Streetfighter Notes
Feb/01/2010 20:46 Filed in: Machine
2010 Ducati Streetfighter Notes
It’s a pretty stock bike that hasn’t needed much to make it a great all-around rider.
Ducati Tank bag
This is a reasonably functional bag that uses a tank bra that stays strapped down to provide clip in points for the bag itself. It’s a big bag on the verge of being a giant bag. It’s a big triangle with the leading edge a flat, and coming to a point towards the rider. There are two compartments with the bottom being around the height of a can of pop, and the top around 3” deep.
I really like the bra approach to mounting, but the size of the bag is too much for daily commuting. I solved it by using an old Marsee bag, spit the seams and sew in a strap that lines up with the quick connects for the Ducati tank bag mount points. It’s been working quite well.
Ducati Tail bag
This is a great addition to the bike. It’s a bag that fits tightly around the pillion seat. My favorite feature is that because it stays tight to the seat, I can swap back and forth between the cowl. It expands around 3”. The design is actually pretty clean with a teardrop shape that matches the back of the bike. It also comes with a rain cover, something I appreciate, but would prefer a waterproof bag that doesn’t need a cover. I don’t hesitate to use this on long trips.
Ducati race seat
This seat is almost perfect. It probably adds an inch to the seat height, but it’s totally worth it. The cover is grippy, and the foam is super comfortable. The singular problem with it is that it’s not the least bit waterproof. With the rain around here, I find myself leaving it in the garage.
Ducati tank protector
Nothing fancy, but it does help cut down on the scratches from my jacket. I bought the carbon fiber one.
CRG bar end mirrors
The stock mirrors work ok, but they look a bit goofy, and the don’t work great. My solution has worked out to be was perfect. The CRG lane splitting bar-end mirrors are built exceptionally well including the glass used for the mirrors. The visibility is improved, and the look is much cleaner on this bike.
ASV Levers
They claim these are unbreakable, which is cool. What I like about them is the adjustability and the fit to my hands. They feel great, and look alright as a bonus.
REI Straps on the tail
Every now and then, I’ll commute in when it’s rainy and then commute home in warm, dry weather. I usually find myself wishing I had a place to stash my rain pants. I solved that by mounting a couple REI straps to the cowl on the tail (whatever that thing is called). When I need them, I pull them out from under the tail, and they hold down something like a jacket or pants just fine. To minimize the scratching, I threw some of the clear plastic paint protector on there. I need to do it again later since my first try was a bit rough.
Michelin Pilot Road 2CT tires
The bike came with set of Pirelli Corsa III’s, which are great handling in the the normal, dry environment most folks ride in. I was planning to change to something else when they wore out, unfortunately, I had the front tire crack in a weird way well before I’d wore them down. The upgrade was to move to a set of tires that are better suited to my riding environment. I haven’t had these tires all that long, but they’ve been exceptional in some very wet conditions.
update after 1500 miles - I’ve been riding these since January (it’s March), and I’m confident I’ll get another set when they wear out.
Autocom w/Bluetooth module + Garmin Zumo 550
I have a reasonable solution for listening to audio while riding. I use the Garmin as a sort of head unit with the Autocom to connect to the helmet. The Garmin mp3 player is a bit limited, but works fine. The phone connection can be cool, but is almost always goofy to hook up.