2020 bikesales Bike of the Year: In summary

In a year that saw bushfires, pandemics, and contentious elections, it is fair to say that most would have understood if the 2020 bikesales Bike of the Year Awards didn’t go ahead.

But we weren’t prepared to give up that easily, and through countless hours, emails, phone calls, and logistical headaches, we were able to take eight of the best machines in 2020 to Bright, Victoria, for our annual Bike of the Year test.

Related:
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW R 1250 RS
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: BMW S 1000 XR
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Ducati Panigale V2
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Indian Challenger Limited
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: KTM 1290 Super Duke R
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Triumph Rocket 3 R
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Yamaha Tenere 700
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: The crew
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 519 CDi
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: How the awards process works
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: The full story
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year: In summary
2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year winner: KTM 1290 Super Duke R

The crazy year that was 2020 also marked the fifth edition of the bikesales Bike of the Year Awards. From its humble beginnings in 2016, to the five-day extravaganza in 2020, the Bike of the Year Awards has become one of the most prestigious and comprehensive multi-bike tests in the southern hemisphere.

In 2016, it was the Honda Africa Twin that took out the title. That was followed by the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR in 2017, which won the title after a multi-day test in the Snowy Mountains.

The 2018 awards saw the bikesales team escape the mainland for the motorcycling mecca that is Tasmania. The Kawasaki Z900RS Café was the champion.

And, in 2019, the Bike of the Year road test took place in the High Country around Bright, Victoria, with the KTM 790 Adventure R earning the overall gong.

With a new editor and all the upheaval of coronavirus in 2020, it made sense for bikesales to keep things simple and stick to a working formula. After the 11 category winners were decided, we once again headed to Bright for a five-day road test. For more information on how we arrived at our category winners and an overall champion, read How the Awards Process Works.

Each machine performed incredibly well over the five days, even with a few bikes outside their respective motorcycle comfort zones.

Upon returning to Melbourne, the votes were tallied and it was the KTM 1290 Super Duke R that was crowned winner, with the BMW S 1000 XR and the BMW R 1250 RS nipping at the KTM's heels to round out the podium.

The entire field was incredibly close, with only a few points separating the top three and not a whole heap more between the first and final places.

Congratulations to KTM and our finalists, as well as all the category winners and LAMS winners.

Pending any further pandemics, we will do it all again in 2021 as we turn our attention to the next batch of mouth-watering motorcycle releases. We hope to make Bike of the Year even bigger and better (although 2020 will be hard to top), so watch this space…