Ten Best Bikes, Revisited
Ten Best Bikes, Revisited
Will we still love them tomorrow? CW's Ten Best motorcycles from 2012
You got your Ten Commandments. Your Ten Pillars of Islam, your Bill of Rights (10 of them). And your Cycle World Ten Best motorcycles. We’ve been at it every year since 1976, picking the best bikes of the year in 10 different categories that bend with the times to capture whatever era we happen to be in. In 2012, for instance, we created a new Adventure Bike category to reflect that marketplace direction, and we
combined our previous Dual-Sport and Enduro categories into one to reflect the recent shift toward seriously capable off-road motorcycles that wear license plates. In last October’s issue, we picked the Ten Best of 2012—but a lot has already changed since then. So, here is a quick run-down of what we loved last year, and where the hotness is shifting as we fast-forward into 2013 and another slew of new."
[BEST SUPERBIKE]
Aprilia Tuono V4 R
"Nakedizing" the World Superbike Championshipwinning RSV4 by ditching most of the fairing and adding a han dlebar in place of the clip-ons resulted in a streetable beast that blew our socks off. Aprilia softened its V-Four slightly in this application, but 150 horses or so were still more than enough to get the Tuono up on plane instantly, and the comfy ergonomics of the thing made it even easier to take matters into one's own hands. Last year, though, there was no BMW HP4 and no rumored KTM 1290 Super Duke R hovering off-stage—worthy contenders for the 2013 title. And a new Honda bearing the RC designation will likely fall to earth sometime this year, too.
[BEST MIDDLEWEIGHT STREETBIKE]
Ducati 848 Streetfighter
The new Ducati 848 Streetfighter wrassled the title away from the Kawasaki ZX-6R last year, which had reigned supreme since 2009. This Duc is a genuine Italian exotic with all the looks and performance you deserve for not much more money than you can easily justify to your S.O. or self. But there are some significant players in the category this year that might render it a lame Duc. Triumph's super-sporty Daytona 675R is redone, and the redesigned Street Triple is a hellaciously tasty (and affordable) machine in the same naked-bike mold as the Streetfighter. Also, a revamped, 37cc-bigger ZX-6R for 2013 is a seriously strong threat to retake the position. Plus, many Honda 500cc Twins are on the way, although they'll likely compete for Best Standard.
[BEST SPORT-TOURING BIKE]
BMW K1600GT
The Germans are on an amazing roll, and one of the most amazing motos BMW rolled out was the mouthwatering Six-cylinder K1600 GT/GTL. Inline Sixes are known for having perfect primary and secondary balance (translation: smooooth). And the Bavarians even packaged the thing so it's no wider than a typical four-banger. Along with all that smooth power, there's advanced electronics, an optional headlight that peers around corners and a level of ride, handling and sophistication without compare. You will, however, pay a BMW premium for all that—over $21K base for 2013. If you're happy to live a slightly simpler existence, there's a new Triumph Trophy SE for around $19K and a redesigned Yamaha FJR1300 for under $ 16K. Both are fantastic motorcycles for getting anywhere in the lower 48 in a big hurry and in complete comfort.
[BEST OPEN-CLASS STREETBIKE]
Kawasaki ZX-14R
Continuing the tradition it began in 1973 with the original Z1 900, Kawasaki last year released the latest in a long line of large-caliber multipurpose weapons designed to end the arms race once and for all. With 192 horses at the rear contact patch, a top speed electronically limited to 185 mph and running gear designed to stay one step ahead of its beastly engine, the 14R is simply the highest-performing, high-performance production motorcycle of all time. The neat part is how nice and perfectly civilized it is to ride around the corner for coffee or to your knitting circle. With the arms race winding down slightly in recent years as manufacturers scramble for new riders by building more affordable machines, might the ZX-14R become the SR-71 Blackbird of motorcycling, the high-water mark never to be surpassed? Heaven forbid. Besides, this class is flexible enough to encompass a wide diversity of bikes. Maybe something will surprise us?
[BEST MOTOCROSSER]
[BEST TOURING BIKE]
Suzuki RM-Z450
It's been the yellow bike for the last two years in this most com petitive of categories, but the en gineers behind these things never rest, not even for a minute. The Honda CRF450R and Kawasaki KX450F have both gone to a pneumatic fork looking for the edge, the RM's gone for a single front spring fork... but don't rule out the orange bikes from Austria in 2013. KTM has been going crazy, and its 2013 450 SX-F is a clean-sheet design. If you have the dollars or factory backing, there's also the 450 SX-F Factory Edition on which Ryan Dungey won KTM's first Outdoor National Championship last season.
BMW K1600GTL
The Honda Gold Wing owned this class since before recorded history. Then, BMW's six-banger GTL got here last year, bringing with it electronic suspension and a level of performance the Honda just couldn't match. As with the K1600GT, you will pay to play: Base price is $23,650. That's actually a bargain for everything this bike comes with. Crank up the stereo, adjust the electric windshield, set suspension to Comfort, engage cruise control, treat the old prostate to a little heated seat and behold: There's nothing on the rapidly approach ing horizon to touch this thing's luxurious performance.
[BEST STANDARD]
Best Standard 2012: HondaNC700X
This is another category with potential winners from all over the map, but for 2012 the new NC stole our hearts and minds with its rational design, convenient storage compartment, available dual-clutch auto transmission and ability to travel over 60 miles on a gallon of regular. For 2013, the DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) ABS version gets a price cut to $8499, but will face stiff competition from itself: Cruiserized versions of the NC, designated CTX (for Comfort, Technology and eXperience) have just been launched, using the same drivetrain but with seat heights of just 28.3 inches. We Americans love our cruisers. Then, there's the whole new line of 500cc Twins Honda launched last November, including the $5499 CB500F. The excellent new Ninja 300 is impossible to ignore, and rumors sugest a very reasonably priced KTM 390 Duke is on its way. This one could go off in several uncharted directions in 2013.
[BEST CRUISER]
Diavel Carbon
It was heresy when we picked this groundbreaking Italian bike (the base model) as Best Cruiser two years ago, a category heretofore owned by Harley-Davidson and lower-revving V-Twins of the laid-back ilk. But we'd do it all over again if we had to, because this radical 1198cc departure turns urban trawling on its head. Modern engine control systems mean you can dawdle around town with ease in a slightly supine position that doesn't interfere with your beer belly or foul your ZZ Top beard. But when you need to be somewhere in a hurry, twisting the throttle brings forth the Superbike World Championship operatic racket Ducati is famous for. And the chassis, including the fat, 240-section rear tire, is up to the challenge. Harley's CVO Breakout is nice if you've got $27K, and there's a new Indian on the way from Polaris mid-year. It'll have to be a really good motorcycle to take down the Diavel.
[BEST ADVENTURE BIKE]
Yamaha Super Ténéré
Big ADV bikes are hot, and why not? You get to sit up straight on a comfortable seat behind a reasonably sized windshield on a powerful machine that laughs at the nastiest pavement, while great features like heated grips, spacious saddlebags and even cruise control are just a mouse click away on the long list of options. Best part is you can spatter on a little mud, buy a swashbuckling jacket and ride around the galleria like you just blew in from Dakar. In 2012, the new Yamaha Super Ténéré was the best compromise of all the things a great Adventure bike needs to be. This year it faces formidable opposition: a liquid-cooled BMW R1200G5, a heavily revised Ducati Multistrada, a brand-spanking-new KTM 1190 Adventure, a Triumph Explorer XC... Before this thing's settled, there will be mud.
[BEST DUAL-SPORT/ENDURO]
KTM 500 EXC
You almost needed a chest protector and goggles to defend against all the praise our panel of off-road experts were slinging at this motorcycle last year, a bike we all agreed is the best street-legal enduro ever. And the street-legal part's not damning with faint praise, either. It's really good even by competition-only standards, with bottomless power, light handling and a laser-accurate-yet-forgiving chassis. Husqvarna's got nothing to challenge this EXC (and may not in the future, either, now that Husky is owned by the guy who owns 51 percent of KTM, Stefan Pierer), and it'll be a big surprise if one of the Big Four steps up with anything comparable. Beta? Close but no cigar. The $4499 Honda CRF250L is an awesome motorcycle for the money, but, as an entry-level machine, it would have a hard time toppling the KTM. The 500EXC raised the bar, and nothing we've seen thus far this year is going to jump it.
