streetfighter?

anybody heard of this tearm before? was talking to some riders and they were descrbing a yamaha vortex as a streefighter...went riding with a bunch of people the other night, and the streetfighter by default among the comunity was the leader. there was another streetfighter, but it was a suzuki 750 or something leading a group of about 6 riders.
so what is a streetfighter?  

it's usually a bike with no fairings...or maybe half fairings...  

Streetfighters are usually naked bikes (no fairings), have bars instead of clip-ons, have a short wheelbase (wheelie-monsters) and generally have a stubby tail and a riding posture that is less aggressive than racebike. They usually, but not always, have the a$$, as far as power goes, to back up the title 'Streetfighter'. Basically, like a Triumph Speed Triple.
That's the way I understand it, anyway.  

Ducati Monster
http://www.ducati.com/bikes/my2005/monster.jhtml?family=monster

Triumph Speed Triple
http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/788.aspx

Aprilia Tuono
http://www.aprilia.com/models03/road/eng/modello.phtml?id=23

Kawasaki Z1000
http://www.kawasaki.com/product_detail.asp?product=145&category=2&tag=motorcycle

This should give you a good idea of what the factories are producing for street fighters.  However, I've seen quite a few sportbikes stripped of their body work and turned into street fighters.  Sometimes they use the stock headlight and instrument panel assembly and sometimes they replace the stock headlight with smaller pieces for a more naked look.  Hope this helps.  

Last month's Motorcyclist did a couple of great pieces on current streetfighters as well as how they came about.  Most current streetfighters are based on sportbike style ergos, just not as agressive(sp).  I currently own a '88 Honda Hawk GT (NT650), and enjoy it immensly. I've been riding about 10 years on a Cbrf2 and a VFR750, and enjoy the Hawk more than both of those.

Russ  

Ya know guys........i read through those replies and all are correct. the only thing is that i didn't hear anything about a Buell Lightning.......it's the ONLY American naked/streetfighter. You can get it in 1203cc and 984cc. the XB9SX CityCross is the definition of a 'streetfighter'. hand guards, light bars, and frame pucks(frame sliders) are just a few things. plus, with a style all it's own (under engine exhaust, gas in the frame, and oil in the swingarm)...it's a great choice. i'm really trying to decide on that bike or a new zx-6r for my second bike. now i'm on a ninja 250...but seem to be leaning more and more towards the Buell. American made and i'm thinking that the 984 Buell has more torque than anything in its class. lemme know what u think.
-MOninja-  

Let you know what I think?
Okay.....I think that America doesn't manufacture a sportbike worth owning. If they did, I'd be first in line to buy one, but they don't.
I rode a new Buell a little last week. I was TERRIBLY disappointed, primarily with the vibration. I guess because it's a Harley engine, I don't know. And the rev limiter comes in around 7k, right when you feel like it should be taking off hard, you have to shift. My general impression was that, well, it sucked. I couldn't wait to get off of it, partially because it was shaking so ridiculously bad, and partly because I was afraid someone would see me on it.
Then later I found out what quality sportbikes I could buy for the price of a new Buell. Well.....
It just doesn't make sense. Is that the best that America can do? It's sad....even for a v-twin.
More torque than anything in its class?
PLEASE. An 05 Speed Triple would absolutely CRUSH that thing. No question.  

ya the vibration is because its a sportster engine. and the 05 Seed Triple would more than likely be up against the XB12S not the XB9SX...the XB9 would be up againts like the Kaw. 750, SV650..etc. with a new buell you can have accessories designed just for that bike like saddle bags, etc.(just like harleys). a buell is a naked sportbike for someone who wants an American bike, usually with more muscle than finess.   sure you could get a lot of quality bikes for that price (like a new zx-6r that i'm looking at too), but i guess theres something about that powerful rumble(vibration) that just sets the fuse for some people. the buells are about torque....not horsepower. especially the xb9, since it's for running city and backroad duty, not track duty.  

Hey, it's YOUR money.
If you want an overpriced bike that gets its a$$ handed to it by everything else on the road, have at it.
Enjoy the 'rumble'.    

The first use of the term "Streetfighter" is owned by Ducati, IIRC.
"Naked," or "Hooligan," are other descriptors that predate Streetfighter.

If my memory serves correctly, this genre was born of European couriers using GSX-Rs, R1s, Ninjas, and RRs for their work.  More often than not, a crash would ensue, resulting in beaucoup bodywork damage.  The couriers, needing to get back to work ASAP, just ripped off the offending protuberance and carried on.  

The resulting ride is a race-replica shorn of it's bodywork, sometimes wearing a makeshift headlight to stay legal.  

The manufacturers copied that popular look, thus spawning the Tuono, Lightning, Monster, ZZ, etc.  

Try This

http://www.streetfightersmag.com/  

Start with a sportbike, remove the side fairing to expose more engine, remove the front lights and windshield and the plastic bits around the lights to replace it with a single lamp or whaterver you like, raise the handle bars. Thats the easiest way to get a streetfighter. I think its better than buying a "streetfigher" from the factory because the gearing and speed of the bike is different (usually weaker). Modifying a 1000cc superbike into your own personal streetfighter is the way I would go.  

Street fighter originated as something an owner did (In Europe). Taking a rashed liter race replica, (usually savaging their own bike I think) and...since it was going to be used on the street, street handle bars went on.

This is an amazing increase in performance (outlined by SportRider magazine, on their R1 project bike, about 1 1/2 years ago).

It was after the Street fighter Rage grew to epic levels in Europe, factories (Like Ducati) jumped on the band wagon, to serve bikers that had no abitity to create their own.  The Factory versions are neutered for neutered riders.

Ya want the hard edged street fighter? Put Your own together.