Top 10 Hottest Bikes of 2011

[Morbo the Destroyer]

A solid list from any perspective. Leading with the Aprillia was a bit of surprise; the rest were pretty much the newsmakers for the year. It's curious you'd include a bike that "the public" hasn't ridden yet (MV Augusta F3) but I guess that's the nature of the business.

Triumph's new Tigers are generating a lot of excitement on the ADV sites I visit. They're going to do well with that line; people have placed deposits. But, no Super Ten? How did that bike miss the list?

It's interesting that the BMW S1000RR is now "old news."

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by Morbo the Destroyer

A solid list from any perspective. Leading with the Aprillia was a bit of surprise; the rest were pretty much the newsmakers for the year. It's curious you'd include a bike that "the public" hasn't ridden yet (MV Augusta F3) but I guess that's the nature of the business.

Triumph's new Tigers are generating a lot of excitement on the ADV sites I visit. They're going to do well with that line; people have placed deposits. But, no Super Ten? How did that bike miss the list?

It's interesting that the BMW S1000RR is now "old news."

Glad you mostly liked the list, Morbo. Aprilia was at the top of the list because it begins with the letter A. And most of the list actually contains bikes the public hasn't yet ridden.

The idea of the article was to compile selections of the most interesting or potentially influential new models, so the S1000RR has to make do with only being our Motorcycle of the Year, poor thing.

The Super-Ten just missed a spot on our top 10 because our ride on it revealed it doesn't significantly advance the state of the art, although it did make the article's honorable-mention list at the bottom. BMW's 1200GS was the clear target, but Yamaha built a machine that isn't clearly a GS beater. When price is factored in, the Tenere might beat the GS in a comparo, but we'll have to ride them back to back to prove that.

[TerryWellsworth]

Wahhhh...........Really these bikes are looking very stylish and beautiful.

Thanks for sharing

[pplassm]

Fail.

KTM 350 SX-F

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by pplassm

Fail.

KTM 350 SX-F

Blinded by the roost...

Would've been a good addition to the list - agreed.

[pushrod]

KD,

Good article!

Merry Christmas to you and the rest of the Staff! You've done well this year.

Now if VerticalScope would only fix the site machinery...

[sarnali2]

The CB1000R looks interesting, I wish they'd have had one at the IMS in Seattle. Ditto the K1600's and Triumph 800's. Personally I'd have added the Super Ten on GP because it's a concerted effort by Yamaha to go after the 1200GS-Tiger-Multistrada-Stelvio-KTM-Vee & Wee Strom market. It may not be a ground breaker per se` but it's going to be a significant player in the Adventure Bike market in future. Next I'm guessing Honda will show up with a new and improved Trans Alp....

[Duken4evr]

Originally Posted by Kevin_Duke

Blinded by the roost...

Would've been a good addition to the list - agreed.

Can't wait to read about the new KTM 350 in it's enduro flavor. It may be the best bike I have not yet read about.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by pushrod

KD,

Good article!

Merry Christmas to you and the rest of the Staff! You've done well this year.

Now if VerticalScope would only fix the site machinery...

Thanks, Push. Nothing imminent, but there is a forum redo in the works.

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by sarnali2

The CB1000R looks interesting, I wish they'd have had one at the IMS in Seattle. Ditto the K1600's and Triumph 800's. Personally I'd have added the Super Ten on GP because it's a concerted effort by Yamaha to go after the 1200GS-Tiger-Multistrada-Stelvio-KTM-Vee & Wee Strom market. It may not be a ground breaker per se` but it's going to be a significant player in the Adventure Bike market in future. Next I'm guessing Honda will show up with a new and improved Trans Alp....

Even though I haven't yet ridden Tigger, I predict excellent sales for Triumph, not just at first, but also later once word spreads. I've talked to a few journalists I respect who have already ridden it, and it's good.

Trans Alp? Did you see the Crossrunner?