There is an argument that super-nakeds are getting a bit too, well, super. In a reflection of what happened to their litre sportsbike siblings, the fact that the current crop of full-on naked bikes are starting to approach 200bhp and come loaded with tech has not only seen their prices escalate but also their usability on the British roads diminish.
Flat bars still have a limiting effect on top speeds, which is a good thing, but even this is being pushed through more aggressive riding positions and small screens allowing the rider to hang on tighter and further explore the performance envelope without over-stretching their neck muscles.
What’s the answer? How about a naked that looks great, has bags of charm, more than enough performance, and yet is happy to deliver its thrills at road legal(ish) speeds? Bikes such as these two fantastic retro roadsters.
There is always a tendency when you hear the term ‘retro’ to assume the performance will be somewhat dated but this is far from the case. Despite old-school looks, the latest crop of retros pack modern handling, performance and tech – just in a more subtle way than on a super-naked. And leading this retro revival is BMW’s R nineT, which has been given a hefty revision for 2024.
BMW R12 nineT
£14,420 (£16,500 as tested)
Engine 1170cc air-cooled DOHC 8v boxer twin
Power 107.5 bhp
Torque 84.9 lb.ft
Fuel Capacity 16 litres
Frame Tubular steel bridge
Suspension 45mm inverted forks, fully-adjustable. Monoshock, remotely adjustable preload and rebound
Front brake 2 x 310mm discs with four-piston Brembo radial calipers. Cornering ABS
Rear Brake 1x265mm disc with two-piston caliper. Cornering ABS
Seat Height 754mm
Kerb Weight 220kg (kerb)
Triumph Speed Twin 1200
£11,995 (plus £350 for paint option)
Engine 1200cc liquid-cooled SOHC 8v paarallel-twin
Power 98.6 bhp
Torque 82.6 lb.ft
Fuel Capcity 14.5 litres
Frame Tubular steel
Suspension 43mm inverted forks, non-adjustable. Twin shocks, adjustable preload.
Front brake 2x320mm discs with four-piston Brembo calipers. ABS
Rear Brake 1x220mm disc with two-piston caliper. ABS
Seat Height 809mm
Kerb Weight 216kg (wet)
I remember first riding an R nineT in 2014 and being blown away by its blend of performance, stripped-back looks and modern handling. It may be powered by an air-cooled engine that first appeared in 2010 (it runs the twin-cam head, although arguably the majority of the engine is pretty much identical to the 2004 single-cam one) but so packed full of charm is this boxer that it feels contemporary in both its ride and the fun-factor it delivers.
What have BMW done to enhance its appeal for 2024? Despite being a fairly serious revision that even includes a new frame, the heart of the R12 nineT (note the new name) remains the same (just made cleaner to please emissions testers) and around this upgraded chassis much of the original bike’s ethos is unchanged.
There’s lots of scope for customisation, enough tech cunningly hidden away to keep you safe and sound, modern running gear and a pleasingly minimal overall silhouette. Not to mention a new, and very small, dash option. So will the R12 have things all its own way in 2024? Not if Triumph have anything to say.
Challenging the BMW’s superiority since 2019 has been the Speed Twin 1200, a retro roadster from Triumph that can trace its roots back to the firm’s sporty (and now discontinued) Thruxton model. More understated than the BMW, the Speed Twin is one of those bikes that tends to get overlooked due to the fact Triumph have a very strong naked bike line-up.
With options such as the established Speed Triple, brilliant Street Triple range and classic Bonnie models, it is hard for the Speed Twin to stand up and be counted in a crowded Triumph showroom. Which is a shame because it’s a cracking model and for many riders, a better choice than the more modern naked options. And one that isn’t too far removed from the norm, which isn’t the case with the R12
“Initially I didn’t get the BMW,” admits MCN’s Saffron Wilson, whose longterm R12 nineT test bike we are using today. “It’s very different from anything else I’ve ridden. The engine is brutal and unrefined and does odd things like lurch when you rev it and hit you with huge amounts of engine braking. It’s disconcerting at first, but it rapidly grows on you.”
She’s right, from the moment you start it up the R12 is an assault on your senses and one that doesn’t stop until you tuck it away in your garage. And it is all down to that flat-twin boxer.
Very much an engine with a bike built around it, the R12’s powerplant is unashamedly raw and aggressive. Fire it up and the bark from the twin pipes is loud and once you get rolling the new airbox adds a snarl to its cacophony of noises.
