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In this new series of Top Ten Bikes, we look at the best bikes around in the biking world as voted for by our Men & Motors panel.

Today we take a look at the top ten Street/Naked bikes of 2003. Which one will hit the number one spot?

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Transcript
00:00 [Music]
00:15 Hello there, I'm Rhys Brady and welcome to this new series of Top 10 Bikes.
00:20 Our Men & Motors panel have deliberated long and hard over the best and worst aspects of the bikes available for sale in the UK
00:27 to bring you the definitive Top 10 lists for each of the categories of bikes.
00:32 This award will be presented to the manufacturer of this week's number one machine.
00:37 The question is, which bike will it be? Stay tuned to find out.
00:41 Firstly, I would like to thank you if you've taken the time to vote on the Men & Motors website for your favourite bike.
00:48 At the end of the series, there'll be a special show where we find out if you agree with the voting of our Men & Motors panel.
00:55 Now I'm one of the panellists and as the show progresses, you'll get to meet the other journalists involved.
01:01 So let's get started on the countdown of this week's category, it's street and naked bikes.
01:07 Let's get down and dirty with the beasts of the streets.
01:10 Now these bikes are aggressively styled and have powerful engines.
01:14 Although not hugely good handling bikes, they are quick in a straight line and great for the traffic light Grand Prix.
01:20 So let's take a look at the bike in 10th position and may the best beast win.
01:26 Well, the big bad bulldog kicks off our top 10 countdown this week.
01:30 Well, the bulldog rumbled onto our streets back in 2001.
01:34 The looks and the name promise so much, but in reality, it delivers very little.
01:40 I mean, 1100cc producing only a measly 64 brake horsepower.
01:46 650s or cruisers normally put out that sort of brake horsepower.
01:50 But if you've recently joined the motorcycling fold, then perhaps a good looking large capacity V-twin with not too much grunt is what you're after.
01:59 You see, you can pose, you can cruise and know that the bulldog isn't going to bite you back.
02:05 The R1 brakes will have no troubles pulling you to a halt and the drag star engine is perfectly reliable if fun inspiring.
02:11 The bulldog is a bit of a Heinz 57 if you want to keep it in doggy terms.
02:16 So does it float our panels boat?
02:19 It's aimed at being a first big bike for inexperienced riders, and it's actually very good at that.
02:27 Whoever came up with the name Bulldog is obviously completely missing the point of these attitude ridden bikes.
02:33 Calling a bike a bulldog doesn't give it attitude. It's a chihuahua by nature.
02:38 It's too big, too soft. Take it to the vet and have it put down.
02:43 Well, I think the Yamaha Bulldog is a poser's machine and it's all mouth and no trousers.
02:49 The kind of punter I'd expect to ride that bike would be an accountant who'd buy it and park it outside the local wine bar.
02:56 So our combined scores for each category of street cred, build quality, performance, comfort and value give the Bulldog a total score of 65%,
03:06 putting it firmly in 10th place in our chart.
03:09 And in at number nine is the fierce looking Kajiva Raptor.
03:13 Now, Kajiva might not be a mark that you're particularly familiar with, but back in '92 with Eddie Lawson on board,
03:20 the Kajiva had its first GP win.
03:22 Shortly after that, the money ran dry and the poor old Castiglione brothers were back to the drawing board quite literally.
03:29 Now, this is a lesson worth learning with Kajiva.
03:32 You see, they don't have the same backing as a big Japanese company, so getting problems sorted out and spare parts can be a pain.
03:39 But if you really feel the urge to have an unusual head turning machine, then the Kajiva is worth taking for a spin.
03:46 It's a surprisingly comfy bike to ride, especially for someone petite.
03:50 You see, you tend to sit in the bike rather than on it.
03:53 The steep rake angle and the wide bars make the Raptor extremely agile.
03:57 It's great fun to ride and very good for your street cred.
04:01 It looks like a hooligan and believe me, it can behave like one too.
04:06 So, what do our panel make of it?
04:09 I like it. I like it a lot. It handles really nicely. The motor's fantastic.
04:13 Again, the thing that lets it down and has let down Kajivas for quite a while now is the finish.
04:18 It's a bit over the top for me, the style.
04:20 Having said that, it does handle well and the seat is very, very low.
04:25 It's worth considering if you're shorter and you can't stand cruisers.
04:30 I couldn't bring myself to recommend it to anyone.
04:33 Well, I think the Kajiva Raptor is a weird looking machine
04:37 and it's about as far from gorgeous as I ever imagined a bike could be.
04:41 And they're not exactly pieced together like a Honda.
04:45 So, our panel's combined scores for each category have given the fierce looking Kajiva Raptor a total score of 69%,
04:52 putting it firmly in 9th place in our top 10 chart.
04:56 Muscling its way into our top 10 in 8th position is Buell's Sportsfighter.
05:01 Yes, it's the awesome Lightning XB9S.
05:05 Now, putting a Holley engine into a sports frame might sound like a wholesale madness to you, but not to Eric Buell.
05:12 The XB9S boasts rim-mounted brakes for good feedback and feel,
05:17 fuel in the frame to keep the centre of gravity nice and low,
05:21 and oil in the swingarm which reduces weight and saves precious packaging space.
05:26 So what does all this mean when it comes to riding?
05:29 Well, Holley engines are known for torque.
05:31 With the Buell, you get a good spread of power right through the rev range.
05:35 The belt drive makes sure the delivery is smooth,
05:38 and the low centre of gravity with the rigid chassis and steep brake angle
05:43 means it's as flickable as a loose strand of hair.
05:46 So, what do our panel make of it?
05:49 The Buell Lightning XB9S is a very different looking bike,
05:52 and it scores big points because of that, but the engine is just a little bit lacking.
05:57 Full marks to Buell for striking ahead and doing something a little bit different.
06:00 Some people might call it quirky, but it works.
06:03 Well, I think the Buell is out there on its own.
06:06 It's rather top-heavy and it's mated to that clunky Holley engine and gearbox.
06:11 It's quite uncomfortable to ride, but hey, it's different and I like it.
06:15 The combined scores for each category has meant our panel is giving the Buell Lightning a total of 71%,
06:22 putting it firmly in 8th place in our Street & Naked chart.
06:27 At number 7 is BMW's attempt to be funky, wacky and weird.
06:32 It's the Rockster.
06:34 BMW has succeeded in making a bike that looks like C3PO from Star Wars.
06:39 They've taken an R1150R, the lights from the GS Adventure, and let a frustrated stylist loose on the rest of it.
06:47 Now that might sound catastrophic, but in reality, it ain't half bad.
06:52 For just over 7 grand, you get a very different paint job with colour-matched wheel rims.
06:57 Even the cylinder heads get a hint of a tint.
07:00 The BMW's unique telelever suspension system doesn't dive like most bikes do,
07:06 giving you more encouragement to hoof it through the bends.
07:09 It can be coaxed into bad behaviour, despite its sensible final drive, that front wheel will pop up eagerly,
07:16 which does go against BMW's rather sensible image.
07:20 It's a hooligan with a posh accent.
07:22 It's a polite street fighter.
07:24 A cracking bike, if you like that kind of thing.
07:27 So let's see what our panellists have to think about that.
07:31 The BMW Rockster is as mad as a fish on a roller skate.
07:34 But it works.
07:36 It's a bike I'm not impressed with. It ought to be a lot better than it is.
07:39 Now when are BMW going to realise that all the other manufacturers use telescopic forks for a reason?
07:46 Because they work.
07:48 Is this BMW's attempt to go against the grain or something?
07:51 Our combined scores for each category of street cred, build quality, performance, comfort and value,
07:58 give the BMW Rockster a total score of 73%, putting it firmly in 7th place in our chart.
08:05 So in at 6th is the Ducati offering in the form of the Monster 1000.
08:11 The dual spark engine equates to more power and more torque, just what we need.
08:16 Chuck in a 30% stiffer frame and the fun really starts.
08:21 Ducatis and Italian bikes in general get the mucky end of the stick when it comes to build quality.
08:27 But it's a bit of a myth these days.
08:29 The Italians are hot on the heels of our Japanese friends and the M1000 is testimony in metal to that fact.
08:36 The Monster still turns heads, even though it's been around since 1993.
08:41 It's looks have changed very little, so it just goes to show that Miguel Galluzzi got it right first time around.
08:48 And of course it's a Ducati, need I say more?
08:52 But what will our panellists say?
08:54 It's a capable bike, looks the part, it does exactly what you want it to. Fantastic bike.
09:01 The Monster is a fantastic bike, the 1000 DS is a great bike, and all for a grand less than the S4R.
09:06 Well I think the Monster is a modern classic.
09:09 It's looks appeal to almost everyone across the board,
09:13 and the bike is just as happy being ridden down the street as it is around a racetrack.
09:18 You know I think that Ducati Monster will go down in history.
09:21 So our panel's combined scores for each category have given the Italian stallion, the Ducati Monster 1000,
09:28 a total score of 76%, putting it firmly in 6th place in our top 10 chart.
09:35 Right, it's time now for a quick break, but make sure you join us again in part 2
09:39 when we reveal the top beast in our chart of street and naked bikes for 2003.
09:44 See you in a mo'.
09:46 [Music]
09:52 Hello there and welcome back to Top 10 Bikes with me Louise Brady.
09:56 Now in this week's show we're stalking through the top 10 street and naked bikes for 2003.
10:02 But before we continue with the countdown, let's quickly recap from 10 to 6.
10:07 In at 10, the rather tame Yamaha BC 1100 Bulldog.
10:12 And number 9, the prehistoric predator, Kajiva Raptor.
10:17 In at 8, the flashy Buell Lightning XB9S.
10:21 And in at 7, the wacky but harmless BMW Rockstar.
10:26 Sitting at number 6, the Italian fiend, the Ducati Monster 1000.
10:31 So let's rejoin our countdown of the beasts on the street.
10:36 So in at 5, it's the big brother to Suzuki's SV650.
10:40 Yes, it's the SV1000S.
10:43 Now the SV650 is a hugely popular machine.
10:46 So on the back of its success, Suzuki decided to go for broke
10:50 and bring out the 1000cc version.
10:53 The SV is available fared and unfared.
10:56 The unfared version has a more upright riding position, which is ideal for city riding.
11:01 The fared S version is a touch sportier, with clip-on bars and racier footpeg position.
11:07 The thumping V-twin is a revamped version of the TL1000S engine.
11:13 It has the characteristic V-twin lurch, which some find endearing,
11:17 and others find damn right annoying.
11:20 The fuel injection system helps soothe the delivery of the 125bhp
11:24 that this lump is capable of producing.
11:27 The chassis is based on the 650 version and is a bit of a gem.
11:31 The price ain't half bad either, at about 6 grand.
11:34 That's what a 600 would cost you, and you get 400cc more.
11:38 All that said, the SV1000 hasn't been as popular as one would have expected.
11:44 It's a case of jack of all trades, but master of none.
11:47 It's a V-twin without being a duke.
11:50 It's a tourer without being all-day comfortable.
11:53 And it's a sports bike without being a patch on a CBR.
11:57 So what do our panel make of it all?
12:00 The Suzuki V-twin is a good all-round bike.
12:05 The S version, which we're talking about, means it's got a fairing
12:08 and you can cruise along at high speed.
12:11 You can do a lot of stuff with that bike.
12:14 It's another all-rounder, a rival to a VFR Honda and so on, really.
12:18 Suzuki have got a knack of making really fun bikes,
12:21 and the SV1000S is just that fun.
12:23 It's got such a great engine, it's got a good chassis,
12:26 and with a little half-fairing on it, it means you can actually use it.
12:29 Suzuki's SV1000S is everything that you'd like the 600 version to be.
12:34 It's got the capability, it's got the power, and it's certainly got the looks.
12:39 What you get from the SV1000S with the fairing
12:43 and the comfort that brings at speed,
12:45 you kind of lose from the riding position.
12:48 Well, I think the SV650 is a far better bike.
12:52 The SV1000S doesn't possess much in the way of character in the chassis
12:57 or the handling or the engine department.
13:00 It's one of those bikes that isn't a true sportsster,
13:03 but it's not really a slouch either.
13:05 So our combined scores for each category of street cred,
13:09 build quality, performance, comfort, and value,
13:13 give the Suzuki SV1000S a total score of 78%,
13:18 putting it firmly in 5th place in our chart.
13:21 In at number 4 is the Japanese favourite, it's the Honda CB900 Hornet.
13:27 Now, Honda's hunky 900cc Hornet is an absolute hoot to ride.
13:32 Completely unfurred, it's taken the naked look to the extreme.
13:36 That broad tank narrows seductively into a tiny waistline of a seat,
13:41 and the bike just sizzles with sex appeal, fun, and aggression.
13:45 With a seat height of a reasonable 795mm,
13:49 it means even us little ladies can take the Hornet out for a damn good thrash.
13:54 Those wide bars and upright riding position,
13:57 give you full command over the road as it opens up ahead of you.
14:01 The retuned Fireblade engine is lively and just wants to play.
14:06 It urges you on and oh boy, it's hard to resist the temptation.
14:10 It's good around town as it's easy to turn,
14:13 light on the clutch and the willing fuel injected engine just tugs you along nicely.
14:18 The Hornet looks big and bad, but in reality it's a bit of a pussycat.
14:23 So it's over to the panellists to see what they think of the Hornet.
14:28 It feels as though it's going to handle better than the Fazer,
14:31 but when actually pushed down back roads it kind of loses out.
14:35 The Hornet 900 suffered for not being the naked Fireblade that everyone wanted it to be.
14:40 The Honda 900 is a fairly chunky and well put together bike, which oozes smoothness.
14:46 You can feel that D2 motor gently whooshing you across the tarmac.
14:51 It's a great bike, but the problem is it's not that exciting.
14:55 The panel's combined scores for each category give the Honda CB900 Hornet a total score of 80%,
15:03 putting it firmly in 4th place in our top 10 chart.
15:07 Striding into the number 3 spot is the Yamaha Fazer 1000.
15:11 Yamaha's 1000cc Fazer is the semi-sensible big brother to the crazy Yamaha R1.
15:18 Keeping it in the family, Yamaha have given the Fazer a retuned version of the R1 Lump.
15:24 Heavier engine internals and a few tuning tweaks give the Fazer lots of low-down lazy power,
15:30 but give that big boy a handful and it certainly won't disappoint.
15:34 It's putting out 143bhp and there's enough top end to keep you speed junkies more than happy.
15:42 Power roll on whilst cruising is superb, just twist and go, go, go.
15:48 The handling is excellent, not as taut as the R1, but then it's not a sports bike.
15:53 The little fairing helps defuse some of the wind blasts, but taller riders out there will find they're getting it full in the mush, if they're not careful.
16:01 The engine runs hot, so the ride can get a bit sweaty.
16:05 Long distance comfort isn't as good as you'd expect on such a big tall bike,
16:09 but the sweet handling and silky engine certainly made cut for it.
16:14 So, let's see what the boys have to say about that.
16:17 Yamaha's Fazer 1000 is a stunning street bike.
16:20 It's got an R1 engine which makes great power in a really good chassis.
16:24 And it's practical too, so you can actually ride it day to day without the restraints of riding a hardcore sports bike.
16:31 Insurance isn't going to do you any favours, but then with bikes in this category,
16:35 none of them are going to be particularly friendly insurance wise.
16:38 You could do a lot worse with something like the Fazer 1000.
16:40 The Fazer, well it's the Hornet's nightmare.
16:43 An R1 engine street bike, and I like it.
16:47 Our combined scores for each category give the grin inducing Yamaha Fazer 1000
16:53 a total score of 82%, putting it firmly in third place in our chart of street and naked bikes.
17:00 In the runner up spot is the bike that's been described not as a mean green monster,
17:06 but as cheeky and naughty.
17:09 It's the Kawasaki Z1000.
17:11 If looks could kill, the Z1000 would not get dead on the spot.
17:15 You know, it has a look all of its own.
17:17 It's cheeky, but aggressive at the same time.
17:20 Kawasaki has managed to pull off retro with an up to date edge.
17:25 The chassis is all new, but the engine and running gear have all been donated by the good old ZX9R.
17:32 The engines had a retune for far more mid range and could easily be outdone by the likes of the Fazer.
17:38 But where this bike comes into its own is on handling.
17:42 The wide bars and tight chassis mean the twisties won't know what's hit them,
17:47 and you'll be grinning like a Cheshire cat.
17:50 So let's see what the boys have to say about that.
17:53 The Z1000 I think lives for one thing really, and that's those exhaust pipes at the back.
17:57 I mean, they are cool. They're like four rocket launchers, and I think that's great.
18:01 You lose 10 horsepower just for having that exhaust system, and it's worth it. It looks brilliant.
18:06 Kind of like the old Z1000 of old, this has just got so much attitude.
18:11 A really superb four cylinder bike.
18:14 Looks gorgeous. I mean, I would consider it one of the best looking bikes to have come from Japan,
18:19 certainly in the last 10, 15 years.
18:22 Well, I'd say a brave move by Kawasaki.
18:24 The Z1000 is not for the faint hearted in the looks or the performance department.
18:30 I love it. It's light, it's easy to handle, a superb ride, and those retro pipes are gorgeous.
18:37 Our combined scores for each category of Street Cred, build quality, performance,
18:42 comfort and value give the Kawasaki a total of 83%, putting it firmly in the second hot spot in our chart.
18:51 But before we reveal which bike the MENO Motors panel of experts voted top dog
18:56 in our Street and Naked Bikes category, let's have a rundown of the chart so far.
19:01 In at 10, it's the puppy. This is the Yamaha BC1100. It's the bulldog.
19:07 At number 9, the prehistoric predator, Kajiva Raptor.
19:11 In at 8, the aggressively innovative Buell Lightning XB9S.
19:17 And in at 7, it's weird but over sensible, the BMW Rockster.
19:22 Number 6 is the Italian beast, Ducati Monster Thou.
19:26 While at 5, it's the ever popular Suzuki SV1000S.
19:31 At 4, we voted in the fun loving Honda CB900 Hornet.
19:36 And in at 3, it's last year's winner, the Yamaha Fazer 1000.
19:41 At number 2, it's naughty but it's nice, it's the Kawasaki Z1000.
19:47 So have you guessed what's at the top? Well I won't leave you in suspense any longer.
19:52 The interesting Italian has stolen first place in our top 10, it's the Aprilia Tuono.
19:58 Now the Tuono is a bit of an oddball really.
20:01 Well think about it, the Fazer has a detuned R1 engine, the Hornet has a detuned blade engine.
20:07 But the Tuono has a full blown, mad as a bag of cats, Mille engine.
20:12 They even provide nice wide bars to give you a fighting chance to hang on to the beast.
20:18 The bike feels, sounds and depending on your taste, looks amazing too.
20:23 Some think it's the biking equivalent of Kylie in a bikini, others think it's pig ugly.
20:29 The power is delivered in a smooth and progressive manner and there's lots of torque at your disposal
20:35 and an exhaust that howls like a banshee.
20:38 The wide bars make it a doddle to handle, one little nudge and it's on its ear.
20:44 The chassis is the same as the Mille so handling is fine.
20:47 The responsive throttle will help keep the wheelie fiends happy too.
20:52 So what do our panel make of it all?
20:55 The Italians really know how to do naked bikes well, the Tuono is a case in point.
20:59 I love that bike, it's an RSV Mille, bodywork stripped off, set at high bars, off you go.
21:06 The Aprilia Tuono is the ultimate urban assault vehicle.
21:10 It's got such a great chassis and at the same time it's got such a strong engine.
21:14 But it's a street fighter and therefore it does what a street fighter does, it does wheelies, it does stoppies.
21:20 It's an easier bike to ride in some respects because of the big wide bars and it's just a lunatic laugh.
21:25 Well I think it's just about the silliest sports bike thing money can buy.
21:30 A full on racer without the fearing.
21:33 It can only be described as a hooligan tool and it'll certainly turn heads.
21:38 So the panel's combined score for each category has given the top Italian Aprilia Tuono a total score of a whopping 86%.
21:48 Making it the number one street and naked bike for 2003.
21:52 So congratulations to Aprilia.
21:55 Can I say a big thank you for this to Men & Motors.
21:57 I know the guys who have voted for it and I very much respect their views.
22:01 It's even sweeter for me because this happens to be my favourite bike by a long way.
22:05 Thanks very much indeed.
22:07 Well sadly it's time to go but don't forget if you disagree with the panel,
22:11 you can make your own votes on the Men & Motors website.
22:14 And the viewers special will be at the end of the series.
22:17 That's all for today but join us next time for the top 10 dual purpose bikes of 2003.
22:22 See you then.
22:24 [Music]
22:53 (thunder)
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