Best Naked bike: 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards

The 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year (BOTY) Awards recognise excellence across 11 separate motorcycle categories. After a three-day mega-test in Tasmania in October, we'll whittle our shortlist down to three finalists – with the outright winner then announced at the Melbourne Moto Expo on Friday, November 23.

Let's continue the 2018 BOTY category announcements by unveiling our winner of the Naked category: Yamaha's MT-09SP…

Yamaha's MT naked-bike platform has garnered widespread acclaim over many years, but the appearance this year of the MT-09SP has delivered a value-packed knockout blow to the Naked category – this bike just offers so much riding enjoyment for such a modest price.

The standard MT-09A was and continues to be a powerhouse in the bang-for-your-buck stakes, but Yamaha has upped the ante with the MT-09SP, packing in an Öhlins rear shock, adjustable KYB fork and a host of cosmetic upgrades for just $1200 extra.

That means that for your $13,499 plus on-roads outlay, you now get an even better-handling streetfighter, with all the punch afforded by that 847cc in-line triple. The engine pumps out 115hp in a package weighing 193kg wet, so there's plenty on tap for when you choose to charge your favourite set of bends.

For that ticket price you also score niceties like full LCD instrumentation, ABS brakes, a choice of ride modes, switchable traction control, a quickshifter and a slipper clutch, all in a distinctive Silver Blu Carbon colour scheme with blue wheels and blue contrast stitching on the seat.

Of course, as much as the MT-09SP is a hoot in the hills, it's also a consummate professional around town – an excellent commuter, with an easy, upright ride position that is comfortable and places the rider in complete control.

There is no shortage of top contenders in this hard-fought market segment, but after riding the MT-09SP for ourselves we just couldn't go past this bike's all-round value proposition. Congratulation, Yamaha, on claiming the title of 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Award: Naked, with the MT-09SP.

2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Cruiser
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Scooter
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Adventure Tourer
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Adventure Sport
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Sportstouring
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Retro/Cafe
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Enduro
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Touring
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Motocross
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Supersport

Just the mere mention of this model still sends a tingle down our spines… Aprilia's Tuono V4 1100 RR wasn't just our Naked category winner for last year's Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards, it was our outright Bike of the Year. The model continues unchanged for 2018 and still represents an intoxicating blend of cutting-edge technology, performance and exquisite craftsmanship – it's a superb tool for thrashing along a winding road and an insane track bike, yet it's so refined it can still easily be pressed into more sedate roles, like commuting. The tech spans adjustable traction control, cornering ABS, bi-directional quickshifter, multi ride modes, launch control, cruise control, wheelie control and a pit limiter, while the indomitable 1077cc V4 engine can unleash up to 175hp and 121Nm – this is not a bike for the faint-hearted… It's a visceral, evocative package, only pipped here by the Yamaha's winning bang-for-your-bucks formula. The Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR is priced from $22,890 plus on-roads.

KTM's Duke range of road bikes expanded yet again earlier this year with the introduction of the 790 Duke, and what a cracker of a bike it is. We were mightily impressed at the model's international press launch in March and that sentiment only strengthened after recently sampling the 790 Duke on local roads (keep an eye out for that test, coming soon!). These days KTM is arguably just as well known for its road bikes as it is it's off-road models, and with models like the 790 Duke it's easy to see why. With an all-new parallel-twin engine, a thoroughly sorted chassis and suspension, and a commanding yet accommodating ride position, the 790 Duke a blast when you want it to be, and Mr Manners when you don't. KTM's 790 Duke is priced from $15,495 plus on-roads.

There are plenty of LAMS offerings in this category spanning a wide array of pricing, but it's hard to go past Suzuki's new GSX-S125 when it comes to fun, features and value. Unveiled at its national press launch in February alongside its fully faired sibling, the GSX-R125, the GSX-S125 is super light (133kg wet!), surprisingly roomy, and so easy to ride. Made in the same production facility in Indonesia as Suzuki's Address 110 scooter, the GSX-S125 comes with features like ABS brakes, LED headlights, petal brake discs, smart 10-spoke alloy wheels, LCD instrumentation and Suzuki's Easy Start system – the little single-pot engine fires up with a quick stab of the starter first time, every time. We love the Metallic Triton Blue hero colour scheme especially, which visually ties this tiddler to its bigger GSX-R brothers, and it's all covered by a two-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Suzuki's GSX-S125 is priced from $3890 plus on-roads.