Hi can anyone tell me what its like coming from a fairing sportbike to a naked? I been debating on naked bikes for awhile and wonder whats it like living with 1. Is it that bad since there is no wind protection? If I do get a naked bike I wouldn't want a windscreen cuz it looks cheesy.
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Naked Sportbikes
- Thread starter 91_Octane
- Start date
RedDogDarren
Well-known member
I wouldn't want to tour the freeways all day on an unfaired bike, but I would if I didn't have the pocket change to get an easily detachable windshield to use that two or three times per year when required. I enjoyed riding my friends Monster 1200 for 2 hours on the interstate with no windshield.
i think I have the best hybrid with an SV and a handlebar kit.
i think I have the best hybrid with an SV and a handlebar kit.
skapan
Well-known member
What they said. Plus a more comfortable seating position. The handlebar height will really determine how much you suffer from the wind. Higher bars means a more upright position, thus more wind. Lower bars is the opposite. So if you have longer arms or are taller you may want to change the bars for something a bit lower.
Exactly. The bars on my Streetfighter are very low compared to most naked bikes, and that makes it much more enjoyable to ride at high speed. I love not having fairings and the feeling of clean air hitting my body.
My experiences with some other naked bikes that have more upright seating positions have not been as enjoyable however. On the highway I sometimes felt like a giant parachute.
I would advise you to take a few different models out for demo rides to see how they feel.
My experiences with some other naked bikes that have more upright seating positions have not been as enjoyable however. On the highway I sometimes felt like a giant parachute.
I would advise you to take a few different models out for demo rides to see how they feel.
Gryph
Well-known member
Just a month or so into riding my new Bonneville after coming from a Ninja 650 - big difference on the highway in the early season, feels like I'm getting beat up in the cold/wind, finally getting these nice days feels like pure bliss. I'm thinking it will take time to "forget" how cushy my 650 was and adapt to the naked, but the speed thing is 100% true, no issues in the city or up to 100-110, 120 you start to notice, my bars are pretty upright and I"m considering getting a lower set.
Over 200kph it gets a little windy, other than that I don't even notice.
I guess I should do a road test on the bikes I'm considering 1st b4 buying. I'm a bit of a aggressive rider. I been thinking of the fz-09, street triple R or Z1000. But if the wind is gonna beat me everytime I ride than I guess I should stick to a fairing sportbike. I like hitting the twisties and hit the highway most of the time when going far distances.
Shaman
Well-known member
Everything already said. You get a sensation of speed on a naked bike that you don't on a faired bike, which helps you keep your speed down a bit, too. And disregard people that say that a naked bike doesn't track well... there are a lot of choices that are hilarious and fast on a race track.
I went from a small faired bike (CBR250) to a naked CB500F and its a major difference. Up to 115/120 it's no issue but above that the wind feels like it's trying to rip you off the bike.
Im definitely going to look into an aftermarket windshield because it gets tiring but I'm also not used to it so could improve. Might consider lowering the bars if possible but being only 5'7" I can shift around a lot on the bike for different positions. I sit almost fully upright on it.
Im definitely going to look into an aftermarket windshield because it gets tiring but I'm also not used to it so could improve. Might consider lowering the bars if possible but being only 5'7" I can shift around a lot on the bike for different positions. I sit almost fully upright on it.
mbroyda
Well-known member
a little awkward and uncomfortable at first, as you feel exposed and think everyone is staring at you, but very liberating once you get used to it
Bikerider
Well-known member
I did the other way around and came off a naked Aprilia Shiver to a half faired Bandit 1200. The naked bike is great from June to August when its 30 degrees outside. The Bandit I have been riding it on days when it was -5 outside and its not even that cold, this would suck bad on the Shiver.
Kevin Cameron quotes Eddie Lawson on how he felt his Kawa was easier to control.
You get used to the wind. First time people tend to grab onto the bars too tight due to wind pressure and have trouble getting into a corner. But most nakeds use bar-and-clamp, which means you have a plethora of heights and angles possible to swap out in an hour, from flat bars to clubmans.
Bikerider
Well-known member
The day I picked the Shiver up I had to do a 2 hour ride home from London on 401 at +2 degrees. The bike definitely lived up to its name that night.
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