Comparison test: Streetfight class 1000

No, we have not borrowed the introduction from either modernist writers or realist poets. They are simply recordings of the sensations that a person, this time a motorcyclist, experiences on very special motorcycles. Hottest at the moment. No, this is not an economy class for six hundred people, this is not about travelers or supercars. Get ready for the easiest motorcycle riding experience, flavored with modern technology and cutting-edge design.

Five of the hottest and newest street fighters in this mod! We are honored to be among the first in the world to place a brand new, extremely aggressive, brutal, technologically most sophisticated, crude and unusually designed and most ruthless beast from the Bavarian stables next to our competitors: the BMW K 1200 R! Sixty-three (yes, 163) pure horsepower, which is by far the most of any naked motorcycle. BMW threw the gauntlet in the face of the Japanese, Europeans, British and Americans. Who can do more is the next question.

But fighting for dominance is not easy. Here is the Triumph Speed ​​Triple, which defends the tradition and honor of the islanders with a 130-horsepower three-cylinder engine. We can't miss even the best two-cylinder in this class, the KTM 990 Superduke is a true superbike to enjoy around town, with 120bhp being some of the most powerful. But it's also the most special and exclusive Yamaha to date. Cross-eyed craftsmen have proven that they can make a great motorcycle that has nothing to do with finished workmanship and high-volume production. Buell proves he hasn't gotten to the old car yet and is still doing his best with his 1600bhp built into a fun GP 90 race car.

This means a colorful, unprecedented company! Each of these motorcycles is unique in its own way and represents a great design achievement and is proof that we motorcyclists are far from becoming motorists as some predicted. It is the motorcycle sports industry that has pushed choppers out of Europe and is growing strong for the fourth consecutive year. This is the current trend and high fashion in motorsport. These are rugged two-wheelers for people who know what they want from their steel friend, who doesn't care if there's too much blowing on the motorcycle because that's exactly what they love. They offer the most direct contact with the environment, the pulse of the city and nature, just like sports roadsters in cars. They are also suitable for those who want a motorcycle with a soul that they will fall in love with and find it very difficult to separate from it. Such a two-wheeled vehicle with a rich character penetrates your skin and stays there.

Thus, when evaluating the exterior, everyone was given a very large number of points. As mentioned, they are all specials and products with a touch of uniqueness. Most BMWs, Triumphs and Yamaha, Buells and KTMs were only slightly behind due to equipment fineness and workmanship. We just didn't pick on the rest.

Anyone other than BMW is almost the absolute winner in the automotive field (he scored the maximum possible number of points). This one is the most powerful, and, as if it is not very clearly visible on paper, all 163 hp. in a row with four cylinders at 10.250 rpm cling to asphalt. In one word: cruel! In addition, it has a torque (127 Nm at 8.250 rpm). Why almost? Because "Triumph" follows him very, very carefully. The three-cylinder (1050 cm3) surprised everyone with its agility and great useful power. KTM and Yamaha were very equal, but each convinced us in its own way.

Yamaha with the incredible torque of a turbodiesel and KTM, despite being a two-cylinder, with a perfectly distributed power curve, with nothing but power and torque. 120 HP for a two-cylinder engine at just 9.000 rpm, this is by no means low. Buell is actually a bit disappointing in this area. It is known that the two-cylinder Harley engine is capable of developing 84 hp. On top of that, it has the most unreliable gearbox, which sometimes beeps like a farm machine. But do not be surprised if we write that in the end it did not bother us at all.

This is because we caught the essence of this bike in the corners and in the city. Here is a 984 cc two-cylinder engine. The air-cooled CM demonstrates ample power and torque. When the driver feels the rhythm, he is not bothered even by the unusual curve of the engine power increase. First, he pulls for a short time, then takes a breath, and only then does he really speed up. After a little getting used to it, we fell in love with this device because of its uniqueness, as it creates a special imprint on the motorcycle and makes you know that you are sitting on a special motorcycle. Anyone who accepts and appreciates it, Buell will always cheer him up. Unfortunately, we have to consider the same criteria for all when assessing, and we write subjectivity in personal opinion.

However, since the transmissions themselves are not enough to fully enjoy the ride, whether during leisurely corners or slightly sportier corners, we automatically jump to the chapter on driving characteristics and performance, which is one of the most important overall.

We should note that when testing, we took as a starting point the assumption that all streetfigters, which (if nothing else) also indicate the shape of each of them. On the way, we were surprised by the Speed ​​Triple again. It is extremely controllable, light in hand when moving from left to right. It is calm in corners when necessary, determined to brake (radial brakes) and playfully rough during acceleration, where it also externally shows its character by constantly climbing the rear wheel. Several times we got the feeling that it looks a lot like a racing 600cc supermoto. Both times he scored the maximum possible number of points (200 in total). He is being pursued by someone other than KTM.

The Austrians have proven many times that they can make very adrenaline motorcycles. In terms of driving performance, it is almost equal to the Triumph, but loses a little more in acceleration, final speed and braking. Then you are very close, but a little further behind, followed by the other three. At BMW, we lacked the playfulness so typical of street fighters. In terms of driving performance, it has nothing to complain about until we get very short corners (in long corners it is extremely sovereign) and a fast plant (there are few of its 237 kilograms of weight, including fuel).

In addition, the bike is very long for this class (1.571 mm). It promotes stability, but not playfulness. BMW is so cruel that it should by no means be recommended to the less experienced. We grudgingly admit it (there is little pride in it), but it transfers all of its power to the ground so carefully that the driver accelerates as if firing a cannon. It roars wildly as the rear tire shifts to neutral in third gear, so it's not fun anymore. This motorcycle thrilled us.

For simplicity of presentation: how to sit in a 1000cc supercar without armor. We have no comments on suspension (duolever and parallel) and electronic adjustment (ESA) for sporty, relaxed touring or casual driving. The brakes were equipped with ABS, which is a novelty among streetfighters, they are aggressive and powerful, and the ABS does not work even under the strongest braking (like a guardian angel watches and waits for the front wheel to call for help), since it is obvious that he assumes that the driver will drive the car in a sporty way.

Despite its 240kg dry weight, it surprises Yamaha with its lightness. It's like a kind of "expensive racer" that pulls with amazing force from a stop and does not give up acceleration to 200 km / h (the same feeling as with two-liter turbodiesels, but, of course, at lower speeds). From a leisurely ride in fifth gear at 2.000 rpm to a brisk ride, only the movement of the right wrist separates it as the big, bass-thumping twin-cylinder engine beeps and punches the tachometer at 4.000. mark. Maximum power is reached at 4.750 rpm. The brakes are great as the same kit stops the R1 supersport as well. We love this kind of uncompromising!

Buell is extremely manoeuvrable with a short wheelbase of just 1.320 mm and a frame angle (69 °). It sacrifices a little more anxiety in long, bumpy corners for the supermotard's playfulness on twisty roads. It brakes reliably, and during very aggressive braking, the large circular brake disc (diameter 375 mm) makes you want to turn the front wheel slightly.

And finally, about finances. How much does it cost you to be different? The range is so large that you get one and a half Buells for one BMW. The latter is very cheap at only 2.352.000 2 64 SIT and we can tell anyone who wants to consider the internal budget that they have a clear winner. If you're into pranks after one or two bikes and the Harley pedigree that this brand carries, this hip isn't the best choice. The second cheapest is (again surprisingly) Triumph, offering a lot with XNUMX million tolars.

Crazy experience, great design and maximum versatility. It rarely happens that on a comparative test, where our criteria are very strict (even slightly more than in an individual test), who gets the best score (5). Triumph Speed ​​Triple got it! Congratulations, in our opinion, at the moment there is no better streetfighter. The KTM at 2 million is an average, you can say it's not too expensive, but it could also be a little cheaper. It's a great bike with great components and the best two-cylinder engine so far (at least considering what we've driven in Auto Magazine so far).

The Yamaha, at just under 2 million tolar, deserves our recommendation because there has never been such an exclusive, unusual and above all innovatively witty motorcycle with such a large displacement for this price. The price of the BMW, which is expected to be around 9 million tolar (will go on sale June 3), is dizzying. But as we probably already wrote, BMW is not for everyone, it is for those who can afford it, and they will get a real BMW in animal form. It has all the equipment that can be found on a motorcycle today, an excellent ABS as a protective accessory, technological advances (paralever, duolever, ESA, CANbus) and a provocative design.

Because, despite the similarity, they are even more different, in fact, each of them can become a winner in a certain group of motorcyclists.

1.mesto: Triumph Speed ​​Triple

Test car price: 2.640.000 seats

engine: 4-stroke, three-cylinder, liquid-cooled. 1.050 cc, 3 hp at 130 rpm, 9.100 Nm at 105 rpm, el. fuel injection

Energy transfer: 6-speed gearbox, chain

Suspension and frame: USD front telescopic fork, rear single shock, oval tube double frame

Tires: front 120/70 R 17, rear 180/55 R 17

brakes: 2 drums with a diameter of 320 mm at the front and 220 mm at the rear

Wheelbase: 1.529 mm

Seat height from ground: 815 mm

Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 18 l / 7, 3 l

Weight (with full fuel tank): 221 kg

Represents and sells: IPSeCom, Ltd., village of Ljubljana Brigade 17, 01/500 58 20

THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS

+ agility, brakes, appearance

+ power, torque, engine sound

+ price

– completely without wind protection

Score: 5, points: 460

Place 2: KTM 990 Superduke

Test car price: 2.856.000 seats

engine: 4-stroke, two-cylinder, liquid-cooled. 999 cm3, 120 hp at 9.000 rpm, 100 Nm at 7.000 rpm, el. fuel injection

Energy transfer: 6-speed gearbox, chain

Suspension and frame: USD front adjustable fork, PDS single adjustable damper, chrome tube frame

Tires: front 120/70 R 17, rear 180/55 R 17

brakes: front disc with a diameter of 2 x 320 mm, rear disc with a diameter of 240 mm

Wheelbase: 1.438 mm

Seat height from ground: 855 mm

Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 15 l / 6, 8 l

Weight (with full fuel tank): 198 kg

Represents and sells: Motor jet - MB (02/460 40 54), Moto Panigas - KR (04/204 18 91), bridge - KP (05/663 23 77)

THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS

+ conductivity

+ engine power and torque

- engine sound

Score: 4, points: 407

3rd place: Yamaha MT-01

Test car price: 2.899.300 seats

engine: 4-stroke, two-cylinder, air-cooled. 1.670 cc, 3 hp at 90 rpm, 4.750 Nm at 150 rpm, el. fuel injection Energy transfer: 5-speed gearbox, chain

Suspension and frame: USD telescopic front fork, single shock, aluminum frame

Tires: front 120/70 R 17, rear 190/55 R 17

brakes: 2 drums with a diameter of 320 mm at the front and 267 mm at the rear

Wheelbase: 1.525 mm

Seat height from ground: 825 mm

Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 15L / 7L

Weight (with full fuel tank): 267 kg

Represents and sells: Delta Command, doo, CKŽ 135a, Krško, phone: [phone]

THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS

+ torque, engine sound

+ brakes

- sitting in the back seat

Score: 4, points: 370

3rd city: BMW K 1200 R

Test car price: 3.911.882 IS (base model: 3.294.716 IS)

engine: 4-stroke, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled. 1.157 cc, 3 hp at 163 rpm, 10.250 Nm at 127 rpm,

the file. fuel injection

Energy transfer: 6-speed transmission, propeller shaft

Suspension and frame: front BMW Duolever, rear BMW Paralever with ESA, composite aluminum frame

Tires: front 120/70 R 17, rear 180/55 R 17

brakes: 2 drums with a diameter of 320 mm at the front and 265 mm at the rear

Wheelbase: 1.571 mm

Seat height from ground: 820 (790) mm

Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 19 l / 6, 8 l

Weight (with full fuel tank): 237 kg

Represents and sells: Auto Aktiv, LLC, Cesta to Local Log 88a, tel .: [phone]

THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS

+ brutality and engine power

+ stability, adjustable, suspension

– price

- a little big for this class

Score: 4, points: 370

4 places: Buell Lightning Xcity XB9S

Test car price: 2.352.000 seats

engine: 4-stroke, two-cylinder, air-cooled. 984 cc, 3 hp at 84 rpm, 7.400 Nm at 86 rpm, el. fuel injection Energy transfer: 5-speed gearbox, chain

Suspension and frame: classic front fork, single shock at the rear, aluminum frame

Tires: front 120/70 R 17, rear 180/55 R 17

brakes: front 1-fold circumferential disc diameter 375 mm, rear disc diameter 240

Wheelbase: 1.320 mm

Seat height from ground: 777 mm

Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 14 l / 6, 5 l

Weight (with full fuel tank): 205 kg

Represents and sells: Class, dd Group, Zaloshka 171, tel .: [phone]

THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS

+ playfulness

+ uniqueness of design

– gearbox, engine with unusual power curve

Score: 3, points: 334

Petr Kavčič, photo: Aleš Pavletič