Gallery

When Aprilia’s engineers removed their super-sports RSV4’s fairing and fitted high bars to create the Tuono V4R, they created a light, agile and searingly fast 167bhp V4 that was one of the most outrageously exciting streetbikes ever built.

Photo: Milagro (Riders for Health)

Essentially a toughened-up version of Triumph’s chrome-laden Thunderbird cruiser, the Storm featured twin headlamps and a finish in either gloss or matt black. A bigger, 1699cc parallel twin engine provided some extra performance to match.

Photo: Jacky Ley (Riders for Health)

Having ceaselessly attacked new markets in recent years, BMW returned to their touring roots in spectacular fashion with the K1600GTL and its sportier GT sibling, both hugely capable bikes powered by a 1649cc, 160bhp six-cylinder engine.

Photo: Daniel Kraus (Riders for Health)

KTM’s Duke 125 is more than just a sharply styled 125cc single. Designed in KTM’s Austrian base but produced in India, it was created as a global model to be sold, in modified 200cc form, in emerging markets including Malaysia and Brazil.

Photo: Redeye (Riders for Health)

This latest version of Suzuki’s legendary super-sports 750 was the quickest yet, combining its 150bhp 16-valve engine with uprated suspension and brakes — plus a generous supply of traditional GSX-R aggression.

Photo: Wout Meppelink (Riders for Health)

The Z750R was an R-for-Racy version of Kawasaki’s long-running Z750 four, featuring reworked styling plus uprated suspension and brakes. It was quick, smooth and stylish, though the R clearly didn’t also stand for Reduced weight.

Photo: Double Red (Riders for Health)

Diavel means “Devil” in the accent of Ducati’s home city of Bologna, and the name is perfect for this unique take on the power cruiser theme. The Diavel is an improbably fine-handling 162bhp V-twin that makes every ride an event.

Photo: Milagro (Riders for Health)

Honda’s 2012-model version of the Gold Wing gets reshaped bodywork, extra storage capacity and upgraded suspension and satnav. The changes aren’t dramatic, but the Wing is still very hard to beat for long-haul travel, especially with a pillion.

Photo: Kevin Wing (Riders for Health)

Triumph’s brilliant Tiger 800 and 800XC took the middleweight dual-purpose class by storm. The more dirt oriented XC or “Cross Country” combined the shared 799cc three-cylinder motor with long-travel suspension and wire wheels.

Photo: Paul Barshon (Riders for Health)

Guzzi took a while to get the Norge tourer up to scratch. But this latest version, powered by the eight-valve version of the Italian marque’s 1151cc transverse V-twin engine, is a capable tourer well suited to covering long distances in comfort.

Photo: Milagro (Riders for Health)

Inspired by the simplicity of jet-skis, the Crossrunner wraps vaguely boat-like bodywork around the 782cc V4 engine and aluminium frame of Honda’s VFR800 sports-tourer. The result is rider-friendly and enjoyable, at least on dry land.

Photo: Zep Gori (Riders for Health)

The Dorsoduro was the first model to be powered by Aprilia’s new generation 1197cc V-twin engine. The eight-valve motor produced 130bhp with plenty of midrange torque, encouraging the Dorso rider to save on front tyre wear.

Photo: Milagro (Riders for Health)

When Ducati’s original, 1099cc Streetfighter proved too extreme to sell in big numbers, it was followed by the Streetfighter 848. A softer engine, more comfortable ergonomics and lower price broadened the V-twin’s appeal.

Photo: Milagro (Riders for Health)

Alabama based Confederate’s unmistakable Fighter is constructed around an innovative, aluminium framed chassis. The aircooled V-twin engine's 1965cc capacity equates to 120 cubic inches, hence the P120 in the Fighter's name.

Photo © Roland Brown

Just like the model of the same name that was the most popular bike of the 1990s, Honda’s new-generation CBR600F was intended to offer performance with practicality and a competitive price. On first impressions it did a good job.

Photo: Francesc Montero (Riders for Health)

With its sleek race-replica styling, Aprilia’s RS4 resembled the fearsome RSV4 that had taken Max Biaggi to the 2010 World Superbike championship. But the RS4 wasn’t a 999cc V4, it was a 125cc single that produced just 15bhp.

Photo: Milagro (Riders for Health)

Despite being essentially a GSX-R750 race-replica with no fairing, the GSR750 was more of a rider-friendly all-rounder than a stripped-down streetfighter. Whether or not that was a good thing depended on what its rider wanted from a naked Suzuki four.

Photo: Eric Malherbe (Riders for Health)

The upmarket R-for-Racing version of Triumph’s deservedly popular Daytona 675 combines the standard 124bhp three-cylinder engine with uprated chassis parts including Öhlins suspension and Brembo Monobloc front brake callipers.

Photo: Alessio Barbanti (Riders for Health)

A year after the launch of the stylish naked Z1000 four, Kawasaki followed it with the Z1000SX. Adding a fairing and bigger fuel tank created a rapid, 136bhp sports-tourer that didn’t let a pair of panniers prevent it from providing an exciting ride.

Photo: Double Red (Riders for Health)

Guzzi’s dual-purpose Stelvio had a few flaws on its launch in 2008, but when the tall V-twin was updated three years later with mods including a torquier eight-valve engine and increased fuel capacity it became a very handy adventure bike.

Photo: Milagro (Riders for Health)

The original Ducati Supermono was a beautiful and successful single-cylinder racebike that was built in small numbers in the 1990s. English Ducati specialist Alistair Wager’s replica brought the Supermono magic to the street.

Photo: Phil Masters © Roland Brown

The Duu — Milanese dialect for “Two” — was created when Italian engineers bolted an American-built, 1916cc V-twin engine into a compact chassis, and added neat bodywork. It has more Italian-American menace than Al Pacino in The Godfather.

Photo © Roland Brown