Offensive Defense Streetfighters
OFFENSIVE DEFENSE STREETFIGHTERS
IGNITION
RIDE SMART
Safe steeds for the modern battlefield
John L. Stein
If you were a medieval instead of a millennial, what would you ride into deadly battle? It wouldn't be Eeyore or some one-eyed Shetland with a hoof abscess. Instead, you’d choose a stallion: strong, fast, smart, and ready to help you survive a vicious joust at a moment’s notice.
Well guess what? That’s exactly what we need on the mean streets to avoid the modern-day version of a medieval battering ram: agro cars and trucks. Fact is, there are 245 million registered cars, trucks, and buses to only 8.3 million motorcycles, and each outweighs us by thousands of pounds. That’s poor
battle odds right there. And so, given our lopsided chances in any bilce-versuscar encounter, we need every crucial advantage—meaning top riding skills in addition to a valiant steed. No donkeys need apply.
By our reckoning, the safest streetbike has instant torque with light weight—less than 500 pounds wet—and sporty chassis geometry for quick maneuvering. For optimal control, the bike should have a standard seating position, along with radial rubber and full disc brakes. ABS and traction control are bonuses. Fast but not least, it needs an über-bright FED or HID headlight.
Pouring all these requirements into the martini maker and then shaking produces more than a dozen possible candidates, but here are some of our top choices.
Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Pikes Peak.
This race-to-the-clouds winner is powered by an 1498CC V-twin with a relatively low-rpm torque peak for quick response, while its flickable chassis has active suspension, adjustable traction control, and ABS. Upright seating makes for good visibility, while a bright FED headlight seals the deal.
KTM 1290 Super Duke R. Except for its surprisingly average halogen headlight, this Ten Best winner also shines as an everyday steed. Its i,30icc V-twin is the gorilla in the naked-bike cage, and the seating position and chassis dynamics are just brilliant.
EBR 1190SX. This outrageous new V-twin streetfighter has nearly everything needed to be a top safety pick, including power everywhere, a feathery 423-pound dry weight, and an FED headlight. It’s lacking only ABS.
Kawasaki Z1000 ABS. The Z1000 makes the list due to its dazzling FED headlight, which is still a motorcycling rarity. However, while super strong up top, the i,043cc inline-four requires way too much shifting for quick escapes.
