As more and more naked bikes hit the market in the mid-nighties a new sub-category emerged. A class of smaller cheaper naked bikes were introduced to capture entry-level and novice bikers. Much like the difference between 600cc supersports and their bigger liter bike brothers, these bikes borrowed the appearance of their big bore hooligan bikes with 600-650cc engines.
Suzuki got this segment started in 1999 with the SV650. The SV became a huge hit. For a number of years Suzuki offered the naked GS500 and Bandit 600, but those bikes were more of a traditional design. The SV combined the charisma of a 90 degree V-twin with an affordable price. Suzuki initially offered the SV in two flavors a completely naked model, and the SV650S which offers a half fairing, and more sporting seating position. Today the SV650S is a fully faired motorcycle. For 2008 Suzuki introduced another 650cc V-twin to there line up; the Gladius.
Suzuki Bandit 600
Honda Hawk GT
Honda Hornet 600 (599)
Honda Hornet 600In 2004 Yamaha released their FZ6, a smaller variation of their successful FZ1. The bike is sold in the US with a half fairing similar to the Suzuki SV650S. Elsewhere in the world the FZ6 is available as a "full" naked bike. The FZ6 has become one of the more popular bikes in this segment.
Yamaha FZ6 Fazer
Yamaha FZ6 Fazer
Kawasaki jumped in to the mid-sized game in 2006 with the ER-6. The ER was first introduced with a fairing in the United States, later the naked version sold in Europe became available, known as the ER-6n. Prior to the ER-6 Kawasaki offered the ZR750 in the United States, and in Europe today they offer a downsized version of the Z1000, known as the Z750.
Kawasaki ZR750
Kawasaki Z750
Kawasaki ER-6n (Ninja 650R)
Ducati has had a mid-size bike since the introduction of the first Monster; the M600. The Monster went on to become one Ducati's most successful products of all time, and the smallest Monster was one of the best selling models. Over the years the baby Monster grew from 600 to 620, to 695, and finally with the next generation Monster the 696.
Ducati Monster 620Triumph also had a a "mini-me" version of their bigger hooligan bike. Shortly after Triumph entered the 600cc supersport category the entered the mid-sized hooligan bike market with a naked version. The Speed Four attempted to offer the thrills of the Speed Triple with a smaller four cylinder power plant. In 2008 Triumph revisited this formula using the fresh triple from the 675 sport bike creating a nice little package called the Street Triple.
Triumph Speed Four
Triumph Street TripleFinally there's the South Korean upstart Hyosung. Hyosung has been trying to break into the US market with their 650R and S models. Esentially a copy of Suzuki's 650 V-twin design, the Hyosung tries to offer the performance of their Japanese rivals for less money.
Suzuki attacked the market with the TL1000S. In 1997 the liquid cooled 90 degree V-twin offered an alternative to their ever popular GSX-R750. The TL gained a following however due to a number of suspension problems the Suzuki found a reputation for being a deadly motorcycle and sales dropped. The TL also came in a repli-racer style with the TL1000R, which lasted one year after the TL1000S. The TL's V-twin lived on in Suzuki's SV1000, however this model never seemed to be very popular.
The same year Suzuki came out with the TL Honda introduced their own V-twin, the VTR1000F otherwise known in the US as the SuperHawk. Like the Ducati and Suzuki the VTR featured a 90 degree twin. A unique feature of the VTR was the split side mounted radiators. The VTR never seemed to catch on in the US. In 2000 Honda was the first and only Japanese competitor to seriously take on Ducati with their own WSB V-tiwn, the VTR1000R, which shared little with the VTR1000F.
While Honda and Suzuki had offered liquid cooled 90 degree V-twins, they never really lived up to Ducati's racey 916. Instead the TL and VTR found themselves competing with Ducati's less sport Super Sport model. The Super Sport model featured an air cooled 900cc twin that traces its roots the mid eighties. This bike was far from offering the Superbike performance of the 916, but price wise and style wise it competed with the TL and VTR nicely.
