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 Cruiser: Triumph Thunderbird
It seems that this is one of the few bikes almost every publication can agree on, and for all the right reasons. Finally a bike has come along and told the H-D V-Twins to take a back seat and watch how to be a cool cruiser. With its 1597cc liquid cooled Parallel-twin, the Triumph T-Bird cranks out 85 brake horses and a whopping 108 ft/lbs @ 2,750 rpm. So unlike all the big Harleys out there, the T-Bird goes fast and looks cool without sacrifice. Speaking of lack of sacrifice, the T-Bird comes with a very respectable Showa suspension and Nissin brakes with optional ABS (a must have).
Styling alone, is supreme. Simple clean lines, and it’s seamless tank will surely turn heads as you cruise down the boulevard. Ergonomics is comfy and practical, and highway pegs are available to stretch out for the long haul.
A basic Triumph Thunderbird will start you at only $12,499, but we recommend paying the extra $2,300 for the 1700cc Big Bore Edition and own a one of a kind T-Bird.
2010 BS-MOTY Cruiser Runner-up: Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight
It may seem that Harley-Davidson has decided to pull its head from its rear nether regions and build a motorcycle that all riders can appreciate. The H-D Forty-Eight doesn’t require the leather chaps or a braided Grizzly Adams beard which has so distastefully been associated with America’s motorcycle.
The 1200cc V-Twin breaks away from the mundane schematic of Harleys past, and models itself after current retro custom trends. The Forty-Eight comes with super cool under mount mirrors and a fat front end tire, stock. H-D opted to go back in time by using a 2.1 gallon Peanut style tank, further separating the Forty-Eight from the norm. To top it all off, as well as the peculiarly small gas tank, the H-D Forty-Eight starts at $10,499 making it one of the cheapest Harley-Davidsons in the line up.
Check out the remaining awards for the 2010 BS-MOTY
Superbike /// Sportbike /// Standard-Naked /// Touring /// Adventure /// Cruiser
