Simon Daukes buys a naked motorcycle

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Although sportsbikes continue to dominate the UK's bike sales market their success is starting to decline. Compared to last year sportsbike sales are down 4% year on year and there is a definite shift away from race reps to alternative styles. And which style of bike is currently going through the biggest revival? The naked bike.According to official industry figures up until the end of September 2006 a total of 21,211 sportsbikes were sold, compared to 17,415 naked bikes. And these two figures are getting closer as the sportsbike market drops and the naked one climbs. So why are riders changing their preference?One school of thought is that sportsbikes are simply getting too extreme. Riders are finding fewer and fewer places to unleash 160bhp and the potential penalties - ban, prison, losing the wife off the back at 140mph - are starting to out weigh the benefits. Then there is the problem with theft, insurance costs and all the various evils that go with owning a sportsbike.But not all riders want to abandon the benefits that come with a sportsbike, namely a powerful engine, quality suspension and decent brakes. Which is where these naked bikes come in. These bikes offer the handling and performance of a sportsbike, just with out the extreme riding position and at the expense of some top end power and speed.

Who the hell are you? Simon Daukes is your traditional sportsbike owner who has ridden (and had stolen) a variety of race replica bikes. He is looking at buying a new bike but having test rode the latest versions of both the R1 and Fireblade has found they simply don't offer what he now wants and, like many other owners, has decided to buy a naked bike. He is your average sportsbike owner, married, kids grown up and looking at using the bike to commute with, take out on a blast and also take the wife on the back for occasional trips. So with our very own Niall Mackenzie on hand to offer advice we let Simon loose on the best naked bikes around.

Now listen here, you...Mackenzie offers his advice to Simon Daukes

Niall Mackenzie: When I first saw the Speed Triple in white the colour did it for me. It's like a throwback to the old RD350LC, I loved it.

Simon Dawkes: Really? For me it was the absolute opposite. It just doesn't do it for me, but that bloody green... Anyway, the three-cylinder engine is really good. I like the torque, it pulls smoothly and cleanly and makes just the right noise. It's not outrageously loud, but it pops a bit on the overrun in a pleasant way. It's quite charming. But I don't know what the build quality is like.

NM: I can always pick faults with build quality. If there are bolts sticking out all over the place it annoys me. With the Triple it looks like Triumph has made an effort to get everything finished right; if you pull the fairing off my 675 you'll spot things that don't fit quite right, but not with the Triple. It looks really good from every angle.

SD: The thing that amazed me was that I started liking it as soon as I sat on it. It's just so comfortable, not that you would necessarily place comfort high on your list of priorities on a naked bike, but you sit on it and think, 'this is nice.'

NM: The handling is reassuring as well. It's balanced and makes a lovely road bike and works well with the engine. If you use the torque, keep it in a high gear and keep everything smooth it's very good. Over big bumps the front wasn't great, but that's its only downside, and it isn't that bad. What I really like is the a feel good factor, the little touches like the chrome headlights, the instruments and the cleanness of the design.

SD: I'm not a fan of the chrome lights, and I'd probably prefer a bigger front cowl. The thing is, although people say sports bikes are uncomfortable, you do get a fairing to hide behind. Modern sports bikes actually make bloody good tourers.

NM: I'm not sure a naked bike could be your only bike, one for all seasons, because they don't have enough weather protection. I like a fairing to hide behind.

SD: That's exactly the problem I have with these bikes. As soon as I got on the Superduke I adored it, thought it was wonderful, but then I thought if I could own it as my only bike. For a start I'm not sure how long I could ride it before getting into trouble, and I just worry because it felt flimsy. Maybe that's just its lightness; KTM know how to build bikes, it's just an impression.

NM: KTMs are definitely robust enough. But you're right, the Superduke would get you into trouble, it's just so easy to wheelie and stoppie and you're going to be wanting to do them all the time.

SD: It wasn't the wheelies that were the problem with me, it was the speed. The Superduke is very easy to go quick on and I found myself going well over 40 and 50mph limits in town without noticing. It's too easy to speed. The motor is very smooth and the power, and with it speed, builds up before you know it. I could see SP30s also building up too.

NM: Yeah, but you need to get it out of town, that's when it gets even better. The Superduke goes as well as looks good. Out of these four bikes the Superduke is the one I felt the most comfortable going hard on. The chassis is sportier than the others, like a proper sports bike with a naked bike look. There's certainly more to come with the Superduke, I could easily use it as an instructor's bike at my track days. The only thing that may cause it to drop behind on the road are the bars. How many mirrors have you hit so far filtering?

SD: I hit the brake lever rather than the bars, but they're definitely a bit on the long side. I'd probably fit shorter ones if I owned it and had to commute everyday. I think I got away lightly after hitting the lever because the brakes are really sharp and it could have had me off.

NM: Yeah, lucky. What did you think of the Kawasaki?

SD: Out of these four bikes I had only ridden the Z1000 before and I remember loving it, but when I took this home I straight away thought no, this is in third place. It was far more upright that I remembered it. What I liked about the Triumph was that the bars had a little bit of lean on them putting some weight forwards; with the Z1000 you're fully upright. I don't know if the 2007 bike will be any different, but it doesn't look it on first sight.

NM: What did you think about the Z's engine, compared to the V-twins and the triple?

SD: Characterless, and the torque just isn't there. It was also as lumpy as hell until it warmed up. Not nice at all.

NM: I found it bland, especially in this company. It doesn't stand out at all. It's a bike you could put any bodywork on and make it any bike. Kawasaki has just chosen to style it this way. It's capable, but very middle of the road. And the engine isn't inspiring. It lacks bottom end and doesn't excite.

SD: It would probably be a good first big bike. It's docile, handles beautiful and for an adventurous new rider would be great.

NM: Yes, very user friendly, just a bit universal and doesn't excel in any way. It just left me flat. You wouldn't go to your garage after tea to stop and stare at the Z. On the road the suspension felt squidgy and the front was vague. Newer riders may not spot this but once you get the pace up it starts to fall behind. It's easy enough to ride, and once on the move the lack of bottom end isn't as noticeable or annoying, but it doesn't excite like the KTM or have the Triumph's fun factor. Then again, it's a lot easier than the Aprilia.

SD: The Aprilia's suspension was just so harsh, especially compared to a sports bike like a Blade. I'm not a huge fan of twins, which is probably why I'm erring towards the Speed Triple, but the Tuono was hard work. Also it felt bigger than the others, by about 15 per cent, which I didn't like because I'm not the tallest guy in the world. And the bars are ridiculous, even wider than the KTM's.

NM: Yeah, I don't find the RSV-R particularly comfortable, but it's a cracking sports bike which lets it off. But out of the four bikes here the Tuono is the least comfortable. You just know it started life as something else. Four years ago it was the daddy, but not any more. Other manufacturers have made the effort to make a dedicated naked bike rather than a re-hashed sports bike. The Tuono's engine is great, but the bars are too wide and footpegs too high for me.

SD: It feels really aggressive to me.

NM: Yes it is, even to the point where I don't feel 100 per cent in control. It might be the riding position. It's certainly mad, but while I know I can go mad and stay in control on the KTM, I'm not sure with the Tuono.

SD: You've got me worried if you think that!

NM: It has a strong engine, but lacks the finesse of the others. It's crude. They've simply ripped the bodywork off an RSV-R and stuck some bars on it.

TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE

I have to confess to having a soft spot for Speed Triples. Simon hit the nail on the head when he said everything just feels right about them. That's the key to the modern Triumph range, they work fantastically well as road bikes. Hop on a Speed Triple and the suspension, brakes and engine all complement each other, rather than fighting an all-out war as they do on the Tuono. Niall reckoned the suspension was a bit soft but that will only show up if you're really getting it on. For day to day use I reckon it's just about spot-on.

But the best thing about the bike is without doubt the engine: it's a beauty. The three-cylinder motor is always willing to pull no matter which gear you're in, the fuel injection is spot-on with none of the glitches we've come to expect on modern bikes and the muted popping on the overrun is wonderful. It's also one of the best wheelie bikes out there, if that's your thing.

But the Triple does have some faults. The gearbox is clunky and not a patch on anything from Japan, while the pillion seat is suicidal. But these are easily forgotten (unless you're a pillion of course... ). This is Triumph's best-selling bike with a huge cult following, and that says a lot. As for the colour options, well, I love the new white colour and I'm starting to sway towards the roulette green too. Not sure what this says about me though...

KTM SUPER DUKE

Riding KTM's Super Duke is like sleeping with a girl who already has a boyfriend. You know it could end in a world of pain and suffering, but the thrill of getting away with it keeps you coming back for more. Trouble is, there's simply no way of riding the KTM sensibly - it just isn't that kind of bike, which is a bit of a problem. Both Niall and Simon thought it would land them in trouble, although interestingly for for different reasons. I agree with them. The problem (and, it must be said, the sweet, sweet joy) with the KTM is that it's packed full of fun and naughtiness, and this stems from having a superb chassis and brilliant engine. KTM's first real attempt at a big bike engine - and it's easy to forget they had only been knocking out single-cylinder lumps until this motor appeared - is a superb motor. The V-twin is really smooth through the whole rev range and delivers massive, thumping amounts of torque, which easily propel the front into the air in the first two gears.

Last time I rode a Super Duke the fuel injection was all over the place, but it seems like KTM have nailed this bugbear down. This bike, which is a 2006 model, suffered no such problems. But because that motor is so smooth speed builds up really quickly - at least it does up to around the 80mph mark, which is a problem in town and 50mph limits! Out of town the KTM is an absolute hoot to ride. It has a chassis that feels like it has loads more to offer, rarely, if ever, getting out of shape on country roads and, as Niall said, it would make a great track day bike. I really could see myself owning a Super Duke. I love the insect looks, fantastic engine and blinding brakes. But I'm not sure I have the required self-control not to get into some serious trouble.

KAWASAKI Z1000

I remember my first ride on a Z1000: it was a crushing disappointment. When it was first unveiled the mighty Z appeared to have it all - fantastic looks, a big-bored ZX-9R motor and top quality components. But the bike fails to deliver. First there's the motor. Nothing annoys me more than a naked bike with no low-down grunt. The Z is as flat as Holland until 7000rpm or so, and that's not goood enough. The funky exhausts sap some power, but Kawasaki simply hasn't worked the motor correctly. It feels less powerful low-down than a ZX-9R, which is daft as this is a big-bore version of that machine!

Then there's the chassis and the handling. The suspension doesn't like to be pushed and the ground clearance is limited. Up the pace and the shock feels really soft and front end feedback isn't fantastic.

Ride a Tuono, Speed Triple or KTM and you're rewarded with a real sense of involvement and emotion, but riding the Z is a forgettable experience. As a day-to-day tool the Z1000 is perfectly capable, but I want a bike that reminds me why I love two wheels, namely the joy of riding. The Z doesn't do it for me.

APRILIA TUONO

Riding a Tuono is hard work. It isn't a friendly bike; it's raw, aggressive and has an air of nastiness. Which, I'm sure, is part of the reason why people love them. And quite a few people do love Tuonos - it's Aprilia's best selling bike in the UK and has a dedicated following, but I'm sure a lot of this is due to the image. The Tuono shouts 'Bad Boy' in looks, sound and feel. That 60-degree V-twin motor is harsh and unforgiving, and appears here in exactly the same guise as it does in the RSV-R. No changes to the power, same gearing, everything. And I like that, because the Z1000 shows what a mess manufacturers, with the best of intentions, can make of a good motor.

Trouble is the throttle response is very direct and the motor delivers an instant hit of hard power. It vibrates a lot, and there's a bit of a snatch from closed to open throttle. Add this to the chassis, again unfettered RSV-R, and you've simply got a stripped-down, full-on sports bike. In the right conditions the Tuono is a fantastic bike, but in town or for gentle commuting the the Tuono is hard work. If ridden on fast, smooth roads, the odd track day or you just like larking about at weekends a Tuono will be a bundle of laughs and is good value for money. For day-to-day use though it's less appealing.

So we reckon...

Deciding which naked bike to buy is a lot tougher than choosing a sports bike. Each manufacturer has decided on a different approach and come up with a motorcycle addressing a variety of different riders' needs.

Kawasaki has gone for the de-tuned sportsbike engine wrapped in a good looking package, which is no bad thing if that's what you're after. Trouble is, it's just a bit soulless to ride and, possibly, to own. At the other extreme Aprilia has decided to give the rider the full monty. No messing about, you get an RSV-R sports bike with the fairing ripped off and a set of flat bars stuck on. Nothing else is changed. Great, if that's what you are after, but the Tuono is full-on all the time, which isn't something all riders want. If you do then buy one, hold on tight and enjoy the ride. And that just leaves the KTM and Triumph.

In many ways the Triumph is the better bet. The engine is a beauty, the chassis sweet on the road and it looks fantastic, even in green. Well I think so... Okay, it has some weak points, but buy one and you get an extensive dealer network, a great range of official extras and a busy owner's club to join. Owning a Triumph can easily become a lifestyle.

Which leaves the KTM. The Super Duke is undoubtedly a cracking bike that would be tremendous fun to own. It isn't as comfortable as the Speed Triple but the fun factor easily outweighs that. But could you have one as your only bike? Yes, as long as you were restrained. For the 'enthusiastic' rider the KTM would open the door to endless wheelies, track use and general silliness, which is great if that's your bag. But for the more restrained among us, the Speed Triple would be the better buy.