OK, so a while back I gave a little spiel about how there seems to be an awful lot of contradictory MOTY awards given by various motorcycling publications. Well if you want to call this adding fuel to the fire, so be it, but we at BrenandSven.com are trying to bring some solidarity to what seems to be an unsure world of moto-journalism. So here it is folks, the 2010 BS Motorcycle of the Year awards (and this MOTY is void bull $*!%).
So this is how the BS-MOTY works. 6 categories: Superbike, Sportbike, Standard/Naked, Touring, Adventure, and Cruiser. Each category has one and only one winner and runner up. Wow, could it be any simpler? Cut and dry categories, and no one off categories to make sure all the newest and most expensive bikes get recognition (don’t think we aren’t aware of the game you magazines are playing).
2010 BS-MOTY Standard/Naked Bike: Triumph Speed Triple
What?! No Kawasaki Z1000?! Nope. It is plain and simple as that. Nope. Lets face it, the Kawasaki Z1000 is as much of a Standard/Naked bike as a Honda Rebel being classified as a cruiser. It kinda looks the part but it just doesn’t cut it. It is quite interesting that all the big respected publications gave the Kawi Z1000 the top spot for the category, yet two everyday people of society, whom I had the chance to talk with, picked the Brit Hooligan over the Kawi after giving both a fair shot in test rides. So if A = B, and B = C, then A = Triumph Speed Triple: 2010 BS-MOTY.
The iconic Trumpet, in our book, has opened the American market to the concept of the naked/ standard motorcycle of being just as edgy and sporty as any Superbike or Sportbike, and as raw as any cruiser. The 1050cc inline triple, shoots out 128 bhp and a gnarly 76 ft/lbs. And all that power gets a beautiful delivery with the unique 3 cylinder engine, which blends the horsepower/ torque band in a very seamless manner.
Couple all that power in a sporty yet oddly comfortable riding position, and you can carve out the canyons all weekend non stop. The best bit about the Brit Hooligan is its simplified styling, with the very exposed engine and components and the never mistakable bug eyed headlamps. The Speed Triple set itself apart from the rest and that why it is set above the rest.
A stock Speed Triple will run you $11,299 MSRP but Triumph, along with Arrow Special Parts, has a wide assortment of performance, and aesthetic enhancements to make your one of a kind Speed Triple even more unique.
2010 BS-MOTY Standard/Naked Bike Runner up: Kawaski Z1000
So the Kawasaki Z1000 was given tremendous props, all across the moto-journalism universe. Powerful, sporty, superb ergos, a sportbike it a standard setup, these are all descriptors of what the Kawasaki Z1000 has achieved. And bravo, congrats to Kawasaki for what has been accomplished, but look at it! Does it even look like a motorcycle? No, more like something a 10 year old drew up after seeing his favorite string of superhero cartoons. Not that that is a bad thing, it’s just that if I want a Standard/Naked motorcycle I, well, want a motorcycle that’s NAKED, and will turn heads for all the right reasons.
There’s a ton to like about the Z1000 and plenty to dislike. On a performance standpoint, the 1043cc DOHC inline-4 creates more power and torque than the victorious speed triple. The suspension and ride is perhaps better as well, but just look at it.
People buy motorcycles for emotional reasons, and the Z1000 doesn’t get me emotionally charged as the mystique of the Speed Triple. A majority of standard/ naked riders have gotten over the idea of laying atop their sportbike, but still want the performance. They are young at heart, but want some refinement. The Z1000 still belongs on a 7 year olds sketch pad. MSRP starts at 10,599 which does promise bigger bang for the buck in comparrison to the Speed Triple but we digress.
Check out the remaining awards for the 2010 BS-MOTY
Superbike /// Sportbike /// Standard-Naked /// Touring /// Adventure /// Cruiser




















