Ten Best Bikes 2011
Kawasaki Z1000
This year, the Z1000 came under heavy fire from a new Triumph Speed Triple and a new-to-the-USA Honda CB1000R, but neither the Triple’s howl nor the Honda’s savoir-faire were enough to dislodge the 127-horse Kawasaki from its position of power. Something about the Z’s blend of massive, smooth, broadband thrust, near-faultless handling when flogged like a borrowed Kawasaki over our toughest test roads, and a high degree of comfort and usability in everyday riding won our hearts and butts for the second year in a row. Then there’s the $1200-cheaperthan-the-Triumph part. No bread? Let them eat Kawasaki.
BMW K1600GT
BMW has brought an end to three years of crushing dominance by Kawasaki’s Concours 14. The Bavarian Motor Works last earned the honor of Best Sport-Touring Bike in 2006-07 with its K1200GT and stepped up in a big way this year with its all-new K1600GT. Sure, it’s way more expensive than the C-14, but the standard-features list is long, and the accessories list is even longer. But even without the integrated navigation system, adaptive headlight, ESA II and more, the K1600GT’s torque-monster inline-Six and superbly comfortable, easy-steering chassis have changed the very idea of what sport-touring can be. If you don’t have the money, consider selling a kidney.
Kawasaki ZX-6R
For a third year running, Team Green has been the envy of its class. It can be argued that Kawasaki retained the Best Middleweight crown last year by default due to an uncharacteristic void of new challengers, but 2011 witnessed Suzuki stepping up with its all-new GSX-R600. Although the latest Gixxer has closed the gap, it too came up short in both overall performance and value. Consider the whopping $1600 price disparity following the ZX-6R’s MSRP getting slashed mid-year to $9999. It’s small money for a well-rounded streetable sportbike with good midrange power followed by a 112-hp knockout punch. Lunch time or lap time, the ZX-6R is ready.
EBR 1190RS
BEST SUPERBIKE
In normal times, our Best Superbike would be the amazing BMW S1000RR again—the bike Wagner envisioned the Valkyries riding in his opera after he’d had a few absinthes. But these are not normal times, and we’re suckers for American-built V-Twins that make an EPA-ready 160 horses, weigh 384 pounds, are covered in dark carbon-fiber and built by a guy who makes Rocky Balboa look like Paris Hilton with menstrual cramps. True, so far Erik Buell’s only built a few EBRs, and the 1190RS does cost $40,000. But when have we ever let practicality get in the way of our Best Superbike? Besides, if all goes according to plan, EBR will soon be cranking out mainstream versions for around $20K. If anybody knows nothing ever goes according to plan, it’s Erik Buell. And he never lets the bastards wear him down.
Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Sport
For the second year running, Ducati's Multistrada 1200 S Sport has proven that its do-anything design, awesome on-and off-road performance and category-leading features deserve recognition. Powered by a Testastretta "11-degree" engine—a torque-pumped direct descendant of the 1198 superbike's powerplant—the Multistrada delivers an exhilarating ride. Its tall adventure-bike stature puts its pilot in a comfortable and commanding seating position. Even in standard form, without the Sport's excellent electronically adjustable Öhlins suspension, Ducati Traction Control, ABS and multiple-power-mode, ride-by-wire fuel injection, this Italian V-Twin is a sure winner. But with these weapons at its disposal, the Multistrada 1200 S Sport is one of the most capable and potent all-around machines we've ever tested.
TEN BEST BIKES 2011
EVOLUTION CONTINUES, IN GOOD TIMES OR BAD, WHETHER you believe in it or not. Seems like only yesterday we were content as could be to ride along on our dinosaurs and horses, and now look at us. One trend continues in 2011: the shift in motorcycle power from Japan to Europe. Last year, five of our Top Ten came from Japan. This year, only three—and two of those were bones of contention that required significant gnawing. A weak dollar hurts bikes from Europe, but not as much as it’s hurt models manufactured in Japan. Five years ago, the spread between the sporty BMW K1200S and a Kawasaki ZX-10R was about $5K; in 2011, $151 is all that stands between the base BMW S1000RR and a new ZX-10R—and the after-math of the earthquake that rocked Japan in March isn’t helping matters. If you’re lucky enough to ride one of these great motorcycles, count your blessings. As for us, we were lucky enough to ride all of them. And like Lou Gehrig said, we consider ourselves the luckiest people on the planet.
BMW K1600GTL
It’s one thing to win the game; it’s something else altogether to change the rules. But that’s what BMW’s new K1600GTL has done to the world of two-wheel touring. It’s no small feat to trump the revered Gold Wing in this category; but with its 11.2-second quarter-mile zip, near-sportbike-quality handling, electronically adjustable suspension and windshield, adaptive headlight that illuminates around corners, Bluetooth wireless capability, detachable luggage and utter ease of operation, the six-cylinder Beemer puts the Wing on the trailer. And from this point forward, anyone who believes that over-the-road luxury and thrilling high performance are mutually exclusive is...well, wrong.
Ducati Diavel Carbon
Sure, you can go apehanger, floorboards or any number of more traditional routes in this most traditional of categories. Or you can say, Screw it! and let the focus groups focus on their navels. Ducati did just that, channeling the performance-minded spirit of classic American V-Twins like the Crocker and infusing it with garlic and other more modern powerful Italian spices (such as carbon fiber) to come up with one of the coolest, fastest, most fun motorcycles ever made, one that happens to be a “cruiser.” Yes, the Diavel is just such a big, fat carbon-fiber-and-red bird flipped right at the cruising establishment that it was impossible not to pick it as Best Cruiser.
Triumph Tiger 800XC
This is as much a nod to the well-rounded capabilities of the newest middleweight adventure bike as it is to the company that produced it. Triumph has made a powerful push to expand its product range, all with an eye on staying true to the modern spirit of its brand. The Tiger 800XC exemplifies this, while also being a damn fine adventure bike. What it gives up in rock-bashing, descend-the-vertical-face off-road capability of last year’s winner, the KTM Adventure R, it makes up for with fantastic on-road (and fire-road) performance, while retaining the ability to torque up all but the most technical trails. The Tiger 800XC just makes you want to ride there. Wherever “there” may be.
Husaberg FE570S
Best trend in dirtbikes at the moment? Race-ready enduro motorcycles made to squeak through federal road-legal regs so that the knobby-shredding fun never to end. No “enduro” this year epitomized the racebike-with-lights ethic better than Husaberg’s FE570S. Not only can the FE take to asphalt legally whenever necessary, this 565cc fuel-injected beast also has the power to conquer about anything in the dirt, while it’s innovative “upside-down" engine layout allows the big 570 to handle with the ease and agility of much smaller, lighter machines. Sure, this ’berg could have been named Best Dual Sport, but it happens to be a true killer enduro. The license plate is just a bonus.
Suzuki RM-Z450
After Yamaha’s YZ450F toppled the Honda CRF450R last year, all bets were off. Now, it’s anyone’s game at the starting gate. This year, Suzuki put all the pieces together to make the RM-Z450 the most-well-rounded MXer of 2011. Previous RM-Zs steered beautifully, but their less-than-perfect suspension action held them back. For 2011, Suzuki not only has an incredible-handling bike, but the Showa fork and shock are now on par with the best. Add to this crisp and controllable power and you have the top 450cc powerplant of the year. Awesome chassis and a great engine? Sounds like the Best Motocrosser of 2011.
