Ducati StreetFighter vs SuperDuke

I bought my '08 Duke because the Sfighter wasn't out yet. I am basically a Duc guy for sport bikes, even though I have a Super Moto, which I consider a tour bike, like a GS. When the Sfighter came out, I got one. I still have both bikes. I have about 8k miles on both. Guess what? The Duke is better, or at least as good, better in different respects.

Engine: Sfighter wins here, but the the Duke's immediate throttle response keeps it in the ballpark. No twin I have ridden pulls like a 1098.

Chassis: Sduke wins here, shorter wheelase, more flickable, much lighter feel overall. Duke is heavier on paper, but doesn't feel that way. Perhaps dropping the stock exhaust lightened mine up enough to be near the Sfighter. Sfighter stock cans are light compared to the Duke's.

Ride: Sduke is easier to ride, more comfortable in general. I like the hard seat on the Sfighter better than the Duke's soft, stocker. Sfighter is hot on the right leg next to that 58mm pipe crossover. Handlebars are comfy on the Sfighter, but lower. Both, you can ride all day easily. Both bikes stick corners about the same, but it seems easier on the Sduke. Overall ride is slightly softer on the Sduke.

Two up: The duke is great. You might as well remove the Sfighter ppegs, you will never get any use there.

Bling: You can get way more stuff for your Sfighter, easily. Clutch bling, exhausts, wheels, carbon, etc.

Fuel economy: same, look for gas at 100 miles, if sport riding.

Cost: With used Sduke prices in the toilet, the duke is the buy. However, I bought both bikes new and paid more for the duke, but it did have the akky cans on it. Even with adding akkys to the Sfighter, the duke was still more money at the time.

Have not tracked either, so cannot say about that. I would guess the Sftighter would be better as it has a more stable feel at high speed.

Stevo, new member.

The handling chassis traits that make the superduke seem so great at road / low speeds are the same thing that start to compromise it at high speeds on the track.

Undoubtedly. I forgot to mention the rake angle, which is steeper on the duke, and more so on the DukeR. I have had both bikes (sfighter and standard duke) beyond 120mph and the Sfighter is really stable, in a straight line that is. Seems like I have had the duke up to around 130mph and Sfighter maybe a bit more. Hard to find real estate long enough to test that high speed here in middle/north Alabama.

One more thing, which I might post separately for interest, drag racing the duke vs a harley vrod: they are dead equal right up to 130ish. The duke has a quicker start though. The vrod in question had wide open exhaust and a PC3. I have run against this same vrod several times and they are neck and neck every time.

Your right about the motor, sure the LC8 is a beast, but the 1098 motor is in its own class, untouched by any other sporty twin. Beyond that though, I really can't say the SF is nary better then that SD.

Between the two, the KTM dirtbike DNA is evident in the SD, and thats what I love about it. For me anyways, its the perfect bike on a twisty mountain road and terrorizing city streets.

Yeah, I'm with ya, and I OWN a sfighter. Can't part with that sduke. Just nothing quite like it. Sduke is definitely the more nimble of the two. My only complaint about it has been the exhaust pop, mainly from scaring my fellow riders. Really stands out when you got some big, rock walls around. However, that will be fixed when I remap with the tuneecu program that has be recommended here. Mine is setup with the Akra map and round cans right now, along with shorty ASV levers that I put on everything. Even though I paid too much for the duke by today's resale prices, I still feel I got what paid for in a hooligan bike. I did get all of the carbon bits and carbon seat cowl (which I don't use anymore) with the "ready to race" promotion they had in '08/09. The Akra carbon is about the best quality i have seen. Way above alot of the Duc Performance stuff.

Funny you should mention the RC8. Recently test rode the '11 model and loved it. Ergonomics were great, even with the clipons in the low position, seat high, and pegs high. My last SBK was a 999 and I had pretty much decided I was stuck with handlebar sport bikes from now on. The RC8 changed that. The bike is next on my list. Is the '11 much diff from the earlier issues? Unlike Ducati, KTM tends to stick with a design over a few year models.

Yeah the motor in the '11 had a redesigning. Main thing was the twin spark tech that was intoduced.