SportRider has an article up on their site with a comparison of a bunch of the top Naked bikes on the market today. Six top Naked Bikes were wrung out- Aprilia Tuono R, Ducati Monster S4R, Kawasaki Z1000, KTM Super Duke, MV Agusta Brutale 910R, and Yamaha FZ1
Why they didn’t include a Buell XB in the mix is anyone’s guess since the XB’s (9 and 12) are crazy fun to ride and always put a huge smile on my face. Not only that, but they are really pretty cheap compared to the European stuff. Add in the big V-twin torque, and I think you have a really under-rated and ignored naked, streetfighter style bike. I’ve had a couple of the XB9SX’s and really had a lot of fun with them. They feel like a dirt bike with a giant motor- short wheelbase, high bars and light weight. So which of these other naked bikes is right for you? It’s mostly personal taste. One you get into that class of bike, they all have their own personalties and quirks.
Because these six bikes cover such a price range, we didn’t include a ratings chart with this test, nor will we name a winner. Our testers’ picks, as described in the accompanying SROs, cover just as wide a range as the bikes do. It really depends on what you want to do with your bike naked…er, naked bike. And let’s not forget the other offerings in the always-expanding class;
Since they didn’t include a Buell, I thought I’d give you a picture of the XB9 I painted in Harley Orange to make up for it!
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