The BEST Hypernaked motorcycles of 2023 to go wild on

First they got naked. Then they were naked and super. Now motorcycles are going wild while they strip their fairings… introducing the hypernaked.

A term adopted by manufacturers to prove their wildest creations are more superb than simply being ‘super’, hyperbole or not, the ‘hypernaked’ is a term that has become increasingly familiar in the industry.

For some, it showcases a model’s close blood (well, oil…) relation to a racing cousin, for others the ‘hyper’ is more reflected in its grandeur or luxury (or price).

Whatever the definition, the ‘hypernaked’ segment is growing with recent newcomers including the BMW M 1000 R, the updated Ducati Streetfighter V4 S, not to mention the recently confirmed Norton V4 CR.

But which is the best of the best when it comes to stripping down…? Time to find out… don’t worry, we’re wearing protection.

9 - Brabus 1300 R ‘23

We’ll be honest, we’re not entirely sure why renowned tuning company Brabus has branched out from four wheels into two by essentially pimping out the KTM 1290 Super Duke R.

Heralding the German firm’s first attempt to sprinkle the magic has made it so famous for its Mercedes/AMG association over the decades onto a premium motorcycle… and this is the result, the Brabus 1300 R.

For the most part, the differences between the original 1290 Super Duke R and its wealthier cousin are largely skin deep with Brabus not getting its hands dirty with a 1301cc engine still producing 180bhp and 140Nm of torque… which brings into question why anyone would be willing to part with £22,000 more than the entry level Super Duke.

In Brabus’ defence, the 1300 R is a very successful glow up with the stripped back fascia and blunter nose section making us wonder what a Husqvarna 1301 ‘SuperPilen’ might look like. However, while signature touches, posh upholstery and lashings of carbon fibre are impressive, at £36,999 the Brabus 1300 R is the very definition of excess…

8 - Bimota KB4 RC

Though not as wild as the aforementioned Brabus, ‘excessive’ is the word one could use to describe the Bimota KB4, or more accurately, its marked up price tag.

The second new model to come from Bimota since receiving a sizeable chunk of investment capital courtesy of Kawasaki, the KB4 - available as a neo-retro semi-faired sportsbike or the more minimalist KB4 RC Cafe Racer - is the mellow to the Tesi H2’s bonking bonkers.

Qualifying for this countdown is the stripped back Bimota KB4 RC - aka. Cafe Racer - which trades the standard model’s slinky fairing for an edgier, albeit less distinctive look.

Both pay homage to the effervescent, upmarket motorcycles that could have only come out of Italy, but while the KB4 RC is striking and sophisticated, it doesn’t have the soul of its ancestors.

Perhaps this is because when you peel away the Bimota branding, you’ll find the underpinnings of the rather more sensible Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX. By no means a bad motorcycle - in fact, it’s a very good motorcycle - but it doesn’t quite provide the tools for the dream the KB4 is selling.

With 142bhp on tap, the KB4’s ‘hyper’ appeal doesn’t lie in its pure power - Bimota has the 228bhp Tesi H2 for that - but at £29,999, compared with the equivalent Kawasaki’s £12,349 price tag, you could definitely call that ‘hyperinflation’.

7 - Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS

If you’re after something hyper with a Triumph badge on it, then the Triumph Rocket 3 should satisfy any day of the week provided you can stretch to one.

If you can’t then the best the British marque can offer that can lean towards ADHD is the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, its flagship roadster. 

While we’re perhaps stretching the bounds of what defines ‘hyper’, we’ve included it here mostly because the latest generation model - launched in 2021 - represented a major step up in size, power, performance and maturity.

While ‘mature’ and ‘hyper’ aren’t words that should necessarily go together, the Speed Triple 1200 RS blends sophistication with a sprightly attitude on the road, the characterful tune of the upgraded 1160cc triple-cylinder engine going a long way to making up for any deficits in power.

It’s still a riot on the track, though in this company perhaps ‘low key demonstration’ is a better way to describe it. After all, we Brits would rather keep calm than go hyper…

Visordown Review | Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS

6 - MV Agusta Brutale RR

If the Ducati Streetfighter V4 or Aprilia Tuono V4 are the thinking man or woman’s hypernaked, then the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR is preferred by lusting romantics more prone to leading with their yearning.

A model that wears its heart on its sleeve, the Brutale has evolved over the years into a muscular, statement-making naked that is unashamedly loud at all times.

The devil is in the detail with the Brutale 1000 RR, with quality materials, intricate touches and top notch components - such as the Brembo Stylema brake calipers, Ohlins suspension and SC Project exhausts that prove even pipes can look sexy - lending it a premium, yet exotic look and feel.

In flagship 1000 guise, the Brutale is at its most hyper in RR trim. It packs 208bhp and 116Nm @ 11,000rpm of torque, while it channels its now discontinued brother, the F4, in its dynamics which is to say the Brutale 1000 RR feels meaty, which - put another way - is lacking some refinement.

As with most MVs, the Brutale 1000 RR is a motorcycle you’ll know you want before you check one out and so will have forgiven its flaws. Which is just as well, because at £32,000, you’ll probably have needed a long lie down before signing on the dotted line.

5 - BMW M 1000 R

While those more partial to having four-wheels on their ‘wagen’ have had the pleasure of enjoying BMW’s racing-influenced ‘M’ branded cars for some 50 years, it’s only very recently that the same courtesy has been extended to its two-wheeled counterparts.

Kicking things off with the BMW M 1000 RR, while the winged, electronics-laden sportsbike is really a cheeky attempt at pushing through a Superbike racing special masquerading as a road bike, the second model to swap its ‘S’ for an ‘M’ - the BMW M 1000 R - makes more sense for the average punter.

Based on the S 1000 R - a model that has been crying out for a sporting makeover for some time now - the M 1000 R is, perhaps ironically, basically what the S 1000 R should have been if it derived from the S 1000 RR.

By this we mean the M 1000 R now matches the S 1000 RR on power at 207bhp and comes with all of the clever gadgetary that will keep you sunny side up when pushing on. Plus a fetching new livery too.

It’s a worthwhile upgrade though - the rider aides feels well judged, while it handles with greater agility thanks to a weight-saving diet, though at £19,480, it’s a bit markup in price to compensate. Ultimately, the M 1000 R lacks the soul of its rivals and the heritage of its own name, but it’s a premium BMW that does everything you want from a BMW… just faster.

4 - KTM 1290 Super Duke RR

The rebel of the hypernaked class, the KTM 1290 Super Duke RR is a ‘bad boy’ with an attitude you hate to love. Branded as ‘the Beast’ by KTM itself, the original ‘R’ has now evolved into the ‘RR’, designed purely for ragging on the track because that is exactly what it encourages you to do.

What this means is the RR is a significant 9kg lighter than the original, which levels things up in the power-to-weight ratio by creating a 180kg with 180bhp

KTM has also sprinkled it with the very latest in premium parts, most notably from suspension partners WP APEX, who supply fully adjustable forks and shocks, while it also features Akrapovic slip-on exhaust and is programmed with more advanced Track and Performance riding modes targeted at those keen to get those lap times down.

Bold, brash and a bit bonkers, they say you can’t tame a bike like the KTM 1290 Super Duke RR… but why would you want to?

Visordown Review | KTM 1290 Super Duke RR

3 - Kawasaki Z H2

Arguably the origin story for evolving ‘super’ into  ‘hyper’, it was Kawasaki’s bold move to go rogue on its rivals by fitting a supercharger to a sportsbike that set in motion the trend we see today.

Of course, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is still a veritable behemoth when it comes to motorcycling excess - even now almost a decade after its launch - but over the years its influence has watered down to a more mild mannered, yet still outlandish supercharged hypernaked, the Kawasaki Z H2.

Adopting a number of the same styling cues from the H2, while this means the Z H2 isn’t exactly attractive, it offers ‘strong, silent’ vibes (well, it named Ninja after all…) that certainly appeal if you like that sort of thing.

At its heart is an eager 999cc, 197bhp engine that gives the Z H2 missile-like reflexes, beckoning you to spark the supercharger into action and make like Top Gun at your local runway strip.

Despite the bravado, the Z H2 doesn’t feel as edgy day-to-day than its rivals, while - being a Kawasaki - it is well-equipped and well-built. Better still, at £17,299, it’s the most hyper you can get for less than £18k…

Visordown Review | Kawasaki Z H2 [2020]

2 - Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory

For a long time there has been a very gentlemanly rivalry between those who buy Ducatis and those who buy Aprilias. In many ways they are very similar - both Italian, both bred from racing lineage, both engineered to stir the soul, senses and - if it’s a very twisty road - maybe even your loins…

Those who side with either camp will swear by their respective allegiance but whichever camp you side with, there is a quality hypernaked waiting for you, which in this instance is the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory.

A recent refresh to sprinkle some of Aprilia’s new styling traits that debuted on the RS 660 helps keep the Tuono V4 1100 contemporary, even if it looks a little tired versus the more desirable Ducati Streetfighter V4.

Though based on the RSV4 sportsbike, the Tuono V4 1100 doesn’t pack quite the same punch with 175bhp to make it a touch more compliant to ride day-to-day. It’s a smart move since you’d hardly notice the difference in power, yet it conspires to ensure the Tuono V4 1100 feels taut, agile and devilishly good fun to ride.

It’s even great value right now with entry-level models coming in at £15,500, though the superior Factory flagship - complete with integrated winglets, MotoGP-inspired swingarm and advanced electronics - is worth shelling out for at £18,100 

Visordown Review | Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory

1 - Ducati Streetfighter V4 S

One of the most eagerly anticipated new launches of recent years, the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S is the hypernaked that is definitely worth the hype.

More than simply a stripped back Ducati Panigale V4, the Streetfighter stands on its own as a curated, smartly-engineered model in its own right, bearing a muscular, yet elegant look that - while certainly related to the Panigale V4 - looks bespoke and offering a riding performance that leans back into poised sportsbike instead of feeling like a dialled back one.

Recently refreshed in line with the Panigale V4 facelift, much like its sibling, the Streetfighter V4 benefits from electronic upgrades and power delivery tweaks from Ducati to make it less edgy to ride day-to-day. 

While these are changes that may not get the adrenaline pumping, they do make a huge difference on a trip to Tesco. Rest assured though, the Streetfighter V4 S remains a ferocious animal of a motorcycle, its 208bhp 1103cc V4 engine bursting into life with vigour the moment its asked for.

It makes the Streetfighter V4 S a treat to ride on track or the open road, while everything feels well put together and a premium quality. Which is just as well, because at £22,895 it’s not cheap… but is the best.

Visordown Review | Ducati Streetfighter V4 S

Norton V4 CR [Coming soon...]

The resurrection of Norton shifts up a gear later this year with the launch of the Norton V4 CR.

The third fresh motorcycle to emerge from the once-beleaguered British firm since its acquisition by TVS Motors, relocation to Solihull and complete overhaul of its management structure, while the first two models - the V4 SV and Commando 961 - were merely reboots of the existing line-up, the V4 CR is the first proper go at a new motorcycle.

Granted, it owes its existence - and most of its parts - to the V4 SV, but the V4 CR (aka. Cafe Racer) blends the contemporary look of the sportsbike with Norton’s more synonymous vintage traits to create a neo-retro that is both fresh yet very recognisable.

Under the skin remains Norton’s familiar 1200cc V4 producing 185bhp and 125Nm of torque at 9,000rpm, all of which will be subject to the firm’s much talked about quality control procedures. 

We’ll have to get our hands on it to find out what it’s like on the road, but at £41,999, suffice to say, we really hope it rides as good as it looks…

*Prices correct at time of writing [June 2023]

 Top 10 BEST Hypernakeds of 2023 | Key Specifications and Technical Details Comparison