The MCN Test: £7k to find naked heaven

Naked bikes blend the best of high-tech, highperformance motorcycling with a more simplistic kind of enjoyment than edgy sportsbikes, or adventure bikes with all their bulk and pomp.

No plastic in front of you and a set of mid-height flat handlebars distils the experience down to the connection between human and machine.

Sure, some have ride modes, rider aids and electronic suspension, but they’re the supporting cast on a sit-up-andbeg bike, not the main act, as they are on bikes where electronics are critical to the riding experience.

In the first of a new buying guide series, we’ve scoured the small ads and come up with our three top-choices of unfaired machines for a £7000 budget, as well as the crucial info you’ll need to know before taking the plunge and buying one yourself.

The choice is strong, and you’ll typically be looking at a low-miles bike under ten years old, unless you want something a bit more exclusive or specialist.

The focus on the experience, and not performance or technology necessarily, means you’re not missing out much compared to the crop of 2024.

They’re excellent value for money – our target price will easily secure you a good example of any of them: you need only spend more on a newer example if you really want to…