Welcome to the 2019 Bikesales Bike of the Year (BOTY) Awards.
This will be the fouth year we’ve run BOTY, with Honda’s Africa Twin getting the chocolates in 2016 followed by the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR in 2017 and the Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe in 2018.
Related content:
2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: in summary
2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: in summary
Honda Africa Twin: 2016 Bikesales BOTY
As in past years, the process of selecting an overall winner will begin with announcing our 11 category winners over the next month.
The 11 categories are as follows:
• Supersport;
• Cruiser;
• Scooter;
• Naked;
• Touring;
• Sportstouring;
• Adventure;
• Adventure Sport;
• Enduro;
• Motocross; and
• Retro/Café racer.
Where applicable, we'll also announce the best learner-approved bikes in a number of categories – or indeed the learner-approved motorbike may win the category outright.
To be included in the judging, all bikes must have been on sale by September 1, 2019, as well as meeting specific criteria.
Once we've announced all the category winners, we'll then take nine of them (excluding motocross and enduro) on a five-day road ride from October 28 until November 1, basing ourselves in Bright (Vic) – a gateway to some of the best roads in the country.
We’ve plotted a number of day trips from Bright to gain a greater appreciation for all the bikes’ relative strengths and weaknesses.
All nine testers will be taking into account factors including excellence, innovation, performance and value for money, and it's those deliberations which will form the backbone of deciding which bike ultimately takes home the 2019 Bikesales Bike of the Year Award.
Once we’re back from Bright, the hard part will really begin as we churn out images, words and videos. We’ll then keep the winner close to our chest until the announcement on Thursday, December 5.
An exhaustive process, but a rewarding one as well! Join us for the ride.