Honorable Mentions:
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Honda CBR250R
Leave it to the Red Giant, Honda, to roll out a low-priced, smalldisplacement motorcycle so charming and fun as to defy its cost and size. Better still, CBR250Rs (with or without ABS) are selling fast and bringing smiles to riders new and old. If there were a Best 250cc Streetbike, this would be it.
Suzuki GSX-R750
.Like a man without a country, the Suzuki GSX-R750 “classic" superbike doesn’t have a world-level racing class. This year's return to its lightweight roots has brought new life to the only 750cc sportbike you can buy, and it remains one of thebest-balanced, most-rewarding sporting motorcycles on the market.
Triumph Thunderbird Storm 1700_
Okay, so the two-year-winning Best Cruiser T-bird couldn’t run with the devil this year, but the blacked-out, punched-out, twin-headlight Storm version came pretty damn close with its great-handling, laidback cruiser chassis and increased engine performance.
BMW S1000RR
If it weren’t for the sheer tenacity and technical accomplishment of a certain American bike maker named Erik Buell, Germany would have won the Superbike War in 2011. And, frankly, when absolutely nothing else will do but superior firepower, there’s still no place to turn but this 180-horsepower BMW.
KTM 350SX
KTM builds dirtbikes of every flavor, none perhaps as sweet as the 350SX. It was a bold move to go head-to-head with 450s, but one that paid off with many race wins. The extra effort required by its smaller engine made it more of an expert’s bike when the gate dropped, but if you’ve got the skills, KTM’s got your bike.
