The streetfighter scene has grown in popularity recently, and naturally so has the argument about the origins of the stripped-down style. Some claim the genre traces its roots back to European riders who lacked the money to repair their crashed sportbikes. Instead of buying the expensive fairings and OEM parts they'd piece together unfaired bikes under strict budget constraints.
And then you have the passionate group who argues that they weren't created from carnage, but instead for performance and individuality. More akin to a modern streetchopper, these hotrods were created to buck conformity and raise one's street cred.
From whichever gene pool you believe they were born, you can't deny the fact these in-your-face bikes have a style all their own. While the term "streetfighter" refers to the style, every rider's iteration of the perfect example has variations. From 'Busa to Bandit, murdered out to blinged out, you can make one all your own just so long as it's devoid of a fairing and packs serious muscle.
Until recently, the streetfighter was more of a niche creation that had to be built-not bought. With the intro of the Triumph Speed Triple in the nineties and more recent bikes like the Kawasaki Z1000, the streetfighter scene slowly moved from the shadows into the outskirts of the mainstream.
But this all changed when Ducati introduced its 2009 Streetfighter. Packing more power and style than any stock 'fighter before it, Ducati pushed the idea of a naked performance bike into the limelight.
It boasts staggering performance numbers and sexy style, but we couldn't help but wonder if a mass produced bike would lose the very essence of what a streetfigher should be: hard hitting, affordable, in-your-face fun.
Why not find out by riding it back to back with a home-built 'fighter to see what's better on the street? With figurative boxing gloves a blazin' we got down to business.
1997 Suzuki TL1000S
Streetfighters can come in all shapes and forms, and our garage-built creation happens to be based on a 1997 Suzuki TL1000S.
In its day the TL was at the top of the heap with an aluminum trellis frame, a 996cc V-twin engine and revolutionary suspension (that some loved and many hated). In the end these wild bikes were deemed "widow-makers" for their wicked power delivery and unpredictable chassis.
SSB local and OG streetbiker, Sean "Sully" Sullivan, bought this murdered out monster new 13 years ago: "I bought it brand new, and over the years it's seen many phases; some 'just because' and others out of necessity."
By necessity we mean it's hit the pavement a few times and didn't get back up for many months at a time-unfortunately Sully alongside it. In its latest form it's perhaps the greatest as it bares little resemblance to the bike that rolled off the assembly line.
"I was looking to make a great streetbike that was unique, so I started fabbing stuff in the garage. Many hours of wrenching and months of tweaking resulted in what I have here."
It would take a keen eye to spot the TL under the flat-black blanket. Other than the patented rotary suspension and V-twin engine the taillight and gas tank are the only stock pieces that remain.
While its soul may be hard to see, quite possibly its most striking feature is the GSX-R1000 headlight and front end. Upon closer inspection other performance driven components become more visible like the Yoshi top clamp, the reversed-mounted Driven clip-ons, Galfer Wave rotors and the exclusive Brembo HP calipers.
Moving toward the flanks you immediately catch the Carozzeria V-Star aluminum wheels, Vanzuki clear clutch cover, custom tail section and one-off subframe. But like any true bad boy there's still more than meets the eye; here it's a Bitubo rear shock, custom exhaust, and tiny Motogadget instrument cluster. Hell, even the ignition has been relocated to make it look leaner and meaner.
With a claimed curb weight of 355 pounds and a measured 109 HP at the rear tire this TL is ready to rumble-especially with its short gearing and nimble chassis.