Pete Brissette
by Pete Brissette
We netted us some naked motorcycles.
Mmmm… D-Lish!
If you rarely rev your engine past 9000 rpm, the ballsy BMW motor serves up the most robust power supply and has a clear advantage over the Shiver’s low-stressed V-Twin. The FZ8’s mill could be a winner if not for its flat spot below 6000 rpm. Triumph’s 675cc Triple trails the others until its romp for first place as its spins to its relatively high rev limit.
The torque monster of this group is clearly the 798cc BMW parallel-Twin, easily towering over the others despite a raggedy line. Despite the Street Triple’s peak at 10,400 rpm, its torque output is extremely linear for an engine of this nature and never feels too peaky. The FZ8’s flat spot is clearly seen here.
Triumph’s Street Triple R is a darling of Motorcycle.com, but can it remain high on our list of favorites with Yamaha’s new FZ8 in the picture?
The FZ8 is a stellar representative for the inline-Four category in this quartet of different engines. Yamaha has done a superb job of keeping engine vibration away from the rider.
The BMW F800R has the longest wheelbase of the four bikes, but that didn’t prevent it from offering neutral, predictable steering. Mid-corner stability is a hallmark of this Beemer’s handling.
While our Shiver test unit suffered from poor handling due to woefully maladjusted suspension, we know from past experience that this Italian stallion handles a variety of riding conditions with aplomb.
With the lightest wet weight and most aggressive steering geometry, the STR out-handled the rest in the test.
Yamaha's FZ8 stands alone as the only Japanese bike in this Euro-dominated class.
The Shiver’s brash styling is one of the numerous qualities we appreciated about this V-Twin-powered Aprilia. The shape of the large headlight and flyscreen do an admirable job of cutting down on some of the windblast.
The combination of the FZ8’s budget-conscious suspension and heaviest weight held it back as a serious contender against the Triumph. Nevertheless, the new Yamaha is a pleasure to ride in just about every situation.
The BMW’s instrument package is smartly oriented, but the speedo’s small numbers proved too difficult to read at a glance. The large LCD provides a host of useful info.
Pete Brissette
Pete Brissette

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