Naked bike

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Ducati Monster S4R
Ducati Monster S4R
Suzuki GS500E fully naked bike
Suzuki GS500E fully naked bike
Honda CB600F Hornet
Honda CB600F Hornet

Naked bike refers to a class of road motorcycles without fairings.

Also known as a "standard" or "street bike", this is the basic form of the motorcycle stripped down to its fundamental parts. The emphasis is on functionality and ergonomics rather than aerodynamic body panels and exaggerated riding positions that are most common on sport bikes.

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[edit] Origins

The original "naked" bikes were the café racers of the 1950's and 1960's, which were bikes that were stripped down for riding and racing to the many transport cafés (hence the name "café racer") that had sprung up along the highways. However the "modern" naked bike trend (as the first motorcycles could be classified as naked bikes as well) started in Europe, during the late 1980s. At that time, sportbikes, especially Suzuki's GSX-R, were popular all over the continent. However, the relatively high speed and acceleration of these motorcycles, coupled with the unstable (compared to today) suspension and frame components used, resulted in many crashes in which the bike's plastic fairings were superficially damaged. Because these fairings were expensive to replace, many began to strip them off altogether, resulting in the first streetfighters. Japanese manufacturers were quick to catch on, and in 1988 Honda created the first production naked bike, the Honda HawkGT NT650. Others soon followed.

[edit] Examples

[edit] Characteristics

As their name implies, all naked bikes lack fairings (Triumph's Speed Triple) or have small, half-fairings (Ducati's Monster S4R). The top of the line, 1000cc naked bikes usually have performance comparable to the fastest of the middleweight supersport class (such as Kawasaki's ZX-6R). However, the bikes are less focused for the track, and thus have more liveable ergonomics and riding positions as compared to superbikes like Suzuki's GSX-R series. Naked bikes are geared, in the most part, towards higher acceleration at the sacrifice of overall top speed (through transmission gearing and sprocket size).

[edit] "Muscle" bikes

Large engine displacement versions of the "naked" type of motorcycle are often referred to as "muscle" bikes. Muscle bikes originated in Japan as an outgrowth of the naked bike phenomenon that was taking place in Europe. Their main characteristics are vast amounts of torque and a broad power spectrum, plus lower gearing compared to a sportbike and an upright seating position. Most "muscle" bikes also forgo modern fuel injection, computer management and monoshock suspension seen on the latest sports models, settling for more traditional carburetors and twin rear shocks. Styling is typically reminiscent of Japanese standards from the 1970s and 1980s. These motorcycles are also referred to as "hooligan bikes"; despite what they may lack in state-of-the-art components, these bikes are considered very fun to ride due to the large, powerful engines allowing them to wheelie easily. Models such as the Kawasaki ZRX1200, Yamaha XJ1300 and Suzuki GSX1400 fit this category. The Kawasaki Z1000 has many of the modern components that any other super sport bike would have, like fuel injection and digital speedometer.

[edit] Appeal

Naked bikes are loved in Europe for their tough, bare-bones styling and the subsequent attitude they seem to exude as well as their link to the classic café racers of the post-war years. The naked class is not as popular in the United States but is growing rapidly, albeit not significantly enough to displace the sportbike/cruiser phenomenon that is taking place there.

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