We have covered the race replicas, the mile-munching tourers, and the dirt-loving enduro machines. But what happens when you take all the plastic off, fit a set of flat bars, and tune the engine for wheelies?
You get the purest form of motorcycling there is. Welcome to part twelve of "What the Fork?", where we are looking at naked bike history.
Naked bikes (or roadsters, or streetfighters) are biking distilled. There is no fairing to hide behind. No screen to deflect the flies. It’s just you, an engine, and the wind trying to rip your head off at 70mph. And it is brilliant.
1. The Original Recipe
In the beginning, all bikes were "naked". If you bought a Norton Commando or a Honda CB750 in the 70s, it didn't come with a fairing. It was just a motorcycle.
But as the 80s rolled in, aerodynamics became the obsession. Sports bikes arrived with their full plastic fairings, and touring bikes got screens the size of barn doors. The humble "standard" bike became the boring option. It was the bike you bought because you couldn't afford the race replica.
The naked bike was dying. It needed a rebellion to bring it back.
2. The Streetfighter Rebellion
Naked bike history took a sharp turn in the late 80s and early 90s, and it started in the garage, not the showroom.
Young riders were crashing their expensive GSX-Rs and FZRs. Replacing a shattered plastic fairing cost a fortune, often more than the bike was worth. So, they improvised.
- Bin the broken plastic.
- Fit a pair of cheap twin headlights (usually from a car or a tractor).
- Drill the top yoke and fit Renthal motocross handlebars.
The "Streetfighter" was born. They were ugly, aggressive, and usually ridden by people with a healthy disregard for traffic laws. They handled weirdly at speed because of the aerodynamics, but the upright riding position made them wheelie monsters.
Modified Your Bike?
Changed the bars? Removed the fairing? Fitted a loud exhaust? We love a modded bike. Tell us what you've done.
Get a Quote3. The Monster That Saved Ducati
While the Brits and Germans were building streetfighters in sheds, an Italian designer named Miguel Galluzzi was sketching something for Ducati. His philosophy was simple: "All you need is a saddle, tank, engine, two wheels, and handlebars."
In 1993, Ducati launched the Monster M900. It used the frame from their superbike (the 888) and an air-cooled engine from their tourer. It looked incredible. It was muscular, essential, and cool.
The Monster was a massive hit. It basically saved Ducati from bankruptcy and proved to the major manufacturers that people wanted naked bikes. They didn't want boring commuters; they wanted performance bikes without the back ache.
Thinking of switching from a sports bike to a naked? Be prepared for the wind blast. Above 80mph, your neck muscles take a beating. Invest in a decent aerodynamic helmet, or just embrace the workout. You'll have a neck like a prop forward in no time.
4. The Hooligan Era: Speed Triple & Tuono
Once the manufacturers caught on, the floodgates opened. Triumph released the Speed Triple in 1994. Originally it was just a Daytona without a fairing, but when they added the twin "bug eye" headlights in 1997, it became an icon. It was the factory streetfighter.
Then Aprilia went a step further with the Tuono. They literally took their RSV Mille superbike, removed the fairing, and fitted high bars. They didn't detune the engine. It was madness. It wheelied everywhere. It was loud. It was brilliant.
5. The Hyper-Naked Arms Race
Today, naked bike history has entered the "Hyper-Naked" phase.
We have bikes like the Ducati Streetfighter V4, the BMW M1000R, and the KTM 1290 Super Duke R. These machines have 200bhp. Let that sink in. Two hundred horsepower on a bike with zero wind protection.
They have wings to stop them flipping over backward. They have electronics to stop you high-siding into orbit. They are faster than the superbikes of ten years ago, yet you can ride them to the shops without needing a chiropractor afterwards.
6. The Retro Revival
At the other end of the spectrum, we have the "Modern Classics". Bikes like the Yamaha XSR900 or the Kawasaki Z900RS. These look like the naked bikes of the 70s but go and stop like modern machines. They tap into that nostalgia for the days when a bike was just an engine and wheels, but without the oil leaks and electrical failures.
Final thoughts
The naked bike is the Swiss Army Knife of the road (well, until the Adventure bikes stole that title). It can commute, it can tour (if your neck is strong), and it can embarrass sports bikes on a track day.
It reminds us why we started riding in the first place. It’s not about lap times or aerodynamics. It’s about the wind in your face and the feeling of an engine underneath you.
Long live the hooligan.
For more info on the legal requirements for your bike (especially if you're building a streetfighter), check the government rules on motorcycle vehicle approval.
