2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: the crew

For our annual Bike of the Year mega-test, our nine riders represent a combined total of over 300 years of riding experience...

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

Name: Mark 'Mav' Fattore
Age: 48
Years riding: 41
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 Championship-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 has 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: 45
Years riding: 25
Height: 188cm
Weight: 93kg
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 bikes on six continents and was editor of a British bike mag for three years, before returning to Australia to join the team at Bikesales in 2006.

Name: Paul 'Jungle' Burrows
Age: 58
Years riding: 46
Height: 179cm
Weight: 84kg
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: Scott 'Kes' Kessler
Age: 46
Years riding: 36
Height: 178cm
Weight: 83kg
History: Starting out on dirt from the age of 10 before moving on to road bikes with the arrival of a licence and a Suzuki RGV250. Owns a 2015 Ducati 1299 Panigale and loves track days and sports riding, but still rides and competes in motocross and the odd desert race on a 2019 Husky FC 450. Says he loves road and off-road exploits equally, and who are we to argue? Kes also loves Pina Coladas, getting caught in the rain, and his comprehensive collection of firearms.

Name: Brian 'Hitman' Harding
Age: 57
Years riding: 41
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. His current road steeds run to 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 – the highlight of which was a Cape York to Cairns ride on a KTM 450 EXC.

Name: Murray 'Muzza' Sharp
Age: 47
Years riding: 40
Height: 180cm
Weight: 90kg
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 Kawasaki GPz900R. He's a big fan of the adventure-bike genre and reckons he's now fallen head over heels for the KTM 790 Adventure R!

Name: Adrian 'Assassin' Harris
Age: 35
Years riding: 24
Height: 184cm
Weight: 100kg
History: Started riding on ag bikes around the family farm when he was 11, when his feet could mostly touch the ground. Cut his teeth, sometimes almost literally, learning to ride on the road on a modified BMW K 1200, lane-splitting through Los Angeles traffic. Since then, it's been a variety of scooters through Thailand, Royal Enfields across India, Kawasaki KLRs through the Americas and a BMW GS around parts of Australia. Adrian works for Bikesales and is across all the technical goings on of the Bikesales website and app. He currently rides a Yamaha Super Ténéré.

Name: Bert 'Bertles' Close
Age: 48
Years riding: 31
Height: 182cm
Weight: 98kg (sure Bert!)
History: Been into bikes since he learnt to ride on a Z50 and a TS90 as a little takker and 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.

Name: Murray 'Chainsaw' Kennedy

Age: 56
Years riding: 40
Height: 175cm
Weight: 90kg
History: Our resident Bike of the Year paramedic, Murray can be found at the rear of the Bikesales 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...

2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: the crew

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