Ducati Streetfighter – and a bike named Isabella

I had that desire again when I saw the first pictures of Ducati’s Streetfighter. In June, in the midst of lockdown, I was invited to a small intimate function where the first Streetfighters were handed over to their new owners, and seeing them in the flesh just made me want to ride it more. That evening, Braam Smit, the new general manager of Ducati South Africa, also received the keys to his very own Streetfighter. He named her Isabella. I phoned Braam to ask him if I could come and take photos of Isabella but he suggested that I take her for a day or two so we could get properly acquainted. The new Ducati dealership in Centurion is a sea of red Ducatis, but I spotted the Streetfighter instantly. It has a combination of bulges and chiseled lines and even four winglets, straight from their MotoGP development. The Streetfighter looks menacing. The headlights have very bright daytime running lights and are housed in a small, pointy cluster. Above that, sits a small 5-inch TFT screen. And that is the extent of the wind protection you have on the bike. None. When I got on the bike, the more relaxed footpeg position was immediately evident. With the upright handlebars and a seat with more padding than on the Panigale, the perch is not a bad place to be at all. I just straddled a 208 horsepower beast, and yet I was comfortable, almost relaxed. The same could not be said for Braam. He knows what this bike is capable of as this is his weekend race bike. He was on hand to show me where you switch all the electronics on. This Ducati is quite unapologetic. Rider modes are Street, Sport and Race. There is simply no place to hide. No nanny programme to save your bacon when you apply the throttle with too much enthusiasm. The V4 had a louder than expected rumble when I started the bike. I left Ducati with some trepidation. I went through the complex at a snail’s pace. Isabella did not like it. I felt as if Ducati never planned for anyone to ride this slow. Fortunately, I was on the N1 onramp soon and when I opened the throttle, Isabella rejoiced. The rumble turned into a mighty roar. The quick shifter worked absolutely flawless and before I joined the N1 traffic I could feel every muscle in my upper body being stretched just to hold on. Those winglets are supposed to provide stability at high speeds, but I fear you will be swept off the bike before their effect will ever be felt. I slowed down to a more sedate pace and just looked at the people in their cars, secretly wishing they could swap places with me. I am glad that got to spend a very brief time with Isabella. I loved stopping at a coffee shop and just stare at her. And if you have a bike you do that with, you know you have the right bike!