650NK (MY2014)

The 650NK is the budget middleweight naked that sticks to the basics. A liquid-cooled 649 cc parallel twin makes 60 hp at 8,250 rpm and 41 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm, it sits in a steel trellis frame, and it drives a six-speed gearbox and a chain. That's the whole recipe. There are no electronic rider aids at all: no ABS, no traction control, no ride modes. In its class it competes on price and running costs, not on the spec sheet, and that's exactly where it's strongest. Cheap to buy, cheap to keep, easy to work on. Simple wins here.

This is an easy bike to live with. It's light on its feet in town, stays calm at highway speed and has more lean clearance than you'd expect at this price. A 31.3 in (795 mm) seat keeps it approachable, which makes it a sensible first big bike, a commuter or a cheap second bike for light touring. The honest caveat: you ride it without a safety net. No ABS is a real omission on a bike aimed at newer riders, the fork can't be adjusted, and small things wear on you over the years, like a fuel gauge that jumps by several bars and a flimsy turn signal stalk. Know that going in.