group test

naked sportsbikes are booming - in lots of ways. niche no more, hardcore meets the masses and your testers are Supers the Japanese struggle for sales and the European revolution persists, the A naked sector has played a crucial part in this swing. Kawasaki’s new release, the Z1000, is the Japs’ best attempt at hardcore, but it still lacks sporting aptitude against the established. The Europeans know how to Alastair Benjamin ‘BJ’ build bespoke fairing-less weapons, rather ‘A-Force’ Fagan Kubas-Cronin than compromised mammoths that wobble Just returned from Happy to give a and hit the panic button at lean angles as soon a season of naked model a as they see an apex. stag-dos, so proper good Whatever, Trevor. This class is shit-kicking, Words by: Alastair ‘A-Force’ Fagan Pics by: Flow Images completely happy spanking – so long and puts up a good argument as to why you’d Nakeds with anything as she agrees. want a ’Blade – except to save the neck from and raucous engineering. Neither bring ability, aggression and price. Putting it against naked. Off-putting Rather likes these wind blast. It’s all about phat stunts, peg anything new into 2010, other than a the rest of the four-pot nakeds would be like in the office, mind. bikes, too. scraping and badass street kudos. magnitude of naked fun. sticking Rossi in a club race, even with his 2009 gave us, arguably, our favourite Fresh for this year is the MV Brutale mashed leg. on the market. The Streetfighter rocked 1090RR, and a lesson in striping a sportsbike Regardless of bankruptcy rumours and up and instantly gave the KTM’s utterly for the Japs. Although it looks like a rehash of general media negativity, looks bonkers Super Duke R – the class pioneer – the previous model, the Brutale has a great likely to continue manufacturing after the something to hassle its long standing deal of refinement for 2010, including Magneti Italian Prime Minister’s bruvva coughed up domination. The SF also brought along a Marelli traction control and a capacity hike. the necessary Euros. The Corsaro Veloce is touch of class and sensibility to the mix, a The RR is literally in a class of its own, Morini’s full- naked hustler, and a group previously saturated with aggressive dunking into this test through its sporting long-time favourite at FB. But is its time up? •

52 august 2010 fast bikes mag.com fast bikes mag.com august 2010 53 group test Super Nakeds Moto Morini Corsaro Veloce an you imagine David Once you’ve managed to get Cameron’s brother bailing- it stopped, the Corsaro Veloce can be persuaded to turn benjamin’s Cout Triumph if they ever went bust? No, but that’s exactly opinion The front wheel is about what’s happened in to the Moto “ Morini marque, with backing from The Morini sits at opposing ends as useful as a nun’s the Government for good measure. of different spectrums.I t’s too We won’t delve too deep or ask any old to command any respect in a nipple piercing questions as to where the money finishing order, hence it being ” originated, so we’ll just thank the last. It’s dying for a proper update, Lord that Morini will continue to but the engine doesn’t need it. It’s create whoop-ass . the chassis that needs some Thrashing a Corsaro Veloce should attention. On the flip-side, it’s the be near the top of your list of things to hardest bastard here and on the do before you croak. Just be prepared road a complete animal. The to lose your licence. It’s one of very raging torque that makes it so few bikes to constantly drip smiles much fun on the road ruins it on into your veins. You have no say in track, but you don’t buy one of the matter, anyhow, so novices these for trackdays. You buy one should stay away. of these if you’re nails-hard! Any bike that leaves the showroom with a pair of booming BJ’s verdict 6/10 Termi’ cans is gonna do biz (Morini say they pass Euro3 laws, we say the mafia may be involved) and thankfully the performance backs-up the blare, also exaggerated by the evil induction bark that could shatter bone marrow. If the noise isn’t enough to terrorize the neighbourhood, your riding soon will be. The front wheel is about as useful as a nun’s nipple piercing, particularly in the first few gears as all the go-go lays in a tormented shove of torque that builds from the bottom.

Moto Morini Corsaro Veloce £11,749 This means uncontrollable power The track, and on-the-limit wheelies as you pull away in every thrashing, is where the Morini loses situation, honestly officer. out. The super-rigid chassis feels The grunt soon evaporates as you capable enough, just let down by head higher up the rev-range and the ageing suspension and poor others clear off, but that soundtrack is damping, not to mention shit OE addictive, as is the harsh-cut limiter rubber – ancient Diablo Corsas feel that could be used for torture. For a like plastic now. This is where you bike that’s getting on a bit, it guzzles have to get the gun-show in action the juices superbly, even if the snappy and muscle the hooligan around. quick-action throttle can take There’s not a lot of travel on some acclimatising. the front, relying on stiff Hidden among the don’t be springs and harsh damping hedonistic charge is a fooled by to control its unimpressive sense of civility that can Touching the throttle when scale performance. Roots you start the bike from cold. be unlocked with gentle returned after his ride Relax. Don’t do it. When The technological core of the Veloce is the 1,187cc Highlights encouragement. This you wanna, suck a and calmly claimed he’d Bialbero CorsaCorta 87˚ V-twin layout engine. ˲˲Utterly bonkers function only works in a locked the front at 100mph Power is boosted further by lightweight, twin Chewit. engine ˲˲Termi’ cans small parameter, though. If under heavy braking. What Termignoni silencers. Euro3 emission laws are still met, even with the racy exhaust that sounds ˲˲ fork you can manage to keep on the actually happened was the like a race bike. Magnetti Marelli ˲˲Government-backed right side of the law, the Corsaro front had bottomed out and let the gets the juices flowing, and they are boosted by ˲˲196kg makes a great road buddy. Its quick tyre take the brunt. 54mm throttle bodies. A hydraulic anti-skipping ˲˲131bhp steering and agility at sensible lean Priced optimistically, there are a system acts like a slipper clutch. angles make sure you don’t have to few second-hand options available. track 6 Tyres and weight get in the way work too hard on a thrash. You can Importers Three Cross have a 2008 also rely on the bulging mass of grunt with super-low mileage for just under The frame is high-strength tubular steel by fast road 6 Verlicchi, with stiffness to cope with vibrations Urban terrorist to rescue you from low rev exits. nine grand. Now that’s big bang for and big power. The Veloce gets uprated Bump management isn’t high on ya buck and very tempting indeed.

chassis suspension over the standard Corsaro. The hooligan 10 Nobody will be left wanting the Veloce’s agenda. The harsh front–end has 50mm Marzocchi Magnum forks, damping makes for a tricky ride on while the rear is sorted by an Öhlins unit, new rider 1 Verdict 7/10 complete with external preload adjuster. Brembo Are you kidding? UK roads and their onslaught of The bike that would go to the World Cup as a catalyst Gold Series brakes ensure excellent stopping desirability 7 obstacles. It can get a little twitchy as for rioting. Ya get me? power and standard fitment tyres are the ageing Still sexual, but aging the apparent short wheelbase + Bonkers motor, noise, stunting Diablos. complains at the limit. - oe tyres, ageing a little, no novices

54 august 2010 fast bikes mag.com fast bikes mag.com august 2010 55 group test Super Nakeds MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR riumph named their flagship 675 after some place in benjamin’s TAmerica. MV have tagged their naked daddy slightly more opinion relevantly. Brutale is exactly what this bike is; frickin’ brutal. We rode the The new Brutale is a far nicer bike 2010 model at the UK launch at than before, despite it looking Rockingham, but the deluge meant identical. I rode this machine 200 testing was limited to staying upright. miles down from MotoGB, and it What we figured out was that was a more pleasant than I the new Brutale is a more anticipated. It’s fast. It makes civilised beast. We use 125bhp feel like much more, and ‘civilised’ in a loose sense – is so torquey I was able to lift the it’s still a sexy, rampant thug front wheel on the power alone. In for a four-pot. The previous fourth! The main reason it goes incarnation trapped you into its ahead of the KTM in my order, is riding position which got that I could live with it on a daily frustrating on track. The new basis. If it was for one-off farting ergonomics allow more room to about, I’d put the KTM ahead. It’s manoeuvre, but it’s still a squeeze. your money... The gripless pegs also remain, along BJ’s verdict 8/10 with the shift lever that needs a size five foot to operate it, as does the intrusion of the ’zorst on your boot. The most fundamental improvements to the MV’s refinement come with the engine. Extra cubes and some ECU changes make for a more usable ally. There’s more midrange that allows the Brutale to stay with the twins, and a fairly linear delivery that winds up into a howling frenzy. The downside is a decrease on peak power, but the trade-off is welcome. The Brutale and an apex in the same shot. It’s not often this happens It shares a similar size with the

MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR £13,699 others, but she boasts extra pots that produce big-bore performance. It shreds anything here, unsurprisingly, tagged The chassis and its handling is the closely by the Ducati. MV’s hamstring and the core of our How many blokes does it take to aggravation. How can something so alter the traction control on a Brutale? beautiful underperform? Slow in, fast About six, taking ten minutes in the out is the secret to riding the Brutale process. The Ducati toggles with the hard. The improved ergonomics can’t ease of a few button touches; hide its passion for you have to stop and hold understeering, running wide down the switches on the don’t be as you attempt to feed in dash with random time fooled by big lean. It’s not constraints with the MV. The 1090 tag.T he capacity malignant and the remains at 1078cc. At least It’s a pain in the cock, but it’s made by chassis feels capable, so No major changes for the 1078cc lump, but MV Agusta, Highlights worth it in the end. so it’s not lying the final set-up is guilty. revisions to allow more midrange and ˲˲Refined for 2010 We weren’t convinced Road riding at a less driveability. The completely redesigned completely engine ˲˲Magneti Marelli TC by the Marelli TC at the committed pace doesn’t crankcase is 1.32 lbs lighter than before and means no crank sensor. There’s also a new ˲˲Simply gorgeous launch, mainly because it show this, like the Morini, and gearbox mechanism for better shifts, and a new ˲˲Small boots only didn’t work in the rain, spinning only when you try and push the front. water pump to sort the overheating. New Mikuni ˲˲190kg uncontrollably. It works better in the Very much like a Ducati, the initial throttle bodies are operated by Marelli 5SM ECU ˲˲127bhp dry, but it’s obvious the system is is too saggy, especially at the and electronics include 8-way traction control. more of a traction aid rather than a rear. This sacrifices feedback when track 6 Needs set-up to sort understeering highside-saver. You won’t feel it you’re on the gas. working – there’s no pops or bangs, The brakes are suspect too, The chromium molybdenum steel frame is taller, fast road 7 lighter and more rigid, and the swingarm has A bit twitchy, but fast just an elastic hesitancy to the throttle leaving the impression that the MV’s been extended and lightened by 2.2 lbs which while you grip ‘n’ rip. massive potential remains unfulfilled. chassis lengthens the wheelbase by 28mm. Trail has hooligan 9 “The new Brutale is more civilised. The revisions haven’t blunted it One of our biggest gripes with the been increased 2mm and the angle of the old bike was the throttle, and its rabid Verdict 7/10 steering tube has been increased from 24.5 to new rider 2 We use ‘civilised’ in a loose sense ” 25°. New wheels also reduce weight. The massive TC might save nobbers on/off action. The secondary throttle Big money, big balls four-pot that’s improved for 2010 with awesome TC, but still lacks pace 50mm forks have had their internals redesigned desirability 9 bodies and other revisions for 2010 by CRC () and travel is reduced by 5mm. Fooking gorgeous makes life a load more tolerable and + Motor, traction control, looks smoothens the ride enormously. - Big lean handling, price, ergonomics

56 august 2010 fast bikes mag.com fast bikes mag.com august 2010 57 group test Super Nakeds

benjamin’s KTM 990 Super Duke R opinion ou’d be surprised at the amount of readers who have This thing handles like a dream. I Ytraded in their Gixer for a always find it a bit tall and tippy at Super Duke R and thanked us first, but thoseS upercorsas soon profusely for the advice after it allow me to forget that and revel rejuvenated their sex life, too. Tired of in the way this thing corners. I still stretching to the bars but still want don’t find it as stable as the the thrills? Fancy a bit of an animal? Ducati, and occasionally it’s a bit The Duke R does everything a core flighty for my liking.T he throttle sportsbike does and offers a was better on this one, but not by radical bi-polar attitude. The much. Getting back on the gas pioneer of the proper naked from closed was still a lurch-fest brigade relentlessly charges – c’mon KTM, you get everything and we never get tired of it. In else so right, it’s time to stop a similar way to the Morini, the SD dicking around and fix what’s R insists on being fully cranked or about the only problem across it spits the dummy. your range. My other gripe is that KTM’s testers obviously don’t do the engine feels slow to me, as it slow speeds. Trying to ride the Duke will with less than a litre to play R anything below 50mph, or at with – bring on the RC8 motor. constant speeds, is as infuriating as BJ’s verdict 8/10 finding a donger under a dress. But, like many focused assassins, the R doesn’t con you into anything else. KTM clearly had flat-out in the design brief. It makes the standard SD redundant. Coming from their MX background, it’s no wonder the throttle only works in two positions – on and off. And needless to say, being a KTM, the throttle action isn’t too hot from closed to open. Holding a constant throttle gets tricky All the Duke R needs is a sometimes because of the fuelling. set of fairings and it’ll take the fight to anything This particular bike wasn’t too bad,

KTM 990 Super Duke R £11,445 but was still shite through town. for the road, but it counteracts with The wafer-thin seat is straight sublime weight transfer holding. The from the race department/Travis WP fork manages to stay firm enough Perkins and is enough to induce an for its poise, but they doesn’t overdue pregnancy, but the rest of the compromise too much for the road. cockpit is the default we’d choose. If you haven’t ridden one, you’re Saying that, long distances still aren’t probably looking at figures and recommended. graphs, and expecting the engine to If trackdays were the only get a pasting. But fuck the dyno and surroundings we could ride in, the pub smack-talk. 120bhp never felt so KTM would win the test good. The buzzy delivery feels without the need for top light for a thumping two-pot The insists on being fully gear. It’s the boss on track, don’t be and requires revs to extract “ where its agricultural fooled by the best, and gets better approach is hidden by a Confusing the temperature as you get to the top. It’s cranked or it spits the dummy” gauge for a fuel gauge, eh mass of raw pace and Moby? like an angry little terrier. The revised cylinder head has larger, reprofiled Don’t look at the Highlights ability. Relying on rev counter for Ride it like a 600. In the intake ports with bigger titanium valves. The ˲˲Track hero unmatched poise to rival real world, it takes big piston pin gains a DLC coating. The pin and speed! engine ˲˲Race geometry the cornering talent of a core balls and an experienced con-rod were lightened, with the crank and balancer shaft rebalanced to suit. These weight ˲˲WP Suzzies sportsbike, the high and wide pilot on the others to lose the savings allow the rev limit to go up by 900rpm to ˲˲Aka’ system bars help leverage and flickability; KTM, as it carries its pace so easily. 10,500rpm. Larger 52mm throttle bodies gulp ˲˲186kg chicanes have never been so much Riding at anything less than 100 more air in, and Akrapovic headers spew it out ˲˲120bhp fun. Its lap times in standard guise per cent is sacrilege and the KTM’s faster. 12bhp more at 400rpm higher, and 2Nm prove it. delivery is solely where it loses out. extra at 1,000rpm more. track 9 Only the pegs are holding you back Radical geometry (like it’s been But the Sooper-Duke offers you rammed headfirst into a wall) means something the Ducati never will – The key differences between this and the base fast road 8 model are more subtle than the bolt-on mods of A-road assassin and very capable razor sharp and rapid steering, falling pure thrills when you’re on the limit. rivals. The shock is 15mm longer, tipping the on its side with confidence and

chassis whole bike forwards. This places more weight hooligan 9 Super aggressive doesn’t do fast commitment. The way it dissects Verdict 9/10 over the front, and pulls the head angle in to a corners is unique. Yet it doesn’t very tight 22.7˚. An adjustable WP steering new rider 5 Still the choice for upright trackday action but not as damper is added to maintain stability. The Tall seat and roughness will deter intimidate and sacrifice road stability. cuddly on the road as the Ducati. suspension units are the same, but with different desirability 8 The springs and set-up are a little + hANdling, track skills, front-end, price, internals for sportier performance. The R only A tad rough, but I would on the stiff side and lose out to the aggression has a single seat. Ducati on bump control and stability - Throttle/fuelling, peak power

58 august 2010 fast bikes mag.com fast bikes mag.com august 2010 59 group test Super Nakeds

benjamin’s Ducati Streetfighter opinion “THis is a genius piece of laiming that the SF is our It may look nuts, but the engineering, as nice as a favourite Ducati currently Streetfighter takes a bit of My favourite Ducati was always Cavailable certainly raised a cajoling to do this going to win this test, because it’s naked gets few eyebrows. Not an 1198? Oh, the just incredible. Those straight ” outrage. The difference between the bars mean I can hold on far better two is that the Streetfighter does than on an 1198, and thus use the exactly what it’s supposed to do, and chassis to its full potential. is not an overpriced rich man’s toy However, this is ruined by ground that can’t keep pace with its rivals. clearance issues that sees the No, this is a genius piece of KTM nipping past on track. But engineering and is as nice as a naked it’s a better proposition on the bruiser is going to get, offering a road, way faster, better looking refined and complete-package feel to and far more stable. The only a scene scattered with hooligans. thing I don’t enjoy doing on it is The riding position takes some wheelies, weirdly. This version getting used to, akin to sitting on the doesn’t have DTC, but it doesn’t toilet lurching forward with a snooker really need it. I’m not sure how cue, and right-hand corner heroics much quicker I would have lapped are limited until you adjust to the on an ‘S’, although will admit that stacked exhausts that will never I do adore Ducati’s DTC system. accommodate your boot. Ground BJ’s verdict 9/10 clearance is also a hindrance, but that’s about as difficult as the Streetfighter gets. Where others wilt in certain environments and plague certain riders, the Ducati laps-up anything, possessing an awesome blend of road and track skills. The chassis and motor team-up perfectly to offer immense handling. An apparent front-bias, embellished by the riding position, means you can bet your Doris on the front-end, steering quickly but neutrally too. An adjustable damper would be handy

ducati streetfighter £11,750 under really hard acceleration, though. We had the standard version on test that dons Showa suspension and, unless Its controllability and wide you’re peg scraping on track, the usability makes things easy on the chassis and balance hides any road. You can afford to be lazy with discrepancies with the cheaper kit gear selection (the SF boasts the best compared to the Öhlins blingery on ’box by far), whereas with the others, the S model. Either way, its road stretching the cable is the only etiquette is exemplary and has option. The fuelling and other the stability to conquer ancillaries ensure an easy anything on the road. It don’t be ride, and the throttle feels the most planted, fooled by connectivity means that, with loads of mechanical The Termis’ on this bike. if you don’t opt for the S The standard items are, er, grip at both ends. not so nice on the eyes complete with traction The narrow-valve Testastretta engine with the Highlights On track, the Ducati – or ears. We like ‘em control, you won’t really 1098’s capacity is a hybrid of 10 and 1198. The big ˲˲Road and Track mix only loses out to the Super miss it. Right-hand to rear bore, short stroke unit allegedly gives the best fruity! engine ˲˲Ferrari of motorcycling Duke R in the tighter stuff, wheel feel is Ducati’s finest. performance in class. Finishing on cases has been changed and tidied. The crankcases are ˲˲Brembos where the KTM’s agility, The DTC feels more at ease now made using a vacuum die-cast procedure, ˲˲S option big-lean skills, and apex-focus shines with the ’Fighter than on any other saving 3kg over the 1198’s similar units. The ˲˲167kg through – and the ’Fighters pegs and Ducati, perhaps because it’s a little throttle bodies the SF drinks from are elliptical ˲˲140bhp belly pan dig in. Stickier rubber and agricultural compared to some and come straight from MotoGP. Side-mounted some rearsets will tell another tale. systems. The lower numbers will exhausts are 2-1-2. track 6 Shit ground clearance However big your wallet is, and barely alarm you into its function, yet whichever model you choose, the 7-8 will see the lights flashing and be The Trellis chassis is unique to the SF with a rake fast road 7 of 25.6˚ compared to the 1098’s 24.5˚. The seat You’re the limit engines remain identical. Combining as intrusive as your mother-in-law. unit and tank are also shorter and not the select best from the 10/1198’s

chassis hand-me-downs. The 35mm longer alloy hooligan 7 Lacks the edge of the others motors, the SF’s power source is Verdict 9/10 single-sided swinger aids stability but kills fun. sublime. It’s how a thumping twin New gull-wing shaped triple clamps grip the new rider 2 A very special bike that’s brought a new dimension to Öhlins forks, increasing rigidity, and aiding Fluffy bunny in this company should behave, pulling hard from low the nutters class direction changes. The dash is all new, as are the desirability 10 without lumpiness and then + Motor, usability, looks, handling, tapered alloy bars. The compact switchgear is Red sex. Who wouldn’t? stretching to a busy top-end. It’ll tag versatility also fresh, and quite different to normal. the MV’s four pots all the way. - Gro und clearance, price, exhaust position

60 august 2010 fast bikes mag.com fast bikes mag.com august 2010 61 62

august 2010 group test tech data tor po speed rpm rpm price dimensions chassis engine R Front R Fuel Dry F 0-60 From Price S Wheelbase Frame T T Standing Mile Stg ¼ Mile 0-120 0-100 C Bore x T Fuelling Nm BHP T 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 op ested Power ested ype ompression eat we ear S S uspension que uspension W Speed x x C Height Brakes

Brakes 1 1 apacity r eight 2 2 Stroke T 000 000 orque Dyno Dyno data supplied by:

fast bikes mag.com 4 4 Highest peaktorque: Corsaro Veloce @113Nm 6 6 � � Two-piston caliper, 245mm disc Four-piston, monobloc radial, 330mm discs Showa monoshock, fully adjustable 43mm Showa fork, fully adjustable Steel trellis 163mph 28.48s @ 162.99mph 10.78s @ 134.41mph 8.31s 6.08s 3.14s 167kg 840mm Ducatiuk.com 0845 222 996 Ducati UK £11,750 (otr) 1,475mm 16.5L 104 x 64.7mm 1,099cc, liquid-cooled, four-valve V-twin Electronic fuel injection 12.5:1 140bhp @ 10,000rpm 104nm @ 9,500rpm D ighest peak power: StreetfighterHighest peakpower: D ucati S ucati

8 8 S teetfighter treetfighter 10 10 12 12 @140bhp 14 14 � � One-piston One-piston caliper, 240mm disc Four-piston calipers, 320mm discs WP monoshock, fully adjustable, twin-speed WP 48mm inverted fork, fully adjustable Steel trellis 148mph 30.28s @ 147.58mph 11.08s @ 125.03mph 9.68s 6.51s 3.18s 186kg (half wet) 865mm KTM.co.uk 01280 709500 KTM £11,000 (otr) 1,450mm 18.5L 101 x 62.4mm 999cc, liquid-cooled, 8v, 75˚ V-twin Electronic fuel injection 11.5:1 120bhp @ 10,000rpm 95Nm @ 8,000rpm k K T tm M 990 S M 990 16 16 S uper D uper

uper D uper uke R uke R s time

speed pee 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 d data � � four piston caliper, 210mm disc four-piston monobloc calipers, 320mm discs monoshock, fully adj 50mm usd fork, fully adj CRMo steel tubular trellis 147mph 30.92 @ 144.12mph 11.43s @ 124.73mph 10.30s 7.02s 3.40s 190kg 830mm Motogb.co.uk 0844 412 8450 MotoGB £13,699 (otr) 1438mm 23L 79mm x 55mm 1078cc, liquid-cooled, 16v, inline four Magneti Marelli FI 13.1:1 125bhp @ 9,750rpm 101Nm @ 7,750rpm Highest top speed:Streetfighter @163mph

MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR Brutale Agusta MV MV Agusta Brutale RR Brutale Agusta MV 5 10 F astest to 60mph:Streetfighter 15 F astest to 120mph:Streetfighter @8.31s F astest to 100mph:Streetfighter @6.08s 20 25 � � Two-piston caliper, 220mm disc Four-piston radial calipers, 320mm discs Sachs monoshock, fully adjustable 153mph 29.66s @ 152.31mph 11.12s @ 127.78mph 9.37s 6.54s 3.28s 50mm Marzocchi fork, fully adjustable Tubular steel trellis 196kg 830mm 3xmotorcycles.net 01202 810200 Three Cross Motorcycles £11,499 (otr) 1,440mm 18L 107mm x 66mm 1,187cc, liquid cooled, 87° V-twin Magnetti Marelli fuel injection 11.8:1 131bhp @ 9,000rpm 113Nm @ 6,700rpm

Moto Morini Corsaro Veloce Corsaro Morini Moto Moto Morini Corsaro Veloce

30 @3.14s d moto morini MV ktm u

c 35 a ti 40 45 ˪ ˪ spee machine with nowt to hide behind. 160mph – impressive for a naked of the group. Loads of grunt sees it top gets into its stride early - the Usain Bolt An absolute flyer, easy to launch and it • wheelies it the key here. the gears quickly – although controlling rivals. Good to launch and flick through and it feels a bit breathless against its Not the most powerful machine on test, • headwind. released it flies, battling against a slight looking times. Once the clutch is clutch make for some unimpressive Piss wet testing conditions and a grabby • no surprise. head north and with so much torque it’s away without looping. It just wants to from not many revs is a beast to get A bike that wheelies on a gentle throttle • ˪ ˪ 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd Make bold Cnd Ital.com 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 185mph 26.36s @ 175.84mph 10.36s @ 144.99mph 10.98s 5.69s 3.02s 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd 21. Spec Copy Lite Cnd Bike name Bike 14 Bike name Bike the MV’s traction the control MV’s settings A ‘blag’ of journalists try to change K Ducati MV Moto ºc TM d test notes A gusta orini Morini Light the verdict fully-faired Moto Morini? Boom-ting. And can you imagine a proper that’ll change under new ownership. and its potential is clear. Hopefully some development as the package of police roulette. We’d love to see are big enough and you like a touch aftersales loving. increase the dealer network and to change negative opinion and remaining dealers are working hard Three Cross Motorcycles and the few your enjoyment. The fine chaps at finishing position, and ultimately of development is hindering its old and dated this season, and its lack giggles on offer. But the Morini feels considering the amount of shits and at the bottom of the pile seems cruel Are they? none of these are worth the money. and the tail-end of the recession, that, despite some nice components RR in the process. And it’s safe to say on a naked, sacrificing a BMW S 1000 not it’s worth spending up to £15,000 the individual can decide whether or talking big bucks for this fleet. Only want a fully-faired cousin, we’re up a decent debate as to why you’d subsided. Although these bikes put boots, the adrenaline finally bleeding ruthlessly through our A Take the Corsaro if your gonads Placing any of these skullduggers Bond films and our toes an entire box-set of James fter enough stunts to shoot offer and the quality it oozes. The takes the win for the package deal on reasons. The Ducati Streetfighter language, but for two very different they’re almost speaking another dash though. a niche ability in which to brag. Nice the gear lever – and the MV hasn’t gotsnippets that have a big affect – like too Italian, upset by miniscule not to mention patience. It’s almost that requires the best to get the best, you, though. It’s still a raging slag enough. Don’t let the nice words fool the Brutale impresses more, but not MV Agusta finishing the job means The other two are so far ahead The smothering of refinement and fast bikes mag.com • Super Nakeds august 2010 63 group test

• Super Duke R stops traffic, while the Streetfighter causes shunts as rubberneckers gaze at its aggressive form. It’s the Waitrose in this test to the KTM’s Aldi. But we can forgive you for neglecting the Streetfighter if you want a more involving ride and frequent the land’s fine race circuits on a monthly basis or more. A bike that can lap within a few seconds of a British supersport weapon is doing something right. In fact, the KTM does everything right on the track, and is probably the bike that looks best against its price tag. Nothing feels as comfortable buried deep in a turn as a Super Duke R, and that №1 includes some supersport bikes. Whichever model of ‘Fighter you decide on, it’ll be superior, although it’ll need more money spent to get track ready. Yes, it’s big bucks, but there’s nowt like razzing past your mate on his 1198. and it’s more bling than Tim Westwood in Elizabeth Duke. We’ve moaned at Ducati in the past for not keeping its eyes on the prize, but now they’ve done it, a true class winner. •

“A bike that can lap within a few seconds of a BSS bike is doing something right ”

64 august 2010 fast bikes mag.com