And don't ask how I climb aboard the Monster. I just can.
Kaz  

[pigmy]

 hey kaz least you and i can stay on a bike....hey big boy right at ya [moto]

[monstermick58]

hey kaz least you and i can stay on a bike....hey big boy right at ya [moto]

Er........ no comment 






                           Mmick

[Dannog]

I rode one a few months ago and loved it. Found it really strange at first but really took to the riding position. Ditto spiders comments .... u forget its got a front wheel.... until it lifts of the ground and then you smile  and place it down nicely.

I'm short too and I think thats one of the reasons the ride position was so good. You dont need long arms and I had no weight at all on my wrists. Its a bit taller than the S4RS bit thats only an issue when your trying to park and push it around while sitting on it. Just get off!

I seriously loved it and in a few years if I ever get sick of the S4RS I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up. Not as sexy as my Monster through so thats the only down side.

Id definitely change the front sprocket if your going to ride it around in traffic. Its the best mod ever for ridability as a commuter.

[Betty]

I am slowly catching up after Turismo so may as well throw my thoughts out there too.

I rode the Streetfighter for a little bit last year and was instantly impressed with the 'feel' ... felt very comfortable ... and I am on the short side too. To me it felt more Monster-like than the new style Monsters. Just to clarify I rode the M1100S around the same time for a longer period and I can't see myself owning one ... felt too different to the 'old-style' Monster (while somehow trying to be the same). The weight bias of the 'old-style' Monsters is seriously rearward so probably every other bike in the line-up is going to feel that the weight is forward ... the Streetfghter felt well balanced in this regard but the M1100 felt a bit light at the rear for me.

I think the ergos are great for around town but the geometry of the bike would still make it work well on the open road. Legal speeds are one thing but, for me, I wouldn't think there would be too many better bikes for some fun on the road - nice riding position with more than enough little horsies for most peoples (please note I haven't actually ridden that many bikes).

From Pygmy's point of view I can't see the sense in going from an S4 to an 1100 but that's just my opinion. But also as I have said before the superbike riders don't really like the power delivery of the Streetfighter compared to the 1098 it takes its engine from ... the tuning is different and my interpretation would be that it is more rideable around town. To be honest I think it was built so people could ride around town and boast about the horsepower but that doesn't mean it would not be more than capable on the open road / fun twisty bits.

The instrumentation is set lower than the Monsters but then again it isn't a Monster so I don't see the real issue ... to me it didn't feel awkward at all ... just different, but there is a lot more 'different' than just the location of the instrument cluster.

I find the Hypermotard a lot more disconcerting to sit on but I haven't ridden one ... it just feels weird - but we all get different sensations when we get on different bikes.

Would I own one? If I had the choice of a 'new-style' Monster or a Streetfighter ... definitely the Streetfighter. When you consider the power of my little 800 is plenty for me, it isn't about the power but just how it feels. Looks are less relevant as the Streetfighter has grown on me but neither have the visuall appeal of the 'old-style' Monsters. Could I justify spending the moneybucks ... I strongly doubt it. But bikes are usually an emotive decision rather than a rational one ... the Streetfighter would have to be the spiritual successor to the S4.

[pigmy]

 rode the streetfighter last week. its dreadfull. the only thing that stopped me buying it was the instrument/headlight assembly was too low and impeding my line of sight of the front wheel.it was just like hanging on to a set of handle bars and having no reference to what the front wheel was doing.this gives the rider the impression of being fwd over the front wheel as opposed to an old monster where they are a bit lighter at the front. so i immediately thought of modifying it along with other things like lowering it ,14 tooth sprocket,aftermarket exhausts etc etc and before you know it 30k later what have i achieved....nothing just another expensive monster 

[Q777]

rode the streetfighter last week. its dreadfull. the only thing that stopped me buying it was the instrument/headlight assembly was too low and impeding my line of sight of the front wheel. 

When/why do you look at your front wheel while riding?

[Mr.S2R]

From Pygmy's point of view I can't see the sense in going from an S4 to an 1100 but that's just my opinion.the Streetfighter would have to be the spiritual successor to the S4.

Really? I have ridden a couple of S4's and to me they were quite pedestrian as compared to a 2 valve (test ridden number of 900's both carbed and fuel injected, plus a 1000sie before settling for a S2R) and found them more responsive.  Even to the point my old 650 Pantah had more get up and go as compared a 'modded' S4 (staintune, filter etc).

That being said I am yet to test ride a streetfighter - but I would hope it would be as much fun as a ride I had on my mates 998! [moto]

.. but that is just my opinion too! 

[Betty]

When/why do you look at your front wheel while riding?

I'm curious as well. I just don't get this whole instrument cluster thing people keep complaining about.

I certainly can't see the front wheel riding my Monster ... but I don't go looking for it either.

[Betty]

Really? I have ridden a couple of S4's and to me they were quite pedestrian as compared to a 2 valve (test ridden number of 900's both carbed and fuel injected, plus a 1000sie before settling for a S2R) and found them more responsive.  Even to the point my old 650 Pantah had more get up and go as compared a 'modded' S4 (staintune, filter etc).

OK then ... sorry was an assumption on my part ... figured you would be carrying that radiator, etc, etc for some good reason.

I didn't find the 1100 all that different to my little 800 (the numbers tell a different story) but the Streetfighter could not be compared. But it probably has more to do with the pedestrian way that I ride than any thing else.

[Mr.S2R]

OK then ... sorry was an assumption on my part ... figured you would be carrying that radiator, etc, etc for some good reason.

I didn't find the 1100 all that different to my little 800 (the numbers tell a different story) but the Streetfighter could not be compared. But it probably has more to do with the pedestrian way that I ride than any thing else.

well I did wonder what that radiator was for, thought it may have been for additional ballast to keep the front end down..... [moto]

I did look at the 800S2R as well as they do have some very good reports (handling and power delivery), but I lost my head at the sound of dry clutch and well the rest is history....

...and pedestrian riding style is not a criticism nor commentary on riding ability (I myself being far from being a knee scraper) but more of the power delivery - maybe I should of been more succinct in describing the acceleration and engine performance  - I should of used the idiot grin rating factor.  Whereas I had a bigger smile getting off a good 2 valve Monster as compared to riding the S4.   

I do concur that the Streetfighter could not be compared - although I would be interested to hear comparisons of maybe a S4RS as compared to a Streetfighter - but in relation to engine performance and acceleration....