Go naked for less than £5,000

2007 Triumph Speed Triple
If you are after a naked bike that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every single time you take it out for a run then look no further than the Speed Triple. 

Over 90 for sale on MCN, click here.

Having been launched in 1994 the Speed Triple has matured from a fairly rough and ready naked bike that was little more than a Daytona minus a fairing into a refined and superb machine in its own right. While £5,000 may not be enough to secure you the very latest version of the breed, it will still buy an excellent model.

The 2007 bike is the first generation of the 1050 Speed Triple however if you shop around you may locate a 2008 model with its upgraded wheels (bendy Y-spokes) within budget. However whichever version you end up with you won’t be disappointed after your first ride.

Aside from a clunky gearbox the Speed Triple’s engine is an absolute peach and determines the very character of the bike. Relaxed at low speed the triple motor has a beautifully smooth throttle response with a surging mid-range that is a joy to use. You can easily play the fool and wheelies are almost impossible to avoid, however should you just want a calm ride then the triple is more than happy to oblige.

A lot of riders see naked bikes and assume they don’t handle, with the Speed nothing can be further from the truth. Although less agile than the likes of the Aprilia Tuono or Ducati Streetfighter, the Triumph is still sprightly through the corners although its soft suspension tends to let it down when pushed hard. In ‘real world’ situations the Triumph is more than sporty enough to keep up with most sportsbikes and with a relaxed riding position is also considerably more comfortable as long as the speeds are kept down. Ride fast and you will soon have forearms like Popeye.

To help you get an idea of what it would cost to insure, we have run some quotes on on MCNcompare.com based on the following riders:

Rider 1, aged 25 from Hull –
£220.78 (£250 excess)

Rider 2, aged 35 from London –
£219.90 (£250 excess)

Rider 3, aged 45 from Edinburgh –
£89.32 (£250 excess)

2006 Aprilia Tuono
The second generation of Tuono (twin pipe) does nothing to dilute the aggressive nature of Aprilia’s V-twin naked bike. Little more than an RSV-R minus a fairing with a set of flat bars fitted, the Tuono is an all or nothing naked but still great fun if a touch aggressive. For the dedicated rider only.

See Tuono’s for sale here.

To insure:

Rider 1, aged 25 from Hull –
£272.35 (£250 excess)

Rider 2, aged 35 from London –
£260.13 (£250 excess)

Rider 3, aged 45 from Edinburgh –
£96.46 (£250 excess)

2009 Honda CB1000R
Honda’s take on a naked bike is hard to criticise but by the same token fails to excite. Using a re-tuned Fireblade engine the CB1000R is super smooth but where other nakeds have a certain thrill, the Honda is a little functional in feel. Reliable, well-built and quite good looking (aside from a few suspect colour schemes)

Looking to buy a CB1000R? Over 60 for sale right now on Bikes for Sale

Rider 1, aged 25 from Hull –
£220.79  (£350 excess)

Rider 2, aged 35 from London –
£211.14 (£350 excess)

Rider 3, aged 45 from Edinburgh –
£100.70 (£350 excess)