Longterm Test: 2010 Ducati Streetfighter

Even though the Streetfighter is a thoroughbred racebike without fairings it has managed to tackle my 60-mile commute without complaint. Considering that the Ducatis of old couldn't survive traffic without overheating and choking, I'd say this 155 HP monster is a success.

While I'd rather be recalling stories of killer canyon-carving adventures, as of late I've had just one good ride. But boy was the Streetfighter a lot of fun in the twisties that afternoon. When free of the traffic and the stoplights, the Streetfighter is second to none with a chassis that is ever so willing and a motor that makes corner exits a white-knuckle affair. This thing has enough power to instantly get you in trouble.

But my lack of adventures aside; I've actually been riding the Duc a lot, and it just so happens that my time in the saddle is spent mostly lane-splitting in traffic. And under the rigors of the smoldering ambient temps and stop-and-go traffic I eventually found the limits of the stock clutch setup. After a few miles of repetitively working the left lever it gets finicky to the point of groaning and moaning against the heat. So this month I decided to not only better the current driveline setup, but also capitalize on the other great aural attribute of the Streetfighter-the dry clutch.

Many Ducati motorcycles sport a dry clutch, a setup that is straight from the race paddock. Unlike more traditional wet clutches that are submerged in oil, a Duc owner can swap to a vented clutch cover for the wonderful "clack-clacking" sound. The move to an open cover not only lets the heat out, but it also helps expel the clutch dust that causes a lot of the shuttering.

To vent the clutch I swapped to a Ducati Performance Accessories unit with a matching vented pressure plate that takes the cooling process one-step further. Together, the cool combo not only looks mean because you can now see the spinning clutch, but the groaning and moaning of the stock setup is now gone. But just as noteworthy as the performance gains, the newfound sound of the open clutch is simply intoxicating-there's no mistaking what type of bike I'm on thanks to the new clutch rattle and the FMF pipes.

Continuing with the clutch upgrades this month, I decided to also cut down on the herculean pull of the stock hydraulic clutch lever. The stock lever pull was a tick over 15 pounds, and after squeezing that close to 100 times in a day it can get hefty. To cut down on the effort and add a bit of black anodized bling I swapped to a Yoyodyne billet slave cylinder. This piece installed in minutes and cut lever pressure by almost 5 pounds. The reduced lever pressure is a welcome addition during the day-to-day grind, and the black ano' finish looks great.

With every mile the Streetfighter keeps getting better and I'm really starting to enjoy the Italian beast. But enough typing, it's time for a ride...

Coming next month:
Renthal bar, Rizoma timing belt covers