Ten Rest, 2009

Ten Rest, 2009

UP FRONT

David Edwards

GET READY TO BE SHOCKED WHEN YOU open this issue’s gatefold and behold the Ten Best Bikes of 2009, with new names in unfamiliar places and one first-time winner you may even have trouble pronouncing!

Of course, there are always some models that fall between our traditional categories. To wit:

Best Worst Timing: Yamaha Star VMax

Did anyone get the license plate of the truck that ran over the VMax? Yep, it was LOST401K. Twenty years in the making and intro’d with great fanfare, Mr. Max’s second act was overshadowed by a nosediving economy, shrinking retirement programs, slashed real estate values and job layoffs. Not the best time to be hawking an $18,000 motorcycle-especially one that was 7 mph slower on top than the 1986 original.

Best Empire Extender: Royal Enfield Classic C-5

Not so sure about the Commonwealth these days, but there’s no doubt that the sun never sets on Royal Enfield. Since acquiring the rights to the British bangers in 1955, the Indians have churned out about a million of the bloody things! Now comes the Classic C-5, with unit construction and -wots this, then?!fuel-injection. Score one for the Colonies, old boy.

Best Battler of Britain: Triumph Street Triple R

England may have let Enfield go but the Queen’s Iron is doin’just fine, thanks. Triumph has one of the best lineups in the bike biz, including this middleweight streetfighter. A Ten Best winner last year, it now is available in an R version with sportbike-spec suspension and radial-mount front brakes.

Best Lazy Man’s Dirtbike: KTM 300 XC-W

Remember when premix smelled like victory and two-strokes ruled the offroad roost? Not so long ago, maybe the best all-rounder was KTM’s cross-country 300. Thing is, it’s still here, 10 pounds lighter than its quadra-stroke stablemate, even with a new electric starter. Again, what’s all this fuss about valves and tappets and camshafts?

Best Budget Badass: Harley-Davidson Iron 883

It’s a timeless formula: Bob it, paint it black, stand back, behold. At $7899, rarely has twowheeled cool been so cost-effective.

Best Third Wheel: Can-Am Spyder

Did we suddenly all lose our balance? 2009 will go down as the Year of the Three-Wheeler. Harley has its Tri Glide touring trikes, Piaggio its leaning MP3 scooters and CanAm its zoomy Spyder. Some see it as a snowmobile with tires; more correctly it’s a sportbike with an outrigger. Bold move, Can-Am, and good to see your name back in circulation. What’s next?

Best Lunar Lander: Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200

Yes, it looks like it should be out collecting rocks in the Sea of Tranquility. That’s the whole point!

They’re having fun once more at the Guzzi factory on the shores of Lago di Como, and the wonderfully absurd-looking Stelvio is proof. Now we hear that our friend Pierre Terblanche, ex of Ducati, will be doing some styling work for Moto Guzzi. Italy’s Grand Olde Marque has new life.

Best Biggest Surprise: Honda Fury

Okay, it’s been sanitized for your protec tion a bit too much, but whodda thunk that mighty, monolithic, corporate Honda would go over to the dark side and build a chopper?! Love to have been in on that green-light meeting. Next shock is that despite its Easy Rider looks, the thing actually works well as a motorcycle. Tattoo you, Honda!

Best Proppa Choppa: Big Dog Wolf

On the other hand, there’s no substitute for the real thing.

We’ve always been impressed with Big Dog’s take on the Harley scene, dating back to 1994 when its bikes were more clone than custom. But this new Wolf, running an S&S X-Wedge motor, and with elbow-deep chrome and jaw-dropping paint, could pass for a showbike. Yes, it’s almost $40K, but starting with a stock bike, you’d be hard-pressed to get there for any less. It’s been written that the neochopper is dead. Not if Big Dog has anything to say about it.

Best Technology: Honda CBR600RR C-ABS

Simple fact: You can’t bring a bike to a stop as safely, securely and quickly as CW Road Test Editor Don Canet. Twenty years of performancetesting every major model to come down the pike have honed his braking skills to a fine edge. In a stop-oif, you can’t win, don’t even try. Unless, that is, you’re aboard a Honda CBR600RR (or 1000RR) with the optional Combined ABS system. “Best Brakes Ever!” was our cover blurb about C-ABS, the “smartest” anti-lock system yet.