Cycle World's Ten Best Motocycles of 1993
CYCLE WORLD'S TEN BEST MOTOCYCLES OF 1993
BEST MEANS BETTER THAN GOOD. IT MEANS BETTER, EVEN, THAN BETTER. IT means Wayne Rainey. Nigel Mansell. Joe Montana. Michael Jordan. And it means these 10 motorcycles, each of which is at the very top of its game in its own respective league.
For perspective, think for a moment in etymological terms: The word "best" is an adjective that is the superlative of the adjective “good." That’s appropriate, because “superlative" exactly characterizes and defines each of these machines.
Selection of the year’s Ten Best Bikes, an annual rite here at Cycle World, is made objectively, with subjective values folded into the mix as needed. During Ten Best voting, therefore, a staffer who feels strongly about a particular motorcycle had better be able to make his case with information.
SOME ARE GOOD, OTHERS ARE BETTER, BUT ONLY A FEW ARE THE VERY BEST
Why is his candidate a better bike than the rest of the candidates? Show us the evidence proving the excellence.
So it is that each of the 10 bikes you see here is backed by hard and soft data arrived at on the racetrack, the dragstrip and the miles of open road and dirt trail that make up Cycle World's prime testing territories. What we present is more than a list of 10 bikes chosen strictly for their value and performance. Here also are the machines that most satisfy us as enthusiasts. That’s appropriate, we think, for as different as we all are, enthusiasm for motorcycles is the tie that binds us together in motorcycling’s community of nonconformists. This is our salute to that joyful nonconformity and to the machines that make it so gloriously possible.
BEST SUPERBIKE HONDA CBR900RR
It’s just like The Who told us in the classic rock anthem, “Won’t Get Fooled Again:” Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss. For the second straight year, the CBR900RR cops Best Superbike honors. It does so largely because of what it isn’t. It isn’t heavy. It isn’t big.„ And those two “isn’ts” make the 900RR what it is-the quickest, most nimble, most highly refined machine in its class. With the. introduction of the 1986 GSXR750, Suzuki reminded the motorcycling world that when it comes to sportbikes, less is more. With the 900RR, Honda sounded that con-
cept’s wake-up call. Ft’s a call other manufacturers would do well to heed. Bothered because the 900RR is completely unchanged from last year? Don’t be. In terms of its power, handling, and quality of fittings and finish, the bike was miles altead of its competitors last year. It still is. That’s why it’s still a winner. «' ...
BEST OPEN STREETBIKE BMW R1100RS
Here is proof that the people who run BMW have looked at their product line, looked at a calendar, and understand the implications of what tfiey’ve seen in both placeSr
Here, also, is resounding proof that German Engineering-that classic catchphrase from the 1950s and 1960s-is alive and well. Faced with the close of a century and a mature product line, BM W not only decided to respond to the obvious challenge, but to do so within the seemingly contradictory contexts of its need .to maintain company tradition while answering the high call of high-tech. The result is this motorcycle. It is a sportbike, a sport-touring bike and a commuter that wears every technological trick in BMW’s arsenal. It’s a brilliant piece of work that is light, powerful, tractable, comfortable, beautifully finished and ajustable to fit anyone. The Euro-tech styling may not be*your cup of kaffe, but 'önë ride will convince you: The
BMW RI 100RS is 1993’S Best Open Streetbike.
BEST 750cc HONDA STREETBIKE VFR750F
Does VFR mean “very because that’s just wha a class dominated by c the VFR is an anomaly great engines of this-o with tractor torque, spc sprintcar exhaust note, of an engine to a wond ented chassis, one of t positions in the busine; vides fine protection ft esting technical details single-sided Pro-Arm words, a happy compr< like best in and a chassis that inv
comfy all day. e ride?" It mi~hL fine t the VFR750 provides. In ramped, peaky repli-racers,
. It’s powered by one of the r any other-class, an engine irfbike horsepower and It mates that overachiever erfully plush yet sport-orihe most comfortable riding is, a sleek fairing that proom the elements, and intersuch as Honda’s wingarm. It is, in other >mise of all the things we s-great looks, great motor es spirited riding yet stays that’s why the VFR750 is
Best 750cc Streetbike for the fourth straight year? No doubt about it.
BEST 600cc STREETMIKE KAWASAKI ZX-6
The take on Kawasaki is that the company sure as hell knows how to build engines. But it takes more than a motor to make a motorcycle, and in the 600cc class Honda
for the last few years has had the most effective mix of engine, suspension, detail finish and overall performance. With introduction of its all-new ZX-6 this year, Kawasaki annexed prime Honda territory by squeezing huge amounts of power from a 599cc. engine, by mounting that engine in a chassis that’s comfortable for riders of all sizes, by equipping the chassis with premium suspension pieces that yield crisp handling and a comfortable ride, and by providing the bike with the polished detail finish that Honda buyers take for granted. The result is success in the showrooms, and wins in AMA 600cc supersport races over the bike that used to own that class: the Honda CBR600F2. Competition is a wonderful thing, and it’s made Kawasaki’s ZX-6 this year’s Best 600.
BEST BARGAIN BIKE YAMAHA SECA II
Motorcycles are, to an influential segment of the riding public, about style and performance. Both these qualities cost money, so are not heaped lavishly on smaller-displacement, smaller-pricetag bikes. But the notion that inexpensive bikes must automatically be dull and mediocre is not one of nature’s immutable laws. A long line of interesting entry-level bikes has proven otherwise. Yamaha’s dazzling Seca II upholds the tradition of entry-level excellence by being the
latest and 1 best in this classification. it does so by providing its buyer a satisfying mix of style, comfort and
performance. It does so at a price that doesn’t cause a sharp intake of breath and a certain uncomfortable tingling in that anatomical region known as the wallet. The Seca II is also a quality piece that’s a blast to ride. That’s why it’s CWs Bargain of the Year. „
BEST TOURING BIKE HONDA ST1100 ABS-TCS
The individual attributes of a great touring bike are much easier to list than to accumulate into a single piece of equipment Start with comfort. Add fairing coverage, ¿
convenience, luggage capacity, smooth engine, smooth ride. Yes, and also, backroad nimbleness. That’s the item that trips up conventional touring bikes, which trade it in favor of roadhugging weight. Yet Honda’s STM00 ABSTCS possesses all these attributes. There is a caveat: The ST’s luggage capacity is minimalist, making extended two-up trips a serious exercise in traveling light. But the bike’s antilock-braking and traction-control systems, and its astounding ability to make time over sinuous backroads, more than outweigh the implications of microluggage. Without ABS-TCS, the ST 1100 is a fíne minimalist touring bike. With those systems and the margins of safety they provide, it becomes even better. It also becomes Best Touring Bike for the second straight year.
BEST STANDARD BIKE DUCATI M900 MONSTER
How To Make a Motorcycle, Rule 1 : Make it fun. Rule 2: See Rule 1. It is very clear indeed that the enthusiasts responsible for Ducati’s rebirth as a motorcycling power have Rules 1 and 2 taped not only to their CAD terminals, but to everywhere else that matters. The Monster is a classic example of a bike that most enthusiasts would option their children for. Simple in concept and execution, the Monster uses the 900SS frame, engine and fork; the 888 swingarm and shock; lots of Italian racing-red paint; and just the right touch of styling. The result is a lightweight, torquey, nimble streetbike with eye-popping good looks and the astonishing ability to generate wheelies. Also, grins. Grins are important. The Monster’s uncanny ability to initiate them,
whether it’s running or at rest, means not only that the bike's builders hit their target, but also that the Monster is this year’s Best Standard.
BEST DUAL-PURPOSE BIKE HONDA XR650L
Looking for a conundrum? dual-purpose bike. A D-P b at kinds of riding that at the mutually exclusive. The vei strengthen a bike’s effective work against it on pâvemen
good. It’s given the XR65R great torque-monster of an suspension. That’s even bet given the bike an electric st a machine that is completel; ter where, or how, it’s bein¿ is a bike that is,Tor the secc the Best Dual-Purpose Bike ryto design a Lke has to be good ver~' least. se~rn ttaits that ness off-road often [,and vice-vers~a.. o, the question es, thoüW. the `ike be oriented oward dirçor oward pavement? plonda_after 4.älance~swith~several Eav~ment~~oriented fual-purpose nachines-lias )pted for dirt-wor hiness. That's a thwacking ngine. and~terrific er. Best of all, it's Lrter. The result is at home no rnat-~ ,riddeh~ The result year in a row, in Americ~.
BEST ENDURO BIKE KTM 250 E/XC
ines that cult to and even more difficult to win consistently with? We do. But
d the KTM 250 because we hav stroke dirtbikes. ot the nod for top honor balance; The LC4 is a great bike, eeds just a bit nt. The 250 doesn’t need any help anywhere. Anybody who finds himself racing against one, therefore, is going to need a lot of help. That’s why the KTM 250 E/XC is 1993’s Best Enduro Bike.
BEST MOTOCROSS BIKE YAMAHA YZ250
Is motocross getting tracks are still as difi before . All now. are routinely excellent. The YZ250 is more excellent than the rest. Yes, the YZ retails for $100 to $150 more than its competitors. But with every other bike in this class bike out of its delivery crate an few glügs of premix are only the the road to race-readiness. Th work to be done, or engine work,
requires only pry bar and premix. Set up the suspension, check the -tire pressures, and you’re ready to roost. Will you win? That’s up to you and your racing luck. But with this bike, Yamaha has made the job of racing a whole lot easier and much less labor-inten-
sive. Gall the YZ250 a winner, and call it the Best Motocrosser of 1993.
