Ten Rest, 2002
Ten Rest, 2002
UP FRONT
Funny HOW THINGS WORK OUT, AIN'T it? Eight months ago, a band of misbegotten zealots tried to strike fear into American hearts with terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Like Hitler and Hirohito found out after December 7, 1941, it did not work. September 11th actually made us stronger as a nation, made us more united, made us more American. In our own little corner of the world, motorcycling took a half-breath after the catastrophes, then came back stronger than ever. Despite the attacks and some spotty financial news, sales of 2002 models increased over the previous year's totals-just as happened year after year throughout the Nineties. It's as if we took United Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer literally when he extolled, "Let's roll!"
It didn't hurt that the new models paraded in front of buyers made up the finest collection of motorcycles in the history of two wheels. Forget gray beards waxing rhapsodic about Bon nevilles and BSAs, CB75Os and XLCH Sportsters, these are the good old days. Elsewhere in this issue, you'll find the magazine's picks for the Ten Best Bikes of 2002. In the 27 years of the awards, there's not been a finer group. Here are 10 more that also deserve recognition:
Best Liter-Class Sportbike: Yamaha YZF-R1
No, it's not as "Super" as Suzuki's om nipotent GSX-R1000, but for my mon ey the Ri is more-refined and easier to hustle along any road that I don `t know like the back of my hand. That's ridability I can access all the time, not just bombing around a 150-mph race track. Not to mention that the Yamaha, especially in gray and silver, may be the best-looking sportbike Japan has yet produced. Best backside of the year, including that Hem Gericke ad.
Best Sportbike: Suzuki GSX-R750
See above, only more so. Pretty simple formula, really: Weight of a 600, power of a 900, revs like there's no such thing as valve float. Everyone else has all but abandoned the 750cc repli-racer con cept. Ride this Gixxer just once, wail it to 14,000 rpm, experience the way it annihilates corners, and you'll wonder if everyone else isn't crazy.
Best BMW: R115OR
Let's see, priced under $1OK, no elec tro-hydraulic linked-brake trickery (it's optional, if you insist), heated hand grips, clean styling, highway-inhaling six-speed gearbox, saddlebags avail able. In the running for Best Standard, this naked Beemer is a BMW for people who might never consider a BMW. If that describes you, take a look.
Best Power-Cruiser In Need: Kawasaki Mean Streak
Love what you've done with the styling, Kawasaki. Can't beat the price. Great handling, too. In fact, if we gave out an award for Best All-Around Cruiser, you'd be the winner. But we don't, and in the Year of the Power-Cruiser, the Streaker's 64 bhp comes up, oh, `bout 20 ponies short. Is that a turbocharger I see in the bike's future?
Best Flat-Black Bike: Honda 919
Honda calls the color "Asphalt," known otherwise as, umm.. ."primer." Sup posed to add a little backstreet credibil ity. Whatever. I like this bike for its snarly engine, its light, tossable feel, its no-windup handling, its high-rise ex haust. Make mine red, though.
Best Willing Accomplice: KTM Duke II
Every time I ride one of these hooligans, I realize I bought the wrong KTM. My
620 Adventure, 7-gallon gas tank brimming, is a great dual-purpose ex plorer, but the Duke is just about the most fun you can have with leathers on, a supermotard for the street. Put that new LC8 V-Twin in a Duke-style chassis, KTM, and my Adventure is a goner, trade-in fodder.
Best Non-Current: Kawasaki W650
Whatever happened to reading reten tion? This reconstituted 1960s Bon neville wins our Retrobike Shootout, then gets a Ten Best 2001 honorable mention and still it's a slow mover in showrooms? Did we not make our selves clear? Kawasaki may reinstall the W650 for the `03 model year, but why take the chance? Find a leftover and give it a good home.
Best Bargain: Suzuki SV650
My recommendation for everyone from newbie street riders to novice roadracers. Fun to flog, it'll make a better rider out of ya without risking a 135-mph speeding ticket. Make one yours for $5799.
Best No-Show: MV Agusta Brutale
Man, we wanted to get our hands on one of these naked beauties! Even of fered to buy one a seat on an airplane. No dice. In the soap opera that is Ital ian business, scooter giant Piaggio wanted in on Cagiva's empire, which included Husqvarna and MV. Cagiva's Claudio Castiglioni was willing to give up everything except MV, and the en suing back-and-forth meant that noth ing got built. Things apparently settled (in Italy you never really know), maybe 2003 will be the Brutale's year. Fingers crossed.
Best Overdog Racebike: Honda RC211V
No doubt that this V-Five four-stroke is the finest piece of competition hard ware ever to take a green flag. Also no doubt that if the bike's runaway 1-2 placing in the dry at the South African Grand Prix is any indication, there won't be much competition for the RC V this year. Yamaha's YZR-Ml is lack ing chassis, Suzuki's GSV-R is lacking development, both are lacking a rider with the talent of Valentino Rossi. Meantime, there's still good racing over in the World Superbike Series.
David Edwards
