Bike of the Year
Bike of the Year
UP FRONT
David Edwards
GLOBAL HARMONY, SADLY, MAY BE AN impossibility, but that doesn't mean we highly evolved types who hold down the top spots at the world’s leading motorcycle magazines can’t get together for a little intellectual hand-holding. Kumbaya, my brothers.
That’s just what happened in the 20thannual International Bike of the Year voting, wherein the Eds-in-Chief of motomags worldwide picked their top three bikes of the past 12 months. When all the tallies were toted, we had a runaway winner-in fact, the hi-po version of that same model tied for third overall in the balloting, too. First and third for basically the same bike! That’s never happened in IBOTY.
Of course, there was some dissen tion in the ranks, always a healthy thing.
The Germans, apparently trying to make nice for 1940, cast votes for Voxan Charade, the long-suffering French café-racer that, as always, may or may not be in production at the moment.
“Sheer functionality isn’t the big argument for the exotic French brand,” wrote Motorrad Magazin MO"s Maik Schwarz. “But the 72-degree V-Twin engine, the distinctive design, the whole spirit of the model makes us pray for the future of the factory in Issoire.”
Or maybe a buyout by BMW.
A couple of editors gave props and a few points to one of my favorite bikes of the year, Kawasnti’c Versys 650.
“One of the most underrated models of 2007,” said Ben Kennepohl from Holland’s KicXstart. “Kawasaki showed courage with the somewhat ‘weird’ design of the 650 Twin. Ugly or beautiful? Whatever your opinion, you have to admit this affordable middleclass bike is anything but average. It manages to combine supermoto agility with the stability and comfort of a sport-tourer. You have to ride it-preferably on a very twisty roadto believe it.”
KTMs are scoring ever higher with the world’s moto-scribblers. The Austrian company had two models in the top seven this year; the (let’s be charitable) “uniquely” styled 690 Supermoto Single just beating out the 990 Super Duke VTwin. Said Aldo Ballerini from Italy’s Super Wheels, “The KTM 690 SM has a strange look-a duck’s face and hard linesbut it’s also got that massive ‘Mono’ with great torque. Fight weight, great handling and that strong FC4 motor make the Supermoto one of the ‘funnest’ motorcycles in the world.”
Israel’s Guy Ben Barrak, writing for Moto magazine, nominated a machine we haven’t yet had a chance to ride, the Honda Hornet 600, calling it a “serious contender for best-ever modern naked bike. What we get here is a top-ofthe-line supersport engine (no more ‘offthe-shelf’ oldies) tuned and geared to naked-perfection; new-and magicalalloy chassis; great suspension, brakes and thus handling; compactness wrapped in comfort and a gorgeous outer-space look.”
We’ll have to take your word for it, Guy. If Honda has plans to bring the Hornet stateside, they ain’t sayin’.
Right, let’s get to IBOTY 2007’s top spots. It’s a little crowded on the thirdplace podium, with a trio of machines scoring an equal 6 points. In no particular order, they are the Honda CB R600RR, the Yamaha YZF-R1 and the Ducati 1098S.
England’s Bike magazine thought the Honda should have been rated highermuch higher. “Unprecedented agility, awesome brakes and a howling top end are to be expected in a sports 600,” noted Simon Weir. “But the CBR’s road-focused package, with grunty midrange and practical touches like bungee hooks and decent mirrors, is a revelation nowadays. Bike of the Year? It’s not even up for debate.”
Mick Matheson of Australian Motorcycle New’s sung the RI ’s praises. “Almost World Superbike champion, almost World Superstock champion and almost winner of our superbike road comparison, the Yamaha was the best overall Japanese liter-bike in 2007. The hugely revamped four-valve version proved to be a great machine on the road and on the track.”
The Aussie was even more effusive about the 1098S: “This motorcycle redefined the sportbike class. It sets a new benchmark for V-Twin superbike performance, while retaining the qualities that make Vees a smart choice for streetbike riders. Power is both plentiful and manageable in all conditions. The forged Marchesini wheels and Öhlins suspension make it a better-handling machine than the standard 1098, and its value for money is excellent, especially against previous Ducati superbikes.”
Holding down sole possession of second place is a bit of a surprise. Triumph’s new 675 Street Triple scored 9 points.
“Producing a naked 675 might have been a no-brainer for Triumph, but the new Street Triple isn’t just a Daytona without a fairing,” argued Bike"s Simon Weir. “It’s a new bike in its own right. Docile at low speed, comfy, predictable and reassuring, but with a naughty streak to shame even the loopy Speed Triple.”
And that brings us to 2007’s International Bike of the Year, packing a dominating 22 points (and CW"s top placing), the Ducati 1098.
Cycle Canada's Costa Mouzouris put it best, noting that, “Ducati, with the 1098, not only produced the most powerful VTwin sportbike ever, it also reaffirmed its position as a maker of truly exotic motorcycles. By adhering to styling cues that made the original 916 a legendary machine, Ducati has reintroduced ‘sexy’ to the Italian motorcycle. We’ll be lusting for this one for years to come.”
For a complete rundown of the IBOTY 2007 voting, log on to www.cycleworld.com.
