Questions
What is a naked bike?
A naked bike is a roadster motorcycle with little or no fairing, an exposed engine and an upright riding position built for everyday use rather than the racetrack.
Where a fully-faired sports bike wraps the engine and frame in plastic bodywork for aerodynamics, a naked bike leaves most of that mechanical detail on show. The rider sits more upright, the bars are usually wider and closer than a sports bike's clip-ons, and there is often little more than a small flyscreen up front. That upright stance makes naked bikes easier to live with day to day: better visibility, less strain commuting, and no fairing to crack in a low-speed tip-over. Many naked bikes share an engine and chassis with a faired sports model in the same range, stripped down and retuned for road riding rather than outright top speed.
Riders who like showing the mechanicals off tend to suit our biker gifts range, particularly the blueprint machine studies. If the stripped-down, aggressive end of naked bikes appeals more, what is a streetfighter motorcycle? covers that variant.
Written by Craig Fearn, Throttlefolio.
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Questions, answered
Is a naked bike good for beginners?+
Often recommended, yes - the upright position and exposed engine keep repair costs down if the bike is dropped, and the riding position suits learning.
What is the opposite of a naked bike?+
A fully-faired bike, such as a sports bike or tourer, where bodywork covers the frame and engine rather than leaving them on show.
From the journal