10 bicycles that radiate personality and strength

As consumers demand more and more from their motorcycles, there seems to be less and less room for more specific, performance-oriented machines. With so much emphasis on versatility, overall performance has taken a back seat in favor of real-world performance, with torque curves taking center stage. While there’s nothing wrong with versatility, these one-size-fits-all motorcycles often lack a bit of character.

While the market for fun, powerful bikes has certainly shrunk – and is certainly less profitable – fortunately there are still quite a few fun bikes on the market. They are all brimming with character and presence. For the sake of variety, we have limited it to one nice bike per brand.

In order to provide you with the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article was taken from authoritative sources such as Indian motorcycleSuzuki Cycles and Ducati. The motorcycles on this list are rated based on power.

Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono

Power: 78 hp

The Superquadro Mono was for a short time the most powerful single-cylinder engine on the market. In a feather-light frame, its 78 hp is more than you’ll ever need to really have a good time. Even though this is in some ways the least powerful bike on the list, the Hypermotard 698 has a huge personality and offers an unparalleled riding experience.

Specifications

Indian 101 Scout

Power: 111 hp

In general, American cruisers have quite a presence, but the 101 Scout turns it up to 11. Brembo brakes and adjustable suspension are added to the already very good Sport Scout, as well as a few notable paint options. By cruiser standards, it also has a relatively light frame, allowing it to make the most of its 111 horsepower.

Specifications

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special

Power: 150 hp

The Pan America Special came out at a difficult time. Record sales in its first year were almost more of a curse than a blessing, because everyone who bought one at the time realized that Harley was still figuring out how to make the thing reliable. Those kinks have now been worked out, but the market has already moved to smaller, more capable middleweight bikes. It’s still a fun bike and just oozes personality.

Specifications

Honda CB1000 Hornet SP

Power: 155 hp (Euro specification)

Okay, so we couldn’t resist listing the horsepower for the European model. The engine sold in the US will only have about 130 horsepower, but it will still have the midrange grunt that makes it so much fun. This modern interpretation of a UJM is a breath of fresh air from Honda. While the brand is known for making reliable motorcycles, this is proof that reliable bikes can also be fun.

Specifications

Yamaha MT-10

Power: 164 hp

Long before Honda built the Hornet, Yamaha put the old version of the groundbreaking YZF-R1 CP4 engine in a Naked Bike. When you start this bike, it makes a distinctive rumble, almost as if trying to predict its true performance potential. While it’s loads of fun, its fuel economy is comically low and as a result it doesn’t meet new global emissions standards in its current form. So it seems that the end of its production life is near, without any update or replacement.

Specifications

KTM 1290 SuperDuke GT

Power: 173 hp

We could have added a third hypernaked, but this rather unusual creation is much more interesting. With a host of additional technical features, including semi-active suspension, the raw ‘beast’ is transformed into one of the most exciting sports touring bikes on the market today. All the extra comfort features make it a much more refined motorcycle, yet the ‘beast’ still resides inside and can come out of its electronic cage if you let it.

Specifications

Suzuki Hayabusa

Power: 185 hp

A wide choice of electronics has been added to the Hayabusa, now in its third generation. Underneath it all is the same speed queen we all know and love. It’s not as ugly as it once was, but it’s still just as purposeful, with a single-minded desire to be the fastest bike in town. Even now, more than a quarter of a century after it first came out, it still commands respect wherever it goes.

Specifications

Aprilia RSV4 1100

Power: 220 hp

Ducati made a lot of noise about the switch from twin to V4 engines. What no one seemed to realize was the fact that Aprilia had been building V4 superbikes for a while. The RSV4 is cheaper, faster and more powerful than the Panigale. The base model doesn’t have the fancy suspension you’ll find on the more track-oriented factory version, but if you just want a fun, fast superbike, it’s incredibly hard to look past this downright beautiful Italian V4.

Specifications

Kawasaki Ninja H2R

Power: 322 hp

With 322 horsepower, the Ninja H2R is in some ways the most powerful production motorcycle on the market. It has been around for almost ten years and with a top speed of 400 km/h it is also the fastest motorcycle in the world, albeit unofficially. It’s also not technically road legal. Kawasaki was forced to sell it as a ‘track only’ model, and some tracks don’t even allow this, thanks to its ridiculously loud sound. The H2R is, in a word, ridiculous.

Specifications

Bonus: MTT 420RR

Power: 420 hp

While this jetbike isn’t technically a production motorcycle – it’s made to order – it’s the one ‘thing’ that might be faster than the H2R. We know it’s faster, but no one has found a stretch of road long enough to prove that fact. It’s also completely street legal, as absurd as that may seem, so it certainly has one over the Kawasaki in that department.

Specifications