2006 Streetfighter Comparo I Conclusion

This shootout once again has shown us the value of comparison testing. Riding any of these bikes on their own would have most punters wetting their pants and raving about any of this quartet. Guess what? They're all fast, have great brakes, look cool and perform wonderful wheelies all day long.

But it's only when pitting two or more bikes directly against each other that the best reveals itself, and that's why we're committed to performing the best possible comparos you can find anywhere. And if you think a print magazine might do a better job, go take another look at the videos from this shootout.

Fourth Place
Triumph Speed Triple (78.0%)

Just to compete against a trio of foxy Italians deserves a prize, and the Brit bike held its chin up high. A Speed Triple owner has a lot to like, including an enviable lineage, an intoxicating motor, accommodating ergonomics and - no small thing - its inexpensive price tag.

The Triumph leads our Value category on our scorecard, but there are 13 others areas in which the Speed 3 was less strong. It's worst scores were for its mushy brakes, uncertain handling, mediocre fit and finish and an imprecise transmission. On the plus side is that mountain motor.

"Overall I think the Triumph is a great choice for the less aggressive rider on a tighter budget," BC compliments. "The motor is as good or better than anything in the test, but riding the Triumph to the motor's potential will be difficult with its chassis and brakes."

Third Place
MV Agusta Brutale 910S (84.3%)

While chatting with an attractive member of the opposite sex, do you ever find yourself imagining perfection? You know, like, "I'll bet she never gets mad like my ex" or, "I can tell he's very understanding."

Well, that's what we were hoping for after we came into lustful contact with this siren. It's damn near the physical embodiment of perfection, so the whole thing's gotta be perfect, right? Uh... not necessarily. Our only real hang-up with the Brutale is its awkward riding position and ruthless seat.

"After falling in love with the naked MV visually, I was a little bummed after climbing aboard," the 6-foot BC relates. "Its riding position is very cramped. I usually enjoy a shorter reach to the bars but the Brutale felt way too short."

So the super compact 910S alternatively thrilled us and let us down. No other bike in this test scored full marks in any category, but the Brutale netted two: Appearance and Fit & Finish. In a way, the 910 lives up to the reputation of Italian bikes sacrificing function for form, just missing out here on second-place honors.

"I stepped off the MV with slightly mixed emotions," BC sums up. "This is one of the best looking bikes on the market and definitely the best looking naked bike I've ever seen. Performance is also top notch, but real-world practicality has been slightly overlooked."

By the way... The wadded bike? Yep, the Brutale. Kill me now.

Ducati Monster S4R Testastretta
Second Place (85.2%)

Consider the differences in the 2006 race seasons for MotoGP rivals Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, then imagine the Brutale represents Rossi and the S4R is Nicky. Vale may have been more impressive and flamboyant, but the battle was decided in Hayden's favor because of consistency.

The S4R scored at least 82% in 11 of our 14 evaluation categories, gathering important points in each round, if you will. The categories in which it scored relatively poorly numbered just three. It lost some points for User-Friendliness for its pale headlight and because its Desmo valves need more regular and pricey valve adjustments; it gained a point back for its two-year warranty. It also didn't fare well in the Instruments/Cockpit card for its low-tech and featureless gauges. Finally, some of our testers believe it's time to update the Monster's look into something more contemporary.

"The round headlight, bikini fairing and old school front fender are very fitting if you're into the whole retro thing," BC comments. "I think its time for a styling update. This bike is a kick in the ass to ride and I think it should look the same way."

Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise for the S4R to edge out the exotic Brutale. After all, Ducati's been fine-tuning this Monster thing for quite some time. And although there's something to be said for the purity of the air-cooled Monsters, it's hard not to think the S4R series is the best yet.

Aprilia Tuono
First Place (89.5%)

The cool thing about this test is that each bike delivers something unique that the others can't, whether referring to engine characteristics or handling qualities or a general personality. It was like sidling up to a well-stocked bar and sampling the unique tastes of various beverages from around the world.

Although the Tuono emerged from the fray as a clear winner, it didn't start out that way. There were a lot of furrowed brows at gas stops on the first group ride day when I asked our testers if a particular bike was grabbing them more than the others. The guy riding the Speed Triple is going to provide wildly varying impressions depending on whether we just finished a 100-mile freeway drone or 25 laps of Horsethief.

But it almost didn't matter what kind of ride it was if you were on the well-engineered and -executed Tuono. The versatile Aprilia gladly accepts your orders. Gotta put 200 miles of straight-lining before you get to the twisty bits? No problem. Time for a crawl down to bike night at the drive-in with your favorite passenger? Simply toss the seat cowl and replace it with an included pillion pad with built-in hand-holds. Or, hell, find a taller windshield and some soft saddlebags and take that 1500-mile trip to Deal's Gap you've been wanting to do but keep putting off.

So, by the time we'd finished our testing, Aprilia's Tuono revealed itself to be not just one of the best bikes in this test, it's one of the best motorcycles we've ever ridden.

Find out what our testers would pick as their own personal choice if it was there cash on the line in our For My Money page, also see where each bike shined or fell short on the Streetfighter Comparo I scoresheet.


Let us know what you think about this comparo in the MCUSA Forum.