Streetfighter V4 or Monster 1200 ?
- Thread starter Tetor4
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If you post a photo of yourself it would help us decide. I can just tell you a little about them.
On the Streetfighter V4, you are obliged to ride mostly on one wheel, either is fine, and have attitude. Which makes me seriously question having bi-plane wings on a streetfighter, but I digress. You can be a nice person, however, while riding it's about fighting with other naked street bikes. You should only dress in black if you have a sword it's ok too. It's a little taller than the Monster, longer travel suspension, feels a little more open, arms wider on the bars etc. It has the ergonomics for large body movements. So sword fighting is good here.
The Monster's origins are the ugly frankenstein red-headed-step-child made of chopped up ex-race-bike parts that accidentally is one of the best all-around street bikes ever made. It does everything well, track, street, long trips, two-up, kicking around and canyon rides. (not a race bike though) The older 600 sizes were fun as hellz, the 1200's is a lot more of that. Now it's deeply evolved from "old race bike parts," but still has that thing that it is. I haven't ridden the latest but I rode a lot of them, & a lot of my friends have the newest ones; seems like it's still the thing it's always been. I'm glad they got over the "mass-customization" trend that was really stupid a few years ago which means you are obliged to customize it yourself to match your personality not just snap on new tank colors (PALM-TO-FACE wtf). And you better make it really good, outlandish, outrageous, beautiful, and don't let me catch you throwing on an extended swing-arm or we're going to have a talk afterwards, but almost everything else is ok if it's not just no-effort snap-on parts (says the guy with the 99% stock Panigale.) But that's the deal.
btw, the V4 is blowing everyone's mind (except the older luddite curmudgeons) it has arrived to another level of sophistication and ride-ability and that counts a lot when you're talking about clearing 200hp. The luddite argument tends to be everything should furiously burn rubber and if you high-side and die, that's the Darwin awards working well. The tech argument is, you can just turn all the electronics off when you want and test your delicate wrist action / wheelie for 700 meters in 5th no problem. The race bikes have an obsession with making all efforts moving the bike forward in the least amount of lap time possible, that's not your camp here, but that's what comes with the V4 as a hand-me-down.
So what do ya want? Raw grunting fun as hellz style or something confusing with bi-wings that goes lightspeed? I think either are going to make you spit you facesheild opaque with laughter every time you leave the last stop light in town. It's more about who you want to be (NOT who you were born, don't get confused). Are you ok with strapping on ballet gear for Tutu-Tuesday, or are you more of a tattooed with fashionable facial hair and / or piercings kind of a person?
On the Streetfighter V4, you are obliged to ride mostly on one wheel, either is fine, and have attitude. Which makes me seriously question having bi-plane wings on a streetfighter, but I digress. You can be a nice person, however, while riding it's about fighting with other naked street bikes. You should only dress in black if you have a sword it's ok too. It's a little taller than the Monster, longer travel suspension, feels a little more open, arms wider on the bars etc. It has the ergonomics for large body movements. So sword fighting is good here.
The Monster's origins are the ugly frankenstein red-headed-step-child made of chopped up ex-race-bike parts that accidentally is one of the best all-around street bikes ever made. It does everything well, track, street, long trips, two-up, kicking around and canyon rides. (not a race bike though) The older 600 sizes were fun as hellz, the 1200's is a lot more of that. Now it's deeply evolved from "old race bike parts," but still has that thing that it is. I haven't ridden the latest but I rode a lot of them, & a lot of my friends have the newest ones; seems like it's still the thing it's always been. I'm glad they got over the "mass-customization" trend that was really stupid a few years ago which means you are obliged to customize it yourself to match your personality not just snap on new tank colors (PALM-TO-FACE wtf). And you better make it really good, outlandish, outrageous, beautiful, and don't let me catch you throwing on an extended swing-arm or we're going to have a talk afterwards, but almost everything else is ok if it's not just no-effort snap-on parts (says the guy with the 99% stock Panigale.) But that's the deal.
btw, the V4 is blowing everyone's mind (except the older luddite curmudgeons) it has arrived to another level of sophistication and ride-ability and that counts a lot when you're talking about clearing 200hp. The luddite argument tends to be everything should furiously burn rubber and if you high-side and die, that's the Darwin awards working well. The tech argument is, you can just turn all the electronics off when you want and test your delicate wrist action / wheelie for 700 meters in 5th no problem. The race bikes have an obsession with making all efforts moving the bike forward in the least amount of lap time possible, that's not your camp here, but that's what comes with the V4 as a hand-me-down.
So what do ya want? Raw grunting fun as hellz style or something confusing with bi-wings that goes lightspeed? I think either are going to make you spit you facesheild opaque with laughter every time you leave the last stop light in town. It's more about who you want to be (NOT who you were born, don't get confused). Are you ok with strapping on ballet gear for Tutu-Tuesday, or are you more of a tattooed with fashionable facial hair and / or piercings kind of a person?
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I just sold my monster 1200s and bought a ‘20 v4s. Personally I loved the monster, mine was a 14 so it still had the old classic looknto it. 16-20 they did an electronics refresh along with a slimmer tail.
Although both may seem to be “naked” bike thruster not interested same catagory. The monster is a true naked; upright, loud, easy to work on. The streetlighter is a hypernaked, loaded with sensors and electronics. Everything os expensive on the streetfighter and V4. IMO pick up and model S or R spend few bucks on some carbon and a pipe and you’ll fall in love!
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I'd get both.
The Monster when you want to go slow but feel like you're going fast, and the SFV4 when you want to go fast but feel like you're going slow.
The Monster when you want to go slow but feel like you're going fast, and the SFV4 when you want to go fast but feel like you're going slow.
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The Testastretta L twin is a fantastic motor, if you land on the 1200R that is a super fun bike that will probably get you everything you want (wheelies included). It's a question of "do I want something I can wring out and not be scared shitless?" or "do I have what it takes to remotely touch the capability this bike has?". The Streetfighter will absolutely get you to 99% of the Panigale, which if you saw the recent story online is only 3s off MotoGP laptimes on slicks, so it has more than most of us will ever tap- and if you aren't aware of that and have better than average riding skill it may surprise you (not in a good way).
If you are confident that you need 200+ hp and all the electronics to just cruise then power to you, but the SF really shines at the track as that is the only safe environment to see what it (and you) has.
I've seen plenty of Monsters at the track with riders grinning ear to ear and they are probably less on-edge in everyday riding. I would consider a Monster R as a second bike just for that reason.
If you are confident that you need 200+ hp and all the electronics to just cruise then power to you, but the SF really shines at the track as that is the only safe environment to see what it (and you) has.
I've seen plenty of Monsters at the track with riders grinning ear to ear and they are probably less on-edge in everyday riding. I would consider a Monster R as a second bike just for that reason.
I traded in my 2015 Monster 1200s, for 2021 Streetfighter V4s. Minor regrets, but very happy with the SFV4, my girlfriend not so much because 2 up on SFV4 is mostly impossible compared to Monster. I mostly ride solo, so no real issues there.
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Looks wise I always felt the Monster 1200 was sorta ugly below the trellis. The lower half is a mess of hoses and wires, esp on the drive side. I'd need to park it so I only see the exhaust side. Love or hate the angular look of the SFV4, it looks more thought out as a naked.
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Both would be fun, but I would favor the monster over the streetfighter. The streetfighter looks like a praying mantis --- although the new monster looks like a cyclops wearing a tiny hat, lol. I would go with the 1200R and customize the front a bit and, of course, slap on a nice Termi!
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Either way, aftermarket exhaust is a must...Had Termi on the Monster, and Akra on the SFV4.
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SFV4: Hyper-naked, sport oriented, stock map has most of the torque in the upper-mid+ range. In short, it's the Panigale without fairings, literally...
Monster: Naked, not as sport-oriented as the SFV4 (consider rake, gearing, tune, and components) stock map torque comes earlier in the range compared to the V4. The tank is higher making you feel like your sitting more "in" the bike than on top of the bike like the SFV4.
I've been a Streetfighter fan for years, and was happy when they released the V4. It's the best bike I've ever owned. You'll be happy with either and would just suggest that you go with the 1200 R instead of base if you choose the Monster. Unlike previous SFs, the V4 model is great riding around town as well as on the twisties.
Monster: Naked, not as sport-oriented as the SFV4 (consider rake, gearing, tune, and components) stock map torque comes earlier in the range compared to the V4. The tank is higher making you feel like your sitting more "in" the bike than on top of the bike like the SFV4.
I've been a Streetfighter fan for years, and was happy when they released the V4. It's the best bike I've ever owned. You'll be happy with either and would just suggest that you go with the 1200 R instead of base if you choose the Monster. Unlike previous SFs, the V4 model is great riding around town as well as on the twisties.
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I've got a few friends who did this evolution as well just to change it up after many years on a Monster.
Consider riding position. They are similar but not the same. That's a pretty big deal. The Monster is a gateway to either go more upright hooligan-style, or lower more racing style. Both these bikes are a little in between which I think is brilliant. There's no correct answer without your photo. Then we can judge. ;P
Everyone telling you to go test ride is telling you good stuff.
Consider riding position. They are similar but not the same. That's a pretty big deal. The Monster is a gateway to either go more upright hooligan-style, or lower more racing style. Both these bikes are a little in between which I think is brilliant. There's no correct answer without your photo. Then we can judge. ;P
Everyone telling you to go test ride is telling you good stuff.
