The season across the UAE is changing. Weather cooling down means those supercars and superbikes are coming out of the garages.
The privilege of the first superbike review to be placed here on CHRONEVO has been given to Gary Chapman. A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast and rider with many years of riding some of the world’s greatest Motorcycles. Having raced in his younger years with podium finishes, Gary is not shy in control of such powerful machines. His very first superbike was the 76 Moto Guzzi T3. In the years following Gary has had some amazing bikes in his portfolio from an 81 Laverda Jota 180, Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak, and a BMW S1000RR, to name but a few. His passion for Italian has led to his purchase of a Streetfighter V4s. Here are his impressions.
Having now experienced the new Ducati streetfighter v4s on a hectic hot (45-degree) 1000kms weekend, I can confirm this is one hell of a bike. It is interesting for me to compare it with my previous bike, which was a Monster 1200r, itself a fine-handling powerful bike in its own right. The Monster, I believe did not get the kudos that it deserved, although I always found it a little lackluster compared to the promised 160 BHP it was supposed to deliver and it never significantly bettered the 1200s, as a true Ducati R should. Getting aboard the SF for the first time it immediately put you in the correct riding position unlike the 1200r which you had to adjust yourself to attain the optimal fast riding position, but the SF puts you right in the zone. It is not to say it is uncomfortable but it is slightly racier than the Monster.
In fact, you could only describe the SF as very, very comfortable, my behind had managed 4 hours and 400 km before it started to talk to me and even then, it was no serious complaints, and even at this high temperature, I felt no ill effects.
The engine on the SF V4, as the v4 Panigale, is a masterpiece of engineering taking the best characteristics of inline 4 and a V twin putting them together to make it a trackable, powerful user-friendly machine. A one point I was tootling around looking for a place to take some photos and realized I was stop-start and crawling in 4th gear! Everything stays nicely together with nice usable real-world torque, if anyone has ever ridden a horse that tugs on its bit trying to go a bit quicker, goading the rider along. That is the SF V4, it just wants to ride faster. Then you get to about 9 thousand RPM and it is as if someone in the bike says “warp speed Scotty” and away you go! Ballistic power, the engine, and wind blast work in partnership to try to rip your head off your shoulders, propelling forward as fast as anything else available in the motorcycle market today.
Warp
Speed
Scotty
That brings me to one issue and yes, I know it’s a naked but, with all that power and 300 kph potential the wind protection is off course next to zero. This makes it difficult to use its potential power, however, really, really nice to have! So, here’s waiting for an aftermarket screen that does turn it from a swan into an ugly duckling.
Ducati pair this warp factor power with engine modes and an electronic suite second to none, DSC, DWC, DQS, DTC all this to keep the DIC (me) black side down! It has been said that the electronics detract from the enjoyment, the raw experience of the ride and to some degree, I do agree but, you cannot blame Ducati for building a missile of a bike with a safety factor that looks after the less experienced and mere mortals can enjoy.
Plus, if you feel brave or stupid you can always turn it all off!
The handling on this bike, I guess with all the aforementioned aids, is nothing short of amazing. It holds its line like no other, changes direction with only the power of my mind, dodges traffic like a frogger on amphetamines, drives out of the corner holding grip and torturing the tires to the limit, and lets you lean and lean and lean again with no a twitch, not a weave, or hesitation. The suspension is simply subline.
This brings me to the second negative, the bike fuel light comes on at 120 or 130 km, which is a tad annoying and then you lose your ride focus looking for fuel, when you find it, you can put in only 10 or 11 litres which means the light comes on with 5 or 6 litres still in the tank. So, at running speeds, I guess a maximum range of 180 km to empty. Plan your trip ahead chaps!
I wonder if they will bring out the SF in an R version? Wait they don’t need to because changing the mode to Race gives just that, more direct power, harder suspension, and more engine braking! Wow, only suitable for the track or billiard table smooth roads. The R come build in!!!
So here we have 179kgs dry 208 bhp, plus the extra weight saving and BHP from the Akrapovic will give me (oops forgot to mention that, it will be fitted on the first service) on a bike that looks and rides fantastically well, what more could a mere mortal want?
Maybe, just the 100k AED you need to buy one and talking of 100 k come to Ducati, give me some carbon, instead of black plastics, Aprilia can do it, so can you!
A Happy SF owner, time for a track day anyone?
