There is something to say about the plucky Brits, and that is that they never give up. It will detect if the rear wheel spins up on a patch of cold tarmac if you give it a good helping of wrist, and instead of slipping out the rear and dumping you facefirst into the said tarmac, it will squat the rear for more traction, stop the tire spinning up, and get you safely on your way, as an example.Īs they themselves say, KTM likens the 1290 Super Duke R EVO is not just an evolution of the Super Duke, but a redefining of it into a cold, calculating hunter, a pure streetfighter, ready to pounce on any other naked that comes near it. It still produces the same 180 HP and bonkers 104 lb-ft of torque, yet is now also Euro 5 compliant with its exhaust system, giving it a deeper, throatier v-twin burble.Īlso new in the EVO is what KTM likes to call SAT: Semi-Active Technology, which constantly adjusts both the front and rear suspension, as well as the traction control and stability control, in real-time to react to both the road underneath the tires, but the riders’ inputs. Remaining is the 1,301cc LC8 V-twin, yet those Austrians have developed a new alloy that is lighter than the 2021 model’s engine without sacrificing any performance or strength. It isn’t often that we say that a naked bike that we considered to be nearly perfect could be improved, yet KTM decided that the already bonkers 1290 Super Duke R needed just a little bit more thrown at it. If you need to have one of the most exotic and purpose-driven streetfighters in your garage, then consider this red rocket which adopted the same name, the Streetfighter V2. The 955cc V-twin, or as Ducati labels it the SuperQuadro, pushes out a respectable 153 HP, 75 lb-ft of torque, and will reach into the 11,500 RPM range before even tickling at the redline. A full suite of electronics and rider aids are standard, including the revised and updated 6-axis IMU, stability control, traction control, anti-wheelie, ABS, and selectable riding modes that speak more to street use than setting the fastest lap time at the track. ![]() That’s not all that has been changed, as the saddle is now longer, wider, and thicker, giving the V2 all-day riding comfort. Replacing them are a pair of high and wide clip-ons, with a lower and further forward tank to move the riding position from racing to sport-standard. ![]() Gone are 90% of the aerodynamic fairings as well as the low and back clip-ons. Much like the Ducati Streetfighter V4S, the new 2023 Streetfighter V2 takes the Panigale V2 and interprets it in a new, meaner, leaner way. There might be a bike or two that you point to that I left off, but just know that I considered it, and I believe these are the best options. I looked at everything from styling to price to performance. There are been many good naked motorcycles built this year, and it’s tough to find the ones that are the best. You’ll find single piece handlebars instead of clip-on’s, a more upright riding position, retuned engines, and usually higher gearing.Īll told, these are the thrill machines you should buy if you’re interested in a sporty but still street-focused experience and don’t mind getting blasted with the wind while you do it. ![]() Often, the design is a fully-faired sportbike that has been stripped down, reworked, and made a little more street-friendly. Naked bikes come in many different forms. In my mind, it’s the way motorcycles are meant to be experienced. They offer a more of a wind-in-your-face, raw experience. These bikes are stripped of their fairings and ready to ride. Sounds sexy right? Well, in most cases, that’s true.
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