10 Bikes That Scream Personality And Power

As consumers continue to demand more from their motorcycles, there seems to be less and less space for more dedicated, performance-oriented machines. With so much emphasis on versatility, overall performance has taken a back seat in favor of “real-world” performance, where the torque curves take center stage. While there is nothing wrong with versatility, these one-size-fits-all motorcycles often lack a little character.

Thankfully, while the market for fun, powerful bikes has certainly shrunk – and is most certainly less profitable – there are still a fair few fun bikes on the market. All of which simply bristle with character and presence. For the sake of variety, we limited it to one fun bike per brand.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, such as Indian Motorcycle, Suzuki Cycles, and Ducati. The motorcycles on this list are rated according to power.

Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono

Power: 78 Horsepower

The Superquadro Mono was briefly the most powerful single-cylinder engine on the market. In a featherweight frame, its 78 horsepower is more than you will ever need to have a really good time. Even though this is by some margin the least powerful bike on the list, the Hypermotard 698 has immense personality and offers an unrivaled rider experience.

Specifications

Indian 101 Scout

Power: 111 Horsepower

Generally speaking, American cruisers have a fair bit of 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 couple of distinctive paint options. By cruiser standards, it also has a relatively light frame, so it is able to make the most of its 111 horsepower.

Specifications

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special

Power: 150 Horsepower

The Pan America Special came out at an awkward time. Record sales in the first year were almost more of a curse than a blessing, as everyone who bought one back then realized Harley was still figuring out how to make the thing reliable. Those kinks have since been worked out, but the market has already moved on to smaller, more capable middleweight bikes. It is still a fun bike and simply oozes personality.

Specifications

Honda CB1000 Hornet SP

Power: 155 Horsepower (Euro Spec)

Ok, so we couldn’t resist listing the horsepower figure for the European model. The bike sold in the US will only have around 130 horsepower, but it will still have all 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 famous for making reliable motorcycles, this is proof that reliable bikes can also be fun.

Specifications

Yamaha MT-10

Power: 164 Horsepower

Long before Honda built the Hornet, Yamaha put the old version of the game-changing YZF-R1 CP4 engine in a naked bike. When you start this bike, it has a distinctive gurgle, almost as if to foreshadow its true performance potential. While immensely fun, its fuel economy is comically poor and, as a result, it does not meet the new global emissions standards in its current form. So it looks like it might be near the end of its production life with no mention of an update or replacement.

Specifications

KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

Power: 173 Horsepower

We could have included a third hypernaked, but this rather unusual creation is far more interesting. With a host of additional tech features, including semi-active suspension, the raw “beast” is transformed into one of the most electrifying sport touring bikes currently on the market. All the added comfort features make it a far more refined motorcycle, yet the “beast” still resides within and can come out of its electronic cage if you allow it.

Specifications

Suzuki Hayabusa

Power: 185 Horsepower

A wide selection of electronics has been added to the Hayabusa, now in its third generation. Underneath all that resides the same speed queen we all know and love. It is not quite as ugly as it once was, but it is still just as purposeful, with a single-minded desire to be the fastest motorcycle 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 Horsepower

Ducati made a lot of noise about shifting from twins to V4 engines. What nobody seemed to realize was the fact that Aprilia had been building V4 superbikes for a fair bit longer. The RSV4 is cheaper, faster, and more powerful than the Panigale. The base model doesn’t get the fancy suspension you will find on the more track-oriented Factory version, but if you just want a fun, fast superbike, it is desperately hard to look past this positively gorgeous Italian V4.

Specifications

Kawasaki Ninja H2R

Power: 322 Horsepower

With 322 horsepower, the Ninja H2R is, by some margin, the most powerful production motorcycle on the market. It has been for almost a decade now, and with a top speed of 250 MPH, it is also the fastest motorcycle in the world, albeit unofficially. It is also not technically road legal. Kawasaki was forced to sell it as a “track only” model, and some tracks won’t even allow it, thanks to how ridiculously loud it is. The H2R is, in a word, ridiculous.

Specifications

Bonus: MTT 420 RR

Power: 420 Horsepower

While this jet bike is not technically a production motorcycle – it is made to order – it is the one “thing” that might be faster than the H2R. Well, we know it is faster, but nobody has found a long enough stretch of road to prove that fact. It is also completely street legal, as absurd as that may seem, so it certainly has one over the Kawasaki in that department.

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