The 17 Best Naked Motorcycles for 2022

Modern sportbikes offer ultra-competent performance capabilities, rivaling that of six and seven-figure supercars in terms of acceleration, top-speeds, and cornering, while literally costing a small fraction of the price. These are unmistakably race-derived machines that have been engineered for the track, with full suites of aerodynamic bodywork, low-mounted clip-on handlebars, high-gearing, and powerbands that offer the majority of their oomph near redline. And while these elements make for a ridiculously fun motorcycle on the track, they’re far from conducive to street riding.

Often stripped down and modified versions of existing fully-faired sports models, naked motorcycles retain the high-performance nature of sport and superbikes, while being more practical for the road. Their clip-ons are replaced by single-piece handlebars that result in a more comfortable upright riding position, easily-damaged full fairings are shed and replaced with street-fighter-style items, and engines are retuned and gearing is lowered for better torque and acceleration at the cost of lower top speeds, which you’ll seldom if ever use on the street. Offering the perfect blend of performance and utility, naked bikes are produced by practically every manufacture, so we’ve taken the time to pare down the abundance of available models within the segment to bring you this guide to the best naked motorcycles.

Just like with scramblers, cafe racers, and a host of other moto genres that have come before it, the naked bike class was essentially the result of manufacturers mimicking a popular customization trend. In the years following the release of the first modern sportbike in the mid-1980s (with Suzuki’s original GSX-R750), fully-faired, road-legal race replicas experienced a tremendous influx in popularity, especially with young, thrill-seeking riders.

Unsurprisingly, motorcycles capable of supercar performance metrics being piloted by teenagers resulted in a fair amount of wrecks. With thrashed bodywork, bent clip-ons, limited financial resources, and a continued desire to ride, a lot of the young owners of these bikes simply removed the damaged fairings entirely, mounted on a set of wide, MX-style bars, tacked on the cheapest available road-legal headlight, and got back on the road. This type of bike became known as a “Street Fighter” (an example of which can be seen in the photo directly below, in which a Honda CBR1000RR has been transformed into a streetfighter).

As Street Fighters became more and more prevalent in the motorcycle world, aftermarket companies began offering headlights, waspish, suspended tail sections, and other parts made specifically to serve the naked sportbike market. The naked class was also spurred on by models like the Ducati Monster, which took an existing sportbike frame (888) and engine (900SS) and built a markedly more “streetable” motorcycle around them. Shortly after its launch, the Monster became one of the Italian firm’s all-time best-selling models, prompting other manufacturers to follow suit. Today, naked motorcycles constitute one of the most popular segments in existence, as well as a good chunk of the new bikes you’ll see out on the road.

Technically speaking, any motorcycle that doesn’t have a full fairing is considered a “naked,” as the term’s in reference to a motorcycle’s lack of bodywork. Having said that, the naked monicker is more in reference to superbike or sportbike models that have been rid of the majority of their bodywork, retuned and regeared, and outfitted with handlebars and foot controls that allow for an upright riding position. In the photo directly above, we can see a fully-faired superbike model (in this case Aprilia’s RSV4 1100 Factory) alongside its naked counterpart (the Tuono 1100 Factory).

Largely inspired by turn-of-the-millennium era, garage-built street fighters, many modern nakeds employ aesthetic designs that are essentially “nakedized” versions of existing superbikes. A more accurate term would probably be “naked sportbike.” It’s also worth mentioning that “naked” doesn’t necessarily mean entirely devoid of bodywork, and rather denotes the distinct lack of a front fairing or panels that cover the engine. Nakeds also typically lack the tall windscreen that superbike riders hide behind on the straights. So, now that you’ve got a solid understanding of this two-wheeled genre, let’s dive into our picks for the best naked motorcycles that you can buy.

The Best Naked Motorcycles of 2022

Kawasaki Z400

A naked version of Team Green’s Ninja 400, the Z400 is a more powerful alternative to the majority of entry-level segment options, offering a bit more get-up-and-go that ensures new riders won’t quickly outgrow the thing. On top of gaining some added displacement over the normally 250-300cc-sized single-cylinder mills found on most beginner motorcycle models, the little Z is kicked along by a parallel twin that allows for a top speed of nearly 120mph. A 30.9” seat height makes it easy to get a foot down, too. Equipped with a slipper clutch, the Z400 is good for more than 50mpg — even with the most spirited of riding — and a range of over 180-miles on a single tank. The Z400’s aesthetics are also largely based on that of the larger displacement members of Kawasaki’s Z range, giving the entry-level model the appearance of a bigger machine.

Purchase: $4,999

Kawasaki Z900

The Z900 wonderfully epitomizes the naked segment. It’s aggressive-looking with a clear streetfighter influence in the insect-like headlight arrangement and waspish tail section, has an upright yet attack-ready rider’s triangle, and offers a front-wheel-lofting amount of power, all at an MSRP that can be had for under $10,000 out-the-door. Its performance and appearance have made it a popular choice amongst thrill-seeking riders that still want something practical, however, it should be noted that the Z900 is very much not a beginner-friendly model (as is any roughly-liter-sized multi-cylinder motorcycle). There are also a few unexpected features for a sub-$10K non-Euro model like smartphone connectivity, multiple power modes, and traction control, which make it a more enticing offering. And, though it’s admittedly a little decisive, the taillight on the Z900 boasts an idiosyncratic Z-shaped design that we think is brilliant. This is also the model that the Japanese brand’s retro-styled Z900RS and RS Cafe Racer are constructed around.

Purchase: $8,999

KTM 890 Duke R

Penned by renowned Austrian design firm, KISKA, the 890 Duke is a high-performance hooligan bike with a sharp and aggressive appearance and more than enough power and agility to back up its menacing persona. From the tail section to the tank to the radiator shrouds to the headlight, practically every element of the 890’s design is wholly unique. Smaller and more nimble than KTM’s flagship 1290 Super Duke R, but still sufficiently powerful enough for just about any kind of trouble you might want to get up to, the 890cc parallel-twin makes for a solid Goldilocks model. And, aside from lacking the single-sided swing-arm, we’d actually argue the 890 is a better-looking machine than its 1,301cc sibling. Lastly, while it isn’t a sub-$10,000 motorcycle, the 890’s price is still something of a bargain when you consider you’re getting a full-size, Austrian-made, top-of-the-line high-performance two-wheeler for under $12K.

Purchase: $12,399

Triumph Street Triple RS

While it’s a notoriously fun motorcycle, the Street Triple’s bug-eyed appearance has traditionally rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, though the latest iteration of the “Striple” has made tremendous strides in the aesthetic design department, with a now sleeker, more cohesive and complete-looking model — including a legitimately attractive LED headlight configuration with daytime running lights. The potent 765cc inline-three inside the Street Triple is the same engine that’s currently used across the entire Moto2 class and makes for license-jeopardizing amounts of fun in the saddle. Of the existing Street Triple models, the track-focused, top-of-the-line variant is the RS-spec, which gets numerous upgrades including a quick-shifter as standard, 41 mm Showa Big Piston fork, Öhlins STX40 mono-shock, Brembo M50 monoblocks, belly pan, rear tail cowl with competition-style “bum-stop,” and numerous carbon fiber bits. Equipped with a top-shelf TFT display, this model has an optional accessory that allows for connectivity to the Triumph app and lets the handlebar-mounted buttons control a GoPro or a smartphone’s music playback.

Purchase: $12,850

Yamaha MT-10

The flagship member of Yamaha’s so-called “Hyper Naked” lineup, the MT-10 is a liter-sized street-fighter loosely based around the Tuning Fork Company’s cutting-edge R1, sharing the superbike’s aluminum Deltabox frame and the Crossplane crank-equipped 16-valve inline-four. Previously known as the FZ-10 (in some markets), the big MT — which is short for “Masters of Torque” — is outfitted with a host of modern electronics that all come standard such as Yamaha chip-controlled wide-by-wire throttle, multiple fuel maps, adjustable traction control, a quick shifter (up only), and a cruise control system intended to enhance touring duties. The insect-meets-Transformers aesthetic definitely isn’t for everyone, and we do have a beef with the MT-10’s extremely pronounced non-functional intake scoops, as they seem a peculiar addition to what’s supposed to be a stripped-down genre rid of all superfluous parts, albeit the MT-10 is still a seriously fantastic motorcycle.

Purchase: $12,999

Ducati Hypermotard 950

Designed by Pierre Terblanche, the Hypermotard is a supermoto-inspired street bike that’s unequivocally one of the most fun motorcycles that money can buy. Taking half of its DNA from the dirt bike world and the other from the sportbike realm, the Hypermotard offers track-ready performance while remaining incredibly conducive to urban riding applications. Short of long-range touring, the Hypermotard can do just about anything. Underneath its Motard-themed bodywork are all the modern electronic bells and whistles that one would expect from the Borgo Panigale brand, with multiple ride modes, BOSCHE cornering ABS, and Ducati traction and wheelie control. Ducati does sell a higher-specced SP version with Ohlins suspension and a few carbon bits, (for a $3,600 premium), though the 45mm aluminum inverted Marzocchi fork and Sachs mono-shock that come on the base model are more than competent enough for 95% of two-wheeled hooliganism.

Purchase: $13,395+

Suzuki Katana

Originally unveiled in 1981, the Suzuki Katana was an icon of its era, with a distinctive wedge half-fairing that left little doubt as to the time this model was born out of. The Katana remained in production through the mid-aughts, though by the time the Hamamatsu firm pulled the plug on the bike, it’d become a far cry from the highly-recognizable first generation. So, when Suzuki released an updated version of the iconic Japanese motorcycle in 2019, riders were excited to see the manufacturer opted to stay true to the Katana’s original design while bestowing it with a few modern aesthetic tweaks with sharper lines all around and a belly pan to round out the bottom of its silhouette. At the heart of the new Katana is a modified version of the engine from the 2005-2008 model year Gixxer 1000, which, despite being a decade and a half old, hasn’t grown long in the tooth. Modern performance, 1980s style, what’s not to love?

Purchase: $13,499

Indian FTR 1200 S

The FTR1200 marked a major departure from Indian Motorcycle’s traditional cruiser-style bikes, with the flat track-inspired model representing a markedly more performance-focused offering for America’s oldest moto marque. While still powered by a large-displacement American-made V-Twin, the FTR was engineered for deep-lean angles (up to 43°)  and aggressive riding, while still being tame enough for normal daily riding duties. And while the base model FTR is plenty competent, the S-spec is well worth the extra $2,500, gaining adjustable IMU-regulated traction control and ABS, wheelie mitigation, stability control, a trio of ride modes, electronic cruise control, a Ride Command-connected 4.3” TFT display, dual Brembo M4.32 monoblock calipers, and top-shelf custom-tuned suspension from ZF (the same company responsible for BMW Motorrad’s high-end suspenders). With a low-mounted dual-can Akrapovič slip-on muffler and numerous carbon fiber pieces, Indian’s available Sport accessory kit gives the V-Twin even more of a street fighter edge.

Purchase: $13,999

BMW S1000R

A decade-ago when BMW Motorrad released its S1000RR model, it revolutionized the superbike sector, with the potent Bavarian four-banger boasting a suite of ultra-cutting-edge electronics that genuinely made you a safer, better, and faster rider. A few years later in 2014, the German brand unleashed the naked version of the S1KRR that got the same frame, running gear, gearbox, and, liter-sized inline-four, though the latter of which has been massaged and retuned to make for a more streetable package. This means lowered gearing and more low-to-mid range oomph, allowing for better acceleration off the line at the cost of a lower top-speed – though, at nearly 160mph, the single R’s maximum velocity is nothing to scoff at. And while the full, asymmetrical shark-grilled fairing is no more, the roadster retains the superbike’s bevy of impressive electronics, with launch control, a pit lane limiter, multidirectional quick-shifter, automatic stability control, and adjustable ABS that includes a race mode.

Purchase: $14,045

Kawasaki Z H2

The first forced-induction production motorcycle to emerge since the “Turbo Wars” of the 1980s, Kawasaki’s Ninja H2 (and mind-blowing track-only H2R) takes blistering performance to a new level, bestowing the standard 1,000cc inline-four superbike engine with a supercharger that allows for 200hp and just over 100-ft-lbs of torque. More recently, Team Green has unleashed a naked version of the supercharged four-banger designed to be a more practical and approachable machine as a whole. You still get traction control, multiple ride modes, launch control, Kawasaki Cornering Management, a slipper clutch, electronic cruise control, and IMU-regulated ABS, though the exorbitant track-focused suspension and brakes on the Ninja H2 have been replaced with more road-oriented pieces of running gear. On top of being more ideal for pretty much every riding applications outside of the race track, these changes are partially responsible for the naked H2 coming in at a full $12,000 less than its fully-faired counterpart.

Purchase: $17,000

Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory

Italian for “thunder,” Aprilia’s Tuono is a top-shelf naked model based on the Noale company’s RSV4 superbike. To develop this two-wheeled scalpel, Aprilia turned to its Grand Prix racing program, which is the winningest European motorcycle company still competing in MotoGP with nearly 300 race wins and over three-dozen manufacturer’s titles to its name. The base model Tuono is a truly stellar machine, good for taking on daily commutes, long-distance rides, canyon carving, and even the occasional track day. Having said that, if you plan on spending the lion’s share of your time in the saddle in the twisties or at your local race track, then we’d definitely recommend opting for the top-of-the-line Factory-spec Tuono. Alongside a bevy of carbon items, the 1100 Factory features Ohlins-developed Smart semi-active suspension, which offers multiple setting modes, as well as customizable tuning for different situations and speeds. And, while this last point is admittedly a bit subjective, Aprilia’s current V4 produces one of the most beautiful exhaust notes of any engine on the market today.

Purchase: $18,999

Zero SR/F

Zero Motorcycles was first founded in the mid-aughts and has since become a definitive market leader in the two-wheeled EV space, vastly outselling competitors like Energica and (as strange as this sounds), Harley-Davidson. And while the California-based electric motorcycle company’s models have always offered solid range and performance, they were also always pretty underwhelming in the aesthetics department, until the introduction of the SR/F. This legitimately-attractive, fully-electric streetfighter not only looks the business, but boasts an equally enticing spec sheet, capable of 3.5 second 0-60mph times, sub-12-second standing quarter-mile runs, a top speed exceeding 120mph, 110hp, an insane 140ft-lbs of torque, and a battery that allows for up to a 200-mile range (when using the supplementary “Power Tank”) and can be fully recharged in as little as 80 minutes. Requiring very little maintenance thanks to the electric powertrain, the SR/F also packs some modern tech, like pairing with a smartphone app that can display GPS and battery status, allow for selecting from different ride modes, running over-air updates, or give security alerts if the bike is touched or moved while parked.

Purchase: $19,495+

MV Agusta Dragster 800 RR

MV Agusta unquestionably produces some of the most stunning motorcycles in the world, consistently seeing its bikes voted “Most Beautiful” at high-profile motorcycle shows. And the elite Italian brand’s Dragster 800 RR is far from an exception. From the single-sided swing-arm that puts those gorgeous Kineo wheels on display to the stacked triple pipe exhaust to the angular radiator shrouds and headlight to the wholly unique seat with its open-mouthed taillight and negative space beneath its saddle, every aspect of the Dragster’s design is simply breathtaking. That’s far from all the thing has going for it though. The bike comes with a full suite of modern electronic aids and top-shelf running gear. And, like any good triple should, the F3 engine packs an enormous punch and makes for an insanely torquey and smile-inducing riding experience. This may come at the sacrifice of a crazy-high top speed, though it makes for a far more enjoyable machine on the road. However, that’s not to say the Dragster isn’t right at home at the track, be it a road race course of the drag strip.

Purchase: $21,950

Energica EVA Ribelle

You might not be able to go out and purchase a Formula-E race car, though you can purchase the machine being used across the entire FIM Moto-E class, Energica’s EGO. The boutique Italian EV firm also sells the EVA Ribelle, which is a naked version of the electric EGO superbike. Despite weighing 585lbs, the EVA has a 125mph top speed and can fire off sub-three-second 0-60mph runs. It’s also worth noting that when moving, the EVA doesn’t lend the impression of a nearly 600lb motorcycle, changing direction with minimal effort. The EVA’s 21.5kWh battery yields up to a 250-mile range when riding in the city, or 143 combined highway and urban miles, and can receive an 80% recharge in just 40-minutes (when using a DC Fast Charger). A premium model through and through, the EGO is fitted with a remote start ignition, optional factory heated grips, a forward and reverse park assist function, cruise control, six-level traction control, smartphone and Bluetooth connectivity, four ride modes, Brembo brakes front and back, and Marzocchi suspension.

Purchase: $22,160+

Ducati Streetfighter V4 S

Ducati previously sold naked, streetfighter-versions of its 848 and 1098 superbikes, though they were pulled from production around 2015. However, with the introduction of Ducati’s recent V4-engined flagship Panigale model, the Italian firm is once again offered a Streetfighter in its lineup, and it’s even more stunning than its predecessor. Sporting a Panigale tail and tank, and a modern interpretation of a streetfighter-style headlight, the naked Duck gains an angular belly-pan and radiator shrouds accompanied by aerodynamic winglets that generate approximately 20lbs of downforce at 93mph and roughly 75lbs at 186mph. And with top speeds exceeding 195mph, these numbers are far from hypothetical. Crowned “Most Beautiful Bike” at EICMA 2019, (against some stiff competition), the Streetfighter derives its winglets and V4 engine design from Ducati’s MotoGP program and keeps the latter in check via a sophisticated suite of electronic rider aids. The model’s S-spec also gains Ohlins suspension and a few other performance parts that one would want on a 200hp+, 200mph motorcycle.

Purchase: $23,995

MV Agusta Rush 1000

Pretty much every major manufacturer has tossed their respective helmets into the neo-retro ring, be it with a scrambler, bobber, or cafe racer, and though there are some stellar designs in this sector, few, if any, come close to MV Agusta. As if the Varese firm’s modern machinery wasn’t enough, it’s recently pulled the cover off of two absolutely incredible neo-retro models, first with the Superveloce, and then with the Rush 1000. Sharing its frame and engine with the regular Brutale 1000 platform — another seriously fantastic naked model — the Rush 1K could easily pass for a far-out concept, with what is unequivocally one of the most unique vehicle designs in recent years. Thanks to the tremendously competent Brutale engine — backed by some of the finest suspension and running gear that money can buy — the Rush was built to be more than just a garage queen. And, though it already generates 208hp and 86ft-lbs of torque, the Italian two-wheeler is sold with a track-only race kit that bolsters those figures to an even more staggering 212hp and 89.5ft-lbs.

Purchase: $37,200

Vyrus 987 C3 4V

The most powerful production motorcycle in existence upon its release, the 987 C3 4V is a Ducati-powered, hub-center-steered masterpiece that perfectly encapsulates the term “rolling exotica.” Built around an Omega chassis that’s entirely CNC-machined from aluminum billet, this high-dollar model is fitted with GP-grade componentry throughout and is draped in all carbon fiber bodywork. The boutique Italian firm’s experience in premier class and Moto2 racing has afforded them an ability to build bikes that are as high performance as they are interesting to take in with the eye. This is largely thanks to the ultra-lightweight billet frame and hub-center setup, which enables the 987 C3 4V to tip the scales at around the 350lb mark, which is pretty bonkers considering the size and power of its engine. And while these machines don’t come cheap, it’s important to note that each unit is bespoke and built to the specific customer’s specs, and desired finishes and accessory options. Plus, for an extra €10,000 (roughly $11,800), Vyrus offers a supercharged version of the 987 C3 4V that increases horsepower by 27.

Purchase: $77,000

Rocketman: The Best Superbikes

Want to check out a few more performance-focused sportbikes? Then be sure to cruise over to our guide to the best superbikes for a look at today’s latest and greatest fully-faired, road-legal track weapons.