Standard Bikes are the most universal and basic types of motorbikes. Such bikes are pretty comfy to ride, steadfast and unswerving, and quite affordable. Typically, Standard Bikes sport little or no fairing, and do not flaunt much body work; therefore such variants are aptly termed as Naked bikes! Standard Bikes do not serve any specialised purpose; hence they do not excel in any particular aspect of motor biking. While Sports bikes and Cruiser bikes hog most of the limelight in the spirited motorbike market, Standard Bikes represent an ideal blend of both. As a matter of fact, Standard Bikes predominantly offer a great balance between visibility and comfort, thus proving to be ideal for daily commuting as well as extensive city riding.
Contemporary Bikes with an Old World Charm-Perfect for Greenhorns
A Standard Bike is a somewhat conformist bike style that was once found in the majority of the bikes available, hence the expression 'Standard'. Standard Bikes are generally upright and moderately priced. In all likelihood, the characteristic 1970s bike, our dads and uncles proudly owned, were mostly Standard bikes. While not sporting loads of flashy bells and whistles, a Standard Bike can prove to be an ideal option for novices just beginning to test waters. Standard Bikes are often recommended to beginners due to their flexibility, relatively low cost, and moderate engines.
Typical Attributes of Standard Bikes
Given below are some of the distinctive attributes associated with Standard Bikes:
- Standard seating position and wide seat
- Air-cooled transverse-mounted inline 4 cylinder engine
- 4 carburettors (Individual carburettors per cylinder)
- Telescopic front forks
- One piece integrated engine and gearbox
- Front disc brake, and
- Dual-cradle steel (featherbed-style) frame
Most of the contemporary Standard Bikes look and feel akin to an archetypal model, famously known as the Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM), engineered primarily in the 1970s. The UJM happened to be a quintessential all-purpose, do-it-all bike and a majority of the present day Standard bike variants offer the same minimalistic and uncomplicated design, high-power, simplicity and awesome versatility. As a matter of fact, the depths of despair faced by Standard bikes in the 1990s ushered in typical nostalgia for UJM style machines, and led to the reintroduction of several new models on similar lines, both from Japan and other countries (at times launched with new fangled fancy tags such as muscle bike/naked bike). An outstanding example of the classic UJM is the 1969 Honda CB750, which was, at that point of time, deliberated as the first 'Superbike' ever! Owing to its inline four engines, this variant served as a cut-out for ensuing designs from the remaining three Japanese manufacturers.
Lesser Show means Lesser Dough
The base price of a Standard bike is characteristically less than that of a Cruiser Bike or a Sports bike. This is primarily owing to the fact that Standard bikes do not flaunt the high-end technological equipment typically found in upscale motorbike variants. Additionally, Standard Bikes usually do not sport fairings or windscreens (although some models may have very small versions on them). In fact, Standard Bikes earned the popular term Naked bikes in the 1990s in response to the massive proliferation of flatteringly faired Sports bikes. Typically, Standard Bikes do not have much body work on them, and that makes them relatively inexpensive. However, in recent years, some manufacturers have attempted to embellish their Standard Bikes with fairings to give the staid bikes an overall premium look and feel.
Effortless Riding and Unfussy Handling
Standard Bikes offer an optimally comfortable and smooth ride. Such bikes typically allow an upright sitting position by placing the rider's back at a more perpendicular position than that on a Sports bike or a Cruiser Bike. On a Standard bike, the rider sits almost straight with their feet slightly in front of their body and their arms bent at ease, holding on to the grips. The erect riding position offered by Standard Bikes is fairly comfortable and lends superior visibility in traffic. In fact, standard-type motorcycles boast of a riding position that falls partway between the forward-rotated position of a Sports bike and the reclining posture arrangement of a cruiser, putting the rider in a very natural position, unlike that on a low Dirt Bike. Therefore, Standard Bikes are just what the doctor ordered for all day riding/general commuting. In fact, foot pegs in a typical Standard Bike are below the rider and handlebars are high enough to not force the rider to reach far forward, placing the shoulders above the hips in a natural position. This facet is equally appealing to beginners and veteran riders, and the Standard Bike is thus a hit with both the categories of bikers. Besides, Standard Bikes are great for overnight trips, so throw your backpack over them and you are great to go! Furthermore, Standard Bikes offer a sturdy grip, and whilst they are not really designed to be triumphant in drag races, they deliver adequate power.
Accessorize it Right
Avid bikers who abhor the plain vanilla look of their Standard Bikes may accessorize their beast on wheels in several ways. Amongst the most preferred upgrades by bike owners are chrome-plated parts (replacing exhaust pipes), engine covers, wheels, protective bars, skid plates, saddle bags and wind screens. Needless to say, these added frills come at a fancy price, and prospective buyers contemplating these frills must incorporate the additional costs into their budget.
Maintenance Matters
The basic maintenance of a Standard bike remains an economical and low-key affair and can be carried on in a hassle-free manner by the bike owner. All the owner needs is a basic tool kit along with the motorbike manual. The lack of fairings makes access to the bike really easy, and the motor bike parts are widely available. Therefore, small repair and maintenance tasks on a Standard Bike remain a fairly simple matter, and do not really require a huge estimated outlay to be kept aside for the purpose.
Research Scrupulously
Prospective buyers determined to invest a generous sum on their cherished Standard Bike must always buttress themselves with all the relevant information pertaining to the model(s) shortlisted by them. A good exercise would be to survey the well-known local motorbike stores and get a reasonable idea of the available selection and the existing price-points. Expert reviews on popular automobile portals, exclusive coverage in specialised publications and journals, a meticulous market research along with an in-depth discussion with Standard Bike owners can all help budding bike owners make a well balanced and intelligent decision before actually signing on the dotted line and coughing up a hefty figure for their dream Standard Bike .
Get Your Financial Fundamentals Right
Apart from the base price of the Standard Bike , the would-be buyers must factor-in sundry costs towards registration expenses and direct and indirect taxes to ascertain the overall expenditure. Also, if the buyers are planning to get their bike financed, they must accordingly slot in the cost of interest in the general outlay estimate. A range of financing options, such as automobile loan from the bank, dealer-loan, or an EMI option on the credit-card account, should be painstakingly investigated by the shopper before arriving at the final decision.
Test it Before you Get It
Buyers must always insist on a test ride before finalising a model. In the ideal world, potential buyers must sit on various models to determine what feels the best for them. The rider's body-weight and shape may fit in more snugly on one variant as compared to the other, and the only way to figure out the most apt model is by going in for a trial ride.
Options Galore
Standard Bikes are available across a broad spectrum of dimensions. In fact, most major manufacturers make at least one Standard Bike variant. Given below is a representative list of the diverse alternatives of Standard Bikesavailable across key brands:
- Yamaha 650 Twin
- Honda CB750
- Aprilia Tuono V4 R
- MV Agusta Brutale R 1090
- Honda CB750 Nighthawk
- Suzuki (600 & 1200) Bandits
- Kawasaki's ZR7S & Z1000
- Ducati's Monster series
- Triple-plug Bajaj Pulsar 200NS
- BMW R1150R
- BMW F650CS
Employ the aforementioned exhaustive guidelines to make the most clued-up and rational buying decision and be a proud owner of the versatile, practical and sheer-fun-to-ride Standard Bike
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