2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Retro

The 2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards will recognise excellence across 11 separate categories, after which we'll shortlist three finalists and then announce the outright winner on Friday, November 24 at the Sydney Motorcycle Show.

This time out we announce the winner of the Retro category, and that bike is the Yamaha XSR900 – for the second year running!

Bikesales' NSW correspondent Sam Maclachlan had this to say about the $12,999 (plus ORC) XSR900 at the Aussie press launch: "All sorts of bikes pass under my butt each year – fast ones, slow ones, off road ones and everything in between. Every so often, though, along comes a bike that just speaks to me, something that just so nails its design brief and target market, that I go to bed dreaming of it. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does…

"You know what this is all leading to — Yamaha has produced such a quality machine in its new XSR900, that I am truly enamoured.

"This wasn’t a result I was expecting looking at the specs. I really like the MT-09 for what it is, so this bike being marketed as a kind of hipster-spec MT-09 led me to think it was all sparkle, lumber jackets and beard.

"It’s much more than something to just parade your love of craft beer with – I honestly reckon the much-lauded MT-10 will have trouble keeping this bike at bay on a bumpy back road.

"But what is amazing is the feel at the bars, seat and pegs – this is where you gather the knowledge that everything is going fine as far as grip and traction go, and the feedback is superb on the XSR.

"Yamaha goes to great lengths to keep your feet close together on the bike, which helps make it feel smaller, though at only 195kg wet it doesn’t need much to feel light. The ride position is on the upright side of “nakedbike”, but this doesn’t detract from feeling what the front axle is doing – it’s often levitating…

"It’s not a perfect bike — the dash is too bright at night, the TC switchability annoys me, the suspension could be more compliant and the Mode switch is hard to get to in winter gloves – but these complaints pale in reference to the asking price.

"There simply isn’t anything else that hits so many bullseyes for the money."

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Honourable mention: Triumph Street Scrambler
Triumph's original Scrambler has now given way to a more refined successor – but one that still retains plenty of spunk. The easiest way to describe the Street Scrambler is that it's a derivative of the Street Twin but with some 'scramblery' changes such as the larger 19-inch front wheel, revised ergonomics, a new frame, longer front and rear suspension, higher ground clearance, high-mount single-sided silencers and a plastic bash plate. The ‘Bear Trap’ adventure-style front pegs also have removable rubber inserts. Gone is the serviceable 865cc engine of old, replaced with the 'High Torque' liquid-cooled 900cc ride-by-wire parallel-twin that is good for 55hp/80Nm. It doesn’t feel anywhere near as 'bouncy' as its predecessor, while retaining that 'play' element which has always made it such a standout. The $15,900 (plus ORC) bike takes in dirt roads and smoother fire trails with ease.

Honourable mention: BMW RnineT Pure
BMW's a back-to-basics, no-frills R nineT Pure pulls off a seamless integration of style and performance. You do get ABS, however, and a single clock (a speedometer) with some basic functions in the inset digital display. It retails for $17,690 (plus ORC) and is only available in grey. Retro styling doesn't have to mean retro performance, and the Pure's air/oil-cooled Boxer engine delivers creamy waves of torque from just off tickover. The fuelling is spot on and the vibration is nicely tamed. There's a largely upright ride position, which is coupled with an easy stretch to the broad handlebar. It looks great, goes great, and the pricing is thoroughly realistic for what's on offer. The abundant performance is a very welcome surprise, and the general finish of each is beyond reproach.

Best LAMS Cruiser: Ducati Scrambler Sixty2
By building a motorcycle that shares the same architecture as the full-powered model, would-be (and let’s face it, fashion conscious) riders are getting what appears to be the same bike but with less power and for less money. As well as the aura of hipster Ducati has engineered into the Scrambler model, the other widely regarded genius surrounding the Scrambler is the compact way it managed to package the motorcycle. Easier said than done, it not only gives the bike the ultimate retro look and feel but it makes the Scrambler hugely accessible to, well, nearly all riders. Its low 770mm seat and low centre of gravity makes for very intuitive and unintimidating handling. The off-set single-face instruments are straight off the bigger siblings and are really informative while still being minimalist in their execution. Price is $11,990 (plus ORC).