The bikes of EICMA 2019 – naked motorcycles

IF there was one theme from this year’s EICMA motorcycle show that stood out more than any other, it was naked bikes, in a variety of capacities.

From small capacity learner legal machines, to supercharged hyper-nakeds, producing more than 200bhp. If you’re the kind of rider who likes to have the wind in your face – 2020 could be a very good year for you. To help you choose which bike is right for you, here are the top naked motorcycles from EICMA 2019.

Kawasaki Z H2 – circa £16,000 – launch date – Feb 2020

As eagerly awaited as its sportsbike cousin, the Z H2 takes the Kawasaki ‘Z’ ethos and turns the boost up to eleven. The more you look at the Z H2 the more you realise it is not just simply a Kawasaki H2 sportsbike with the fairings removed, almost every component on the new hyper-naked is bespoke to this bike.

Kawasaki Z H2 (2020) specs

Ducati Streetfighter V4 – from £17,595 – launch date – early 2020

Another of the naked machines that it seems the whole world has been waiting for. Ducati’s Streetfighter V4 and V4 S go about things in a different way to the machine above. Like the 848 Streetfighter of old, the new naked V4 takes the successful and capable Panigale V4, strips it of fairings and adds some sit-up handlebars and a Joker inspired front end.

Ducati Streetfighter V4 specs

Kawasaki Z900 – circa £9,000 – launch date – mid Dec 2019

For 2020 the iconic Z900 gets riding modes, traction control, LED lighting and Z H2 inspired styling for 2020. The bike is available in two versions, full power – 124hp – and an A2 friendly model at 94hp, which makes it suitable to restrict down to 47hp.

Kawasaki Z900 (2020) specs

MV Agusta Rush 1000 – price TBC – launch date TBC

One of the surprise machines at the show was the stunning MV Agusta Rush 1000. Based on the Brutale 1000 RR, the Rush 1000 is capable of producing 208hp, with another 4bhp available if an exhaust and engine map or selected.

MV Agusta Rush 1000 specs

Triumph Thruxton RS - £13,000 – TBC

Triumph’s king of the modern-classic range gets a performance and spec boost in the form of 8hp boost in power, more torque, Öhlins suspension, Showa forks and Brembo Monoblock brakes. To match the power boost, the RS also gets a slinky looking matt finished paint job with a cool-looking two-tone colour scheme.

KTM 890 Duke – price TBC – launch date TBC

KTM’s scalpel sharp 790 Duke gets a capacity hike for 2020 in the form of a newly developed 890cc unit pushing out 119hp – 16hp more than the 790 version. The KTM 890 Duke R has lost some pounds too, as dry weight is down by 3kg to 166kg dry. Fully wet, this figure would be more like 190kg.

KTM 890 Duke specs

KTM 1290 Super Duke R - price TBC – launch date TBC

KTM’s self-proclaimed beast has been reinvented for 2020, featuring revised packaging, less weight and more power than the outgoing model. The new bike’s engine is still 1,301cc although beneath the skin it has been extensively reworked to help it squeeze out 180hp and 140Nm. As if the old model wasn’t powerful enough!

KTM 1290 Super Duke specs

Harley-Davidson Bronx – price TBC – launch date 2020

One of the first machines from the ‘More Roads to Harley-Davidson’ program comes in the form of this rather cool looking roadster. The Bronx is powered by a 975cc Revolution Max engine, which should be good for around 115hp – not bad for a H-D!

Harley-Davidson Bronx specs

CF Moto 700 CL-X – price TBC – launch date TBC

Not content with launching one new model, CF Moto took three to the stage at a swanky launch event in Milan this week. Based around a common engine and frame combo, the CL-X is a 700cc parallel twin and is available in sport (roadster), heritage and adventure variants.

CF Moto 700 CL-X specs

Kawasaki Z650 – price circa £6,500 – Jan 2020

The Kawasaki Z650 gets sharper looks, a TFT dash and cleaner-burning Euro5 engine for 2020. The biggest visual change is the Sugomi inspired, Z H2-a-like front end, with full LED lights helping to improve styling and visibility. The new TFT dash also gets Bluetooth connectivity, with GPS logs and the ability to answer and reject calls while on the move.

Kawasaki Z650 specs