Our 10 Favorites
OUR 10 FAVORITES
Cycle World's staff believes that the best in class isn't always closest to the heart
Jim Hansen, Publisher Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic
I’ve never been a fan of touring bikes. But after logging some cross-country time recently on a Harley Electra Glide Classic, I’ve fallen in love with the thing. It has all the touring accouterments, but never lets me forget that I’m traveling by motorcycle. I can hear and feel and see the sweet-sounding motor, which is rubber-isolated just enough to make my long days on the road pleasurable.
Paul Dean, Editor Honda 1000 Hurricane
Being tied to just one bike can be a problem for me, since I like to do all types of road riding, from touring and commuting to the occasional canyon-road knee-grind. But that problem ceases to exist if that one bike is a Honda 1000 Hurricane. It performs anÿ one of those tasks almost as well as a specialized bike can, but does all of them better than any other motorcycle money can buy.
Steve Anderson, Executive Editor BMW R100GS
The RI00GS isn’t really a dual-purpose bike, and that’s wonderful. Instead, it’s a general-purpose streetbike that does almost everything I want. It handles better than some sportbikes, it accelerates hard while keeping a torquey Twin’s feel, and its riding position is near perfect. And the optional saddlebags turn it into an ideal explorer for a weekend trip. Now, if it were only handsome . . ..
Ron Lawson, Managing Editor Suzuki RM250
My favorite bike? Come on, ask me something easy, like the theory of relativity or where cashews come
from (ever see one still in the shell?). This is much too hard. Well, it would have to be a dirt bike of some kind. A reliable one that can win motocrosses, desert races and enduros. Basically, it would have to be just like the Suzuki RM250. Huh? ... I guess that wasn’t so hard after all.
Ron Griewe, Senior Editor Husqvarna 510 Cross Country
Never mind that I, too, voted the KTM 350 as the year’s best allaround enduro bike; for my personal use I’ll take the Husqvarna 510 Cross Country any day. The delightful thump of the 510’s lightweight, fourstroke engine always makes my day better. And its six-speed transmission lets me head for the woods or desert without fooling around with final gear ratio changes.
David Edwards, Feature Editor BMW R100GS
The Cycle World garage has motorcycles in every size, shape and flavor, yet I find myself drawn to this ungainly looking Beemer. I don’t really care that it’s the least-expensive BMW in years or the best-handling. I just like the globe-trotting feel I get when I swing a leg over it: The GS can deliver me anywhere, whether that be the next city, country or continent.
Camron E. Bussard, Associate Editor Honda NX650
I started riding bikes because they were fun; that’s why I still ride. And for my money, the most fun bike of 1988 is Honda’s NX650. Whether I’m trotting the big Single around town or whipping it up the coast, it makes me feel good about being on a bike. But the best part of riding the NX is that when I get tired of the roads, I can herd it toward the nearest
trail into the hills and spend the afternoon getting home the back way.
Charles Everitt, Products Editor BMW K75S
For me, BMW’s K75S has an elemental, irresistible appeal. Quite simply, riding this motorcycle is like hanging out with the best kind of boon companion, the one who always laughs at your jokes, always makes you look good and never, ever upstages you. No one can buy that kind of friendship. But you can find the next best thing in a K75S.
Peter Egan, Columnist BMW R100RS
Every new bike I’ve ridden this year has dazzled me with something—with horsepower, handling, electric smoothness, etc.
The 1988 BMW R100RS impressed me, too, but in a different way. Some of the tradtional BMW quirks of handling and chassis dynamics are still there, but it carries two people comfortably without being huge and heavy, encourages you to ride all day (rather than 20 minutes at a time), and has an engine that can be maintained, tuned and seen by its owner.
It won my vote (barely edging out Harley’s Sportsters) by being a keeper in a throw-away age.
Doug Toland, Testing Consultant Kawasaki ZX-10
Performance! That’s what captivates me most about the ZX-10. Its incredible acceleration alone makes it my choice for best bike of 1988. But performance isn’t all it has to offer; excellent brakes, a smooth ride and great handling are just a few others, with only a couple of flaws (hard seat, too-low handlebar) I could fix to make my best bike even better.
