2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year: The Crew

For our annual Bike of the Year mega-test our nine riders represent a combined total of nearly 334 years of riding experience...

To put this incredibly diverse array of bikes to the test, Bikesales assembled a cast of veteran campaigners – some who write a lot about bikes, all who've ridden a lot of bikes, and all whose love of bikes has shaped their lives through the years…

Name: Mark 'Mav' Fattore
Age: 46
Years riding: 39
Height: 172cm
Weight: 93kg
History: Starting off on dirt bikes around the back blocks of Albury as a seven-year-old, spurred on to break the law at such a tender age by his Aussie superbike-winning brother-in-law Rob Phillis. Mav's riding career spans highs like being crowned the U14 Victorian junior dirt track champion (there were only two in the race, but who's counting). Mav was worked for leading motorcycle magazines since 1996 and has served as Editor of Bikesales since 2007, riding and reviewing huge numbers of all manner of motorcycles in that time.

Name: Rod 'Chappo' Chapman
Age: 44
Years riding: 24
Height: 188cm
Weight: 105kg
History: Previously a Sydney motorcycle courier, Chappo has reviewed hundreds of bikes over the years for leading publications in Australia, Europe and the US. He's ridden on six out of seven continents and was editor of a British bike mag for three years, before returning to Australia to join the team at Bikesales.

Name: Paul 'Jungle' Burrows
Age: 57
Years riding: 45
Height: 179cm
Weight: 84.3kg
History: Started riding as a 12-year-old on a borrowed Honda Dax. Went on to share a Honda SL125 with his brother as a teenager, and these days loves classic bikes but is happy riding pretty much anything. Jungle currently owns a BMW R 1200 C and a BMW F 650 GS. He says he's a Virgo, and that he enjoys adventure touring, pina coladas and getting caught in the rain...

Name: Brian 'Hitman' Harding
Age: 56
Years riding: 40
Height: 191cm
Weight: 110kg
History: Learnt to ride an ag bike on a mate's farm when he was 16, but Hitman's first bike all his own was a Kawasaki Z250. Then came a Suzuki GS650, a Honda VF1000 and CBR1100XX, BMW K 1200 and K 1300 to his current road steeds, a KTM 1290 Super Duke and Harley-Davidson Fat Boy CVO, airbrushed flames and all. Loves riding the blacktop in Tassie but also enjoys the odd off-road jaunt on his KTM 450 EXC.

Name: Murray 'Muzza' Sharp
Age: 46
Years riding: 39
Height: 180cm
Weight: 95kg
History: From dirt bikes around the family property to road racing 250 proddies, 600s and superbikes, Muzza has dipped his toe in most two-wheeled pursuits. Still gets out trail riding regularly and occasionally wheels out the trusty GPz900R. He's a big fan of the adventure-bike genre and he did get a bit teary handing back the Africa Twin keys!

Name: Nick 'Bockers' Lynch
Age: 50
Years riding: 37
Height: 176cm
Weight: 101.1kg
History: Started on, and first came off a dirt bike on a cousin's farm. Has ridden many bikes over the years including some classic 1980s and 1990s fare. Loved his Kawasaki ZZ-R1100. Current bikes are a 1973 CB350 in original condition as well as an old postie bike destined for some customisation. Bike trip highlight: riding a 1950s Chang Jiang (BMW R71 ripoff) around China with some mates.

Name: Peter 'Gunna' Gunn
Age: 45
Years riding: 35
Height: 177cm
Weight: 99kg
History: Also starting riding off-road when he was ten, before getting his road licence at the age of 18. Owns a 2014 Honda Fireblade and an MV Agusta F4, tempered by a KTM 150 SX. Gunna takes his road riding seriously – so much so he'll soon be heading back to Tassie once more for the 20th annual tour of the place, which Bikesales sampled in 2017.

Name: Murray 'Chainsaw' Kennedy
Age: 63
Years riding: 45
Height: 175cm
Weight: 67.9kg
History: Our resident Bike of the Year paramedic, Murray is usually found at the rear of the pack, just waiting to tend to fallen riders' injuries in his irrepressibly cheery style. A motorcyclist for more decades than he cares to remember, he's sampled dozens of bikes through the years and knows only too well the juxtaposition of pleasure and pain riding can represent...

Name: Bert 'Bertles' Close
Age: 47
Years riding: 30
Height: 182cm
Weight: 98kg (sure Bert!)
History: Been into bikes since he was a teenager and has never lost the bug. Currently owns a 2002 Triumph Speed Triple, a Yamaha TT350 chookie and a Yamaha YDS5, which is patiently awaiting restoration. Bert is a busy family man and small business owner, and says he's happy to get out on a bike whenever his hectic schedule allows.

2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year: The Crew

Tags