Honorable Mentions
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Five more that really rate
ATK 605
WHAT DO YOU CALL A DIRTBIKE THAT WAS CONCEIVED IN UTAH BY EX-Californians with styling from Ohio and an engine from Austria? Confused? Hardly. ATK's trick, new 605 dual-purpose bike features a computer-developed chassis that makes onlookers ask, "How'd they do that?" Rather than using a centrally located backbone, the innovative frame employs a drainpipe-sized tube that passes atop the left edge of the engine's cylinder head, like one half of a twin-spar sportbike frame. ATK's trademark linkless shock, a bolt-on aluminum subframe and stylish bodywork penned by Next World Design add up to a slim layout that begs to be flicked around. A reliable Rotax engine with an electric starter provides the finishing touch.
Bimota YB11
"REPENT, YE HEATHENS!" WE HEARD THAT A LOT AROUND THE CW OFFICES after we roasted the Bimota SB6 in a recent road test. But, hey, we just call 'em like we see 'em, and we unfortunately spent a lot of time looking underneath the SB6's fairing, trying to rectify its latest hiccup. But then along came the YB11, and our faith was renewed. The Yamaha YZF1000-powered machine touched us in places we probably shouldn't discuss in a family-oriented magazine. Its sensuously shaped bodywork could only have come from Italy, and its twin-spar aluminum chassis is, plain and simple, a work of art. When it comes to building functional, cutting-edge sportbikes, Bimota really does lead the league. We're sorry we ever suspected otherwise.
Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD
IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY GOT IT RIGHT. WE REFER, OF COURSE, TO THE LOOK. Specifically, the Made-in-the-USA look that overseas manufacturers have tried so hard to emulate, and never quite gotten right. Until now. The Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD is the first "Vee-less" cruiser from Japan, Inc., that doesn't sour our styling taste buds. (Remember Suzuki's Madura? That one's foul aftertaste is still with us.) The little LTD has a solid, unified appearance that is devoid of tacky, tacked-on accessories. The styling is built in, not bolted on. As an added bonus, the Vulcan's Ninja 500-derived parallel-Twin is as spunky as it looks. Shame it took 20 years...
MZ Skorpion Replica
HMMM... IF TWIN-CYLINDER DUCATIS ARE COMPETITIVE IN SUPERBIKE RACING with a 250cc displacement advantage, how big would a Single have to be? A frivolous question, for sure, but typical of the thoughts you'll have after sampling an MZ Skorpion Replica. This is one swinging Single. With a five-valve, 660cc Yamaha engine propelling a racing-derived chassis, this 378-pound Sound of Singles refugee offers up the strongest evidence yet that you only need one cylinder to rock 'n' roll. The Replica was a prime candidate to capture Ten Best honors, except for the fact that it doesn't really fit into any of the categories. Interpret that to mean it's in a class of its own.
Triumph Trophy 1200
PARDON THE TIME-WORN SCENARIO, BUT WHEN THEY WERE HANDING OUT horsepower, the Triumph Trophy 1200 must have gotten in line twice. There isn't another sport-tourer out there whose front wheel explodes off the pavement with the same ferocity, that blitzes through the quarter-mile in under 12 seconds or speeds to 135 mph. That ought to put the sport back in sport-touring, eh? Engine performance alone almost guaranteed the Trophy an honorable mention, so when you factor in its striking styling, classy British Racing Green paint scheme and general competence, it's a shoo-in. If the 1200 Four had the 900 Triple's howling exhaust note, it might even have topped the BMW R1100RT for Best Touring Bike honors.
