Motorcycle designers of the early ’80s probably ponder how we got here, a time when street bikes with exposed frames, unshrouded headlight assemblies and flat handlebars have become commonplace. The phenomenon started at least 30 years ago, and one possible explanation cites the re-styling of wrecked sports bikes in Europe as the cause.
Some call them naked bikes, and other street fighters or sport nakeds, but the fact is that stripped-down street machines are here to stay, offering all the sportiness of the latest road-going chassis and engines, but with more relaxed geometry for everyday use. Gaining popularity with stunt riders, commuters and everyday hooligans, the naked bike scene has evolved into its own segment, with all the big manufacturers offering dedicated chassis and engine packages from mild to wild.…