2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Sportstouring

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.

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2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards

This time out we announce the winner of the Sportstouring category, and that bike is the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT.

Bikesales has ridden the booming V-twin twice in the past 12 months, and both times we've been blown away by the ability of the machine to hook up with that excellent 1301cc 1290 Super Duke R-derived engine – and all in comfort with a big seat, easily adjustable screen and handlebar, heated grips and cruise control.

Other long-distance niceties include the bigger tank, semi-active WP suspension, tyre pressure monitoring and beefier rear end to handle the optional panniers.

As much as it's a weapon, the GT is also capable of doing mellow very well, which is a function of a bike that is extremely well sorted with the ride-by-wire throttle and a revised engine management system compared to the 1290 Super Duke R.

The dry weight is just 205kg, and the GT maintains the same geometry as the R. I think you're getting the hint: it has a majestic engine, steers well, and is comfortable. And there are a heap of extras you can add from the KTM PowerParts catalogue.

The great thing is that you can be super comfortable on the one hand, but then with the click of a few buttons take on such an aggressive stance it's like you’re aboard a fully fledged sportsbike with a free-spinning engine and crisp chassis — including those superb Brembo monobloc brakes.

Congratulations KTM!

The 1290 Super Duke GT will join seven other Bike of the Year category winners on a massive road ride from October 9-12, which will include a fang on the superb Snowy Mountains Highway.

Honourable mention: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer
This isn't just a case of Yamaha plonking on a screen and front fairing and selling it as a touring model. While these have been added, the engineers also delved much deeper into the development of the Tracer and changed quite a lot. There is a new riding position, larger fuel tank, a tweaked fuel map and other touring accessories such as panniers, centrestand and handguards. One thing that remains the same apart from the revised mapping is the outstanding 847cc triple. Claimed peak power is 115hp (84.6kW) at 10,000rpm and 87.5Nm at 8500rpm. Ride quality is quite plush, and road inconsistencies are dealt with poise once the speeds rise. The wide handlebar offers quick steering and the front-end remains composed to create a confidence-inspiring direct feel.

Honourable mention: BMW Motorrad K 1600 GT
That six-cylinder engine… what a remarkable piece of engineering it is. Although it's now a clean-running Euro4 jobbie, it hasn't lost any of its bite. Power and torque remain unaffected, at 160hp (118kW) and 175Nm, and on the road those figure can add up to a near-religious experience, if desired. Ride the bike sedately and it's a picture of civility. Super-smooth fuelling, very little vibration, effortless overtaking – it's a rapid point-to-point machine that can still be ridden within legal limits (thankfully it has electronic cruise control) with the tacho needle safely buried within the lower half of its range. The technology is just as impressive as the K 1600's performance. The electronic suspension adjustment is backed by a ride-by-wire throttle with a choice of engine modes to suit the prevailing conditions. There's traction control and ABS, complementing a superb set of four-piston, twin-disc Brembo stoppers up front. There's also a new reverse gear, too.

Best LAMS sportstourer: Yamaha MT-07 Tracer
Light, lithe, and heaps of fun, Yamaha's new LAMS-approved MT-07 Tracer puts a whole new spin on sportstouring. While the latest addition to Yamaha's range adopts the same engine and chassis as the MT-07LA, it also sports several notable differences. In addition to the front fairing and screen, the Tracer also gets a 17-litre fuel tank (up three litres), 'semi-soft' panniers (more on that later), revised suspension settings, a 50mm longer swingarm and different handlebars and risers. As a result the Tracer has a longer 1450mm wheelbase for additional stability, and a higher wet weight – 196kg for the Tracer, versus 182kg for the naked bike. The ride position is perfect for novice riders – or any riders, for that matter. You sit upright, with just a slight forward incline as you reach for the higher-set handlebars.