Are 200bhp nakeds just too much? BMW's M1000R takes on the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S

BMW’s new M1000R and the updated Ducati Streetfighter V4 S make obscene amounts of power.

The Italian’s MotoGP-derived V4 motor pumps out 205bhp and the German’s inline four has 207bhp, making it the most powerful naked money can buy. But aren’t these big numbers getting a bit silly for road bikes with all the aerodynamics of a house brick?

Back in 2008 I raced a Yamaha R1 that made around 165bhp at the rear wheel. It was more than quick enough, but I took it to Bob Farnham tuning for a fettle anyway.

It made 180bhp by the time he’d worked his magic, but it never made me any faster. To be honest, I was a bit scared at the thought of what was a big bhp number back then and with its racier porting and lumpier cams it was just more of a handful.

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