Streetfighters
If you’ve ever taken time out of your busy working life to have a surf around the parallel yet alternate universe of the interwebs, and have had the inkling to type the words ‘streetfightered motorcycle’ into a search engine, then you will have come across a veritable treasure trove of interesting bikes. And some bloody horrible ones too.
What you have to understand is that some people have a very different understanding of the term ‘streetfighter’ when it comes to custom motorcycles. There are those who just think that it is nothing more than a crashed sportsbike (and you don’t need to talk to me for very long before I get started about that inaccuracy).
There are those who think that it was a fashion from the Nineties and is long dead and buried. There are those that think that it’s totally about the approach to riding, and all about wheelies and burnouts (and, to be fair, they’re not totally wrong). And then, there are those that think a streetfighter can be built in a short afternoon with just a handful of aftermarket parts and a grinder…
While I could rabbit on, seemingly endlessly, about the former narrow-minded views of the streetfighter world displayed by outsiders and naysayers, right now I’m going to get myself wound up about the last group. Those that think that a ‘fighter can be created with a minimum of work and expense.
If you did, indeed, chose to have a look around the ‘net to find images of streetfighters, then one very easy way to get yourself depressed and disillusioned would be to type ‘Streetfightered Bandit’ into Bing, Google or whatever name your magic box of tricks chooses to find stuff.
What will happen is that you’ll get hundreds upon hundreds of pictures of Suzuki Bandits with twin headlights, motocross handlebars, noisy exhaust cans and very little else. Well, when I say very little, what I mean is very little to comment on…
The Bandit does seem to be a prime target for what I’m about to explain next, probably because it’s been such a popular bike in the streetfighter scene, thanks to its low purchase price, and high fun factor.
That popularity has become a large part of the reason why so many people feel that the Suzuki Bandit is a prime target for abuse (while they neatly forget the bargain basement price, competent chassis and powerplant that is ideal for horsepower gains).
So the bike gets a slagging for being a sales success for Suzuki and because they can be seen on virtually every street corner in the land. ‘Just Another Bandit’ has become a derogatory term for any Suzi GSF that’s ever been worked on, usually by people who don’t bother to give the bike a second look to see if there really are some clever modifications rather than just bolt-on parts. Ah yes, bolt-on parts, here we go…
A bike that has been a sales success will, by the law of economics, be the same model that has the largest amount of aftermarket parts available for it. The Suzuki Bandit is a prime example (as is Ducati’s ‘entry level’ model, the Scrambler).
However, everyone who has ever bought a Bandit or Scrambler will then endeavour to make their bike different from the thousands of others out there, by buying some of the aftermarket goodies that are available. The end result is that everyone buys the same aftermarket parts and the bikes, while mildly modified, end up all looking the same.
Thus totally voiding the original plan of making the bike unique. There’s also the nasty side effect that many of the aftermarket parts are not especially nice – they’re made with cheap materials and with cheap finishes. False carbon-fibre, nasty anodising that fades after mere hours in the sun, and cheap fasteners that rust if you so much as breath on them.
But don’t go thinking that, just because you own a Bandit (or a Scrambler, or anything else that has sold enough units to make aftermarket parts viable), that you shouldn’t fit bolt-on bits. Far from it.
Unless you’re one of the multi-talented few who’re capable of making everything from fork yokes to suspension linkages, one-off bodywork and bespoke exhaust systems (and, if you are, I hate you) then you’ll be in a situation where you will almost certainly HAVE to buy some off-the-shelf parts.
The trick is in buying the right off-the-shelf parts. Or, perhaps more accurately, choosing the correct shelf from which to take your parts. What I’m saying is don’t accept any kind of crap, and don’t just go for the same parts as everyone else.
Okay, so things like Renthal handlebars and grips are second to none, but those bloody knuckleduster engine protector things? No. Don’t do it.
I’ll speak more about the knuckleduster iconography at some point in the future, but there are stacks of other bits for sale that are equally as naff, and equally as cliched. Rubbish headlights that are as much use at night as the light on your mobile phone? Anodised footpegs that hang droopily like a bloodhound’s ears? Anything with skulls (shudder)…
Of prime importance in a streetfighter is improved performance, so any parts used need to be lightweight and improve the power, handling, ground clearance or aesthetics (not necessarily in that order). If they don’t do at least one of those things, don’t use them.
Look for nice parts, whether they’re designed for your bike or not, and if they don’t fit, then make them fit. Accept the inevitable – if you want the best, you have to work for it. And parts that bolt straight on really don’t involve much work at all…
Build more, ride more.
– Dave.
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