Roaring roadsters! I think these are five great sporty naked motorcycles don’t overstep the mark

While super-nakeds tend to grab the headlines, for many riders they are simply too much of a good thing. With mind-bending performance, much like sportbikes, they are on the verge of becoming unusable on the UK’s roads.

• Related: Kit yourself out with new gear for just £700

Which is where sporty roadsters come in. With an eye on practicality as well as performance, these five naked bikes remain fun to ride while still delivering a sporty thrill or two when let off their leash, making them the best of both worlds. Tempted?

Read on for our expert guide to remarkable roadsters!

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MCN Recommended: 2015 – 2018 BMW R1200R – £5500 – £8000

MCN’s Best Buy

Spec:

• Power: 125bhp
• Engine capacity: 1170cc
• Seat height: 790mm
• Kerb weight: 231kg

The 2015-onwards generation of R1200R moved BMW’s underrated roadster in a more sporty direction. Never overstepping the mark, the R is a great-handling naked bike that feels pleasingly robust and sturdy to ride and has a high spec level with lots of practical optional extras. Some may think the boxer engine isn’t that brisk, but a quick blast on the R will soon change their minds – it’s a surprisingly rapid machine. Not only that, it’s also great for pillions.

Did you know?

It’s not totally water-cooled… The water-cooled R1200R’s boxer engine isn’t, as BMW love to stress, totally water-cooled. Where the old 1170cc unit was fully air/oil-cooled, the new version replaces the oil part of the cooling system with a water/glycol solution instead. The liquid-cooling is used for areas that run particularly hot as it is more efficient, with airflow used to cool other areas. If you are being technical, the old engine was 22 per cent oil and 78 per cent air-cooled; the new motor is 35 per cent liquid and 65 per cent air-cooled.

Out with the Telelever… This generation of R1200R (and its RS sports-tourer sibling) did away with BMW’s Telelever front end, instead relying on traditional inverted forks. According to BMW, the swap was to give the R1200R more dynamic handling with an emphasis on accuracy and braking rigidity. Dynamic ESA was an optional extra, with semi-active damping both front and rear with a spring travel sensor on the shock strut giving it greater accuracy.

So now you know…

BMW R1200R used buying advice

• The R came in Sport and Exclusive versions. The Sport has brasher paint schemes and a colour-matched frame; the Exclusive is the more subdued‑looking top-spec model.
• ESA bikes are easily identified by their gold fork stanchions and white shock spring. Check it is working by swapping its setting on a test ride. Replacing the shock is costly and rebuilds aren’t guaranteed to work.
• After a test ride, check the rear hub for signs of oil leaks. The bearings generally last 30,000 miles but this can be extended through regular oil changes.

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2005 – 2010 Yamaha MT-01 – £4000 – £7500

Fab styling adds to road presence

Spec:

• Power: 90bhp
• Engine capacity: 1670cc
• Seat height: 825mm
• Kerb weight: 240kg

The Yamaha MT-01 didn’t quite hit the market at the right time or with the correct sales pitch. Billed as a sporty naked, its air-cooled V-twin was taken from a cruiser (the Road Warrior) and while it handles well, its low-revving nature made it an acquired taste. Treat it as a relaxed roadster and it is great fun, looks cool and has bags of soul. Now a cult bike, prices are quite high, which is a shame.

Yamaha MT-01 used buying advice

• In 2009 an MT-01 SP joined the range. It gains Öhlins suspension but not much else over the stock bike.
• There are reports of premature wear to the gearbox, especially if it has been ridden enthusiastically. Check all is well on a test ride.
• Some owners uprate power through performance kits or loud pipes, which are generally imported from the US. Uprating the MT’s cam does make it much peppier without affecting reliability as the engine is in such a low state of tune.

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2019 – 2024 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 – £6500 – £11,995

Ace style and performance

Spec:

• Power: 99bhp
• Engine capacity: 1200cc
• Seat height: 809mm
• Kerb weight: 216kg

One of the overlooked gems in Triumph’s range, the Speed Twin 1200 is effectively a naked Thruxton but its butch styling and spirited attitude set it aside as a great retro roadster. It’s fun to ride, looks cool, and has an engaging and playful parallel-twin motor. Its suspension isn’t great, but sorting it isn’t too hard or expensive. Don’t assume it’s a sluggish retro – the Speed Twin is instantly enjoyable.

Triumph Speed Twin 1200 used buying advice

• An upgrade in 2021 added inverted forks and radial brakes, plus engine changes. It’s more of a visual update – they ride very similarly.
• Look for warped discs on the original. Its conventionally mounted calipers suffer from sticking pistons. Feel for a pulsing through the brake lever at low speed.
• The reg/rec often fails. Replacing it costs about £100 and it’s an easy DIY job. Ideally, check the voltage across the battery because if it fails it can damage other electrical systems.

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2008 – 2012 Suzuki GSX1300 B-King – £6000 – £9000

Big in heart and big in fun

Spec:

• Power: 164bhp
• Engine capacity: 1340cc
• Seat height: 805mm
• Kerb weight: 235kg

Calling a Hayabusa-powered naked bike a ‘relaxed roadster’ may seem incongruous but that’s exactly what the Suzuki B-King is. The inline four’s mountainous midrange makes it very easy to ride gently, and while it is undeniably blisteringly fast when you give it some, it doesn’t beg to be ridden this way. With a big, roomy riding position and secure roadholding, it’s a great roadster.

Suzuki GSX1300 B-King used buying advice

• Watch out for a ‘C46’ error code – that means the exhaust valve has a fault and is probably stuck open. If it is, freeing it off can be a nightmare.
• Valve clearance checks are at a relatively low 14,500 miles, which is often skipped. Check its service history and be aware of this number when buying used as the bill is big.
• Check consumable parts such as brake discs, tyres, chain and sprocket – they have a hard life. Also check the head bearings as they tend to wear fairly quickly.

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2014 – 2016 Ducati Monster 1200S – £7000 – £9000

Monster by name but not by nature

Spec:

• Power: 145bhp
• Engine capacity: 1198cc
• Seat height: 785mm
• Kerb weight: 209kg

The Monster 1200 is powered by an 1198-derived Testastretta 11° engine – so doesn’t lack grunt. The chassis is decent in terms of sportiness and tech, but it is far more relaxed to ride than the firm’s Streetfighter range. A beautiful machine with bags of soul and heaps of usable performance, the Monster 1200 also looks fantastic and prices are fairly reasonable – for a Ducati.

Ducati Monster 1200S used buying advice

• The Monster needs new cam bets every five years and a ‘desmo’ valve clearance check at 18,000 miles, which is a bill of approaching £800.
• Check the chain adjuster moves freely – they can seize. Owners also over-tighten the pinch bolts, potentially damaging the hub unit.
• The base Monster lacks the S version’s Öhlins suspension, lightweight wheels and top-spec Brembo brakes. It is also 10bhp down due to a lower-spec of motor. Prices start at £5500.