The Best Naked Bikes (2022)

If you want a bike that looks modern, can go fast, is agile in the bends and which sacrifices some wind protection and luggage options to save weight then you probably want a naked bike. What is a naked motorbike?

What Is It?

The Z H2 is new for 2020 and should tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people, mainly because it's derived from the excellent H2 SX SE sports tourer and makes use of the same supercharged engine. It's the clear choice for top end power, all day comfort and of course the supercharger soundtrack.

For 2021 Kawasaki added the range topping Z H2 SE with fancy Showa Skyhook semi-active electronic suspension, the latest Brembo Stylema front calipers, Steel braided brake lines, green detailing on the engine panels, a gold finish to the fork and red detailing on the super charger.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £15,900
• Engine: Inline Four
• Capacity: 998 cc
• Power: 197 bhp / 147 kW
• Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
• Economy: 45 mpg / 6.3 L/100km
• Range: 190 miles / 306 km
• Seat Height: 830 mm / 32.7 inches
• Wet Weight: 239 kg / 527 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.824 bhp/kg

What Is It?

For 2020 Ducati whipped the fairing off the awesome Panigale V4 sports bike to produce the Streetfighter, which is also available as a cheaper version without the forged wheels or Ohlins electronic suspension.

Compared to the Panigale it has a more relaxed riding position, comfier seat, slightly de-tuned engine optimised for the road and double wings either side which can generate 28 kg of downforce on a track at 168 mph.

If you happen to have £28,895 at your disposal around you could also opt for the 2022 V4 SP. It features fancy 1.4 kg lighter Carbon Fibre wheels, a 9-disc STM EVO-SBK dry clutch, Brembo Stylema R front brakes, a solo racing seat, adjustable machined pegs, Carbon mudguard and it's 3 kg lighter overall.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £20,205
• Engine: V4
• Capacity: 1,103 cc
• Power: 205 bhp / 153 kW
• Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
• Economy: 35 mpg / 8.1 L/100km
• Range: 120 miles / 193 km
• Seat Height: 845 mm / 33.3 inches
• Wet Weight: 199 kg / 439 pounds
• Power to Weight: 1.030 bhp/kg

What Is It?

The Beast 3.0 is completely new for 2020 with a lighter frame, upgraded brakes and suspension, improved cornering ABS / traction control systems, new lighter wheels with stickier tyres and a huge 6 kg shaved off the weight. It's all about the mid-range torque and sporty handling.

For 2021 there's also the 1290 Super Duke RR, but it costs £21,500 and only 500 will be made. All that extra cash gets you light Carbon bodywork, a quick turn throttle grip, Akrapovic Titanium slip-on exhaust, CNC machined triple clamp, APEX PRO racing suspension + steering damper, 1.5 kg lighter forged wheels, sticky tyres, folding levers + guard, grippier seat, machined pegs, keyless fuel cap, motor slip regulator, 2.5 kg lighter Lithium-ion battery and a massive 9 kg shaved off the weight. Unfortunately they all sold out in record time.

For 2022 KTM will offer the £17,900 Super Duke R Evo with fancy 2nd gen. semi-active electronic suspension and Comfort / Street / Sport damping modes, adding only 2 kg to the weight.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £15,750
• Engine: V-Twin
• Capacity: 1,301 cc
• Power: 177 bhp / 132 kW
• Economy: 40 mpg / 7.1 L/100km
• Range: 140 miles / 225 km
• Seat Height: 835 mm / 32.9 inches
• Dry Weight: 189 kg / 417 pounds

What Is It?

The MT-10 SP builds on the base MT-10 with Ohlins Gen-2 electronic semi-active suspension with more adjustability, three semi-active suspension modes, three custom modes, braided hoses and a special colour scheme.

The engine isn't the most powerful out there but is renowned for being extremely capable, while the wind protection is surprisingly good for a naked bike.

For 2022 there's a new TFT dash, a new headlight cluster, an adjustable top speed limiter, lean angle aware ABS / traction control, a handful more bhp, the up / down quickshifter as standard and a three piece oil-cooler fairing however it weights 2 kg more.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £TBC
• Engine: Inline Four
• Capacity: 998 cc
• Power: 164 bhp / 122 kW
• Top Speed: 150 mph / 241 km/h
• Economy: 40 mpg / 7.1 L/100km
• Range: 150 miles / 241 km
• Seat Height: 835 mm / 32.9 inches
• Wet Weight: 214 kg / 472 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.766 bhp/kg

What Is It?

The S1000R has been thoroughly updated for 2021 with more power, less weight, new suspension, a modern TFT dash and full LED lighting. It also gets dynamic traction control, hill start control and a huge range of options to spec it up.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £12,055
• Engine: Inline Four
• Capacity: 999 cc
• Power: 162 bhp / 123 kW
• Top Speed: 170 mph / 274 km/h
• Economy: 45 mpg / 6.3 L/100km
• Range: 160 miles / 257 km
• Seat Height: 830 mm / 32.7 inches
• Wet Weight: 199 kg / 439 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.829 bhp/kg

GEAR & ACCESSORIES

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Jeans

What Is It?

The future of middleweight naked bikes. It may carry an early adopter's premium right now and only manages two thirds of the range of fossil fuel burning competitors but there are many reasons to consider the SR/F.

On the range side of things, how often do you ride more than 100 miles before taking a decent break? The SR/F Premium, with 6 kW charger, will rapid charge to 95% in an hour and don't forget that battery technology is improving all the time. With increasing energy density it wont be long before Zero's batteries offer ranges similar to petrol models.

It has all of the electronic gadgets you could want and is surprisingly practical with a decent "frunk" storage area where the fuel tank would have been.

The performance will likely surprise you as well. Although it only makes 110 bhp it has roughly the same power to weight ratio as the MT-09 / Street Triple RS / Z900 and being electric you get the benefit of instant torque from almost zero revs.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £18,990
• Peak Power: 110 bhp / 82 kW
• Continuous Power: 54 bhp / 40 kW
• Top Speed: 125 mph / 201 km/h
• Range: 100 miles / 161 km
• Battery Capacity: 14.4 kWh
• Fast Charge: 1.5 hours
• Seat Height: 787 mm / 31.0 inches
• Wet Weight: 220 kg / 485 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.500 bhp/kg

What Is It?

The MT-09 SP takes the best selling MT-09 and adds a few bits to make it SPecial, specifically a mix of premium Ohlins / KYB suspension, a premium seat and a fancy colour scheme.

For 2021 it also gets a modern TFT dash, brushed swingarm, cruise control, cornering ABS, lighter spin forged wheels and a funky single LED headlight.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £10,200
• Engine: Triple
• Capacity: 889 cc
• Power: 117 bhp / 87 kW
• Top Speed: 140 mph / 225 km/h
• Economy: 50 mpg / 5.6 L/100km
• Range: 150 miles / 241 km
• Seat Height: 825 mm / 32.5 inches
• Wet Weight: 190 kg / 419 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.616 bhp/kg

What Is It?

The Street Triple RS is really popular in Triumph's range and for 2020 it has been made Euro 5 compliant with an improved mid-range, new LED headlight, new bodywork / exhaust / mirrors and a new quickshifter.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £10,500
• Engine: Triple
• Capacity: 765 cc
• Power: 121 bhp / 90 kW
• Top Speed: 150 mph / 241 km/h
• Economy: 40 mpg / 7.1 L/100km
• Range: 150 miles / 241 km
• Seat Height: 825 mm / 32.5 inches
• Dry Weight: 166 kg / 366 pounds

What Is It?

The Duke 790 was extremely popular so for 2021 KTM have pimped it into the Duke 890 R to ensure it remains competitive.

You still have all of the handling, sound and torque of the 790 but with added power, improved brakes, more suspension adjustment, stickier tyres and a chunky 3.5 kg shaved off the weight.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £10,650
• Engine: Parallel Twin
• Capacity: 889 cc
• Power: 119 bhp / 89 kW
• Top Speed: 150 mph / 241 km/h
• Economy: 45 mpg / 6.3 L/100km
• Range: 140 miles / 225 km
• Seat Height: 834 mm / 32.8 inches
• Dry Weight: 166 kg / 366 pounds

What Is It?

Yamaha's middleweight naked needs no introduction and over 125,000 have been sold so far. For 2021 they have made a few Euro 5 tweaks, upgraded the front brakes, updated the dash, made the LED indicators standard and added a funky single LED headlight.

Even better, once you have passed your full test, it has plenty of power for the road once de-restricted. You might also like the Tracer 700 adventure version.

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Key Specs

• RRP: £6,900
• Engine: Parallel Twin
• Capacity: 689 cc
• Power: 72 bhp / 55 kW
• Top Speed: 120 mph / 193 km/h
• Economy: 55 mpg / 5.1 L/100km
• Range: 170 miles / 274 km
• Seat Height: 805 mm / 31.7 inches
• Wet Weight: 184 kg / 406 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.391 bhp/kg
  

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How Did We Rank Our Top Ten?

We looked at all the best naked bikes you can buy new and picked the top contenders, taking into account style, power, technology and value for money.

What Is A Naked Bike?

Originally a naked bike would have been a sports bike with the fairing removed, the wiring tidied up to show off the engine and a few tweaks like flatter handlebars to make the riding position less aggressive.

These days nakeds tend to be designed that way from the off. They also quite often feature a de-tuned engine from the previous generation range topping sports bike, tweaked for lots of torque lower down the range at the expense of top end power. Top speed is usually limited by the ability to hang on versus the wind rather than peak power.

In the grand scheme of things they are one of the most popular classes of bike on the road and tend to be used for short blasts at the weekend rather than longer trips. Retro nakeds offer offer a similar package but with distinct retro styling.

Check out the other types of motorbikes.