Page 52 - 2022-08-01 RiDE

BRITAIN’S TOP-10 NAKEDS

Pure reminds you
BMW R why riding a bike is
so addictive
9 NINET PURE

Great customising potential
with air-cooled charm

Price £11,095 Power 108bhp Torque
86lb·ft Weight 219kg Seat height 805mm

At £11,095 the R nineT Pure is easy to
dismiss as one of those ‘hipster’ bikes that
is all fashion over function. However, this is
far from the case. BMW has done a great
job in giving its heritage model bags of soul
and thoroughly modern performance.
Much of a bike’s character comes from its
engine and the Pure’s boxer is bursting
with spirit. From the moment you rev it
and feel the torque reaction and hear the
rasping and raw exhaust note, the hairs on
the back of your neck start to stand up.
And this sensation doesn’t reduce when
you are on the move. It’ll lap up city riding
but head into the country and the boxer
thumps forward while the chassis attacks NEED TO KNOW
bends with balance and agility, thanks to
the motor’s low centre of gravity. It may Feels, looks and sounds like an RIDE VERDICT A genuinely
not be the most refined model out there old-school bike should. surprising machine to ride, the
but it is fun. Designed as a blank canvass to Pure has bags of performance, a
be tweaked and modified how you want, it Engine is quite aggressive great chassis and a wicked
is by far and away the best value of the R with snappy throttle response. exhaust note.
nineT range, too. JON URRY

SUZUKI everyone but we like the
Looks won’t suit
8GSX-S1000 camo side panels. Kind of...

Looks might be so-so but it
has loads of go-go…

Price £11,355 Power 150bhp Torque
78lb·ft Weight 214kg Seat height 810mm

When a motorcycle has one of the greatest
engines ever produced powering it, it can’t
help but be a contender. So it is no surprise
that primarily because of the GSX-R1000
K5-based motor, the naked GSX-S is a
bloody good motorcycle.
But it’s more than just power. The first
generation of GSX-S wasn’t great: the
fuelling was jerky, the rear shock was poor
and the looks weren’t to everyone’s taste.
But this all-round machine is much better.

The upgraded ride-by-wire system is as
NEED TO KNOW smooth as any on the market and is also
complemented by a near-perfect up/down
quickshifter. New suspension means it

Ace engine, gearbox and now handles neatly, holds a line and has
wonderful fuelling. masterful traction, even with basic TC. The
RIDE VERDICT Really good-fun, result is something that is a more effective,
Dash feels too cheap and power-packed naked. If you can quicker road bike than something like a
looks split opinion. get a deal, go for it… BMW S1000R, but costs less and is more

fun. MATT WILDEE

52 SEPTEMBER 2022