2021 bikesales Bike of the Year starts here

It has been a huge year for motorcycling and the time has come to decide Australia’s premier motorcycle consumer award, the 2021 bikesales Bike of the Year, proudly presented by Shannons.

While the pandemic has put a stop to our usual week-long mega-test, our expert judges have been busy testing over 50 new and updated motorcycles over the course of the last 12 months. With the team's vast knowledge and expertise, the field has been whittled down to just 10 finalists.

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The 2021 bikesales Bike of the Year awards will look a little different to previous years. For starters, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the awards will be a virtual affair, meaning this year there will be no on-road testing. Instead, each machine has been reviewed individually, and our expert judges will choose two Highly Commended winners and an ultimate winner following intense discussion and analysis.

Additionally, the format of the awards has changed. In previous years, the bikesales team selected one bike from each segment (i.e Adventure Touring, Sportsbike, Cruiser etc). However, in 2021, the 10 finalists have been chosen regardless of segment. This allows the team to choose the best 10 motorcycles for 2021, rather than the best in each segment, thus improving the quality of the field.

For the first time, we'll also be awarding an outright bikesales Learner Bike of the Year. In previous years we have awarded a LAMS winner for each category, but for 2021, LAMS models will get their own specific award. We recently announced the 10 finalists for the 2021 bikesales Learner Bike of the Year award, also proudly presented by Shannons.

For a motorcycle to be eligible for the 2021 bikesales Bike of the Year award, it must be new or heavily updated, and currently on sale. It must also have been previously tested by the bikesales team.

The 10 finalists have been chosen based on a number of criteria that includes, but is not limited to, engine and drivetrain performance, brakes and handling performance, build quality, innovation, safety, value for money, and the extent to which it is fit for purpose. The winner of the bikesales Bike of the Year award will be the best overall machine that we feel represents the pinnacle of motorcycle production for 2021.

The finalists for the 2021 bikesales Bike of the Year, proudly presented by Shannons are:

Over the coming weeks, we will take a closer look at each finalist and why it is in the running for the 2021 bikesales Bike of the Year award.

And, for the first time, you’ll get to tell us which bike you think deserves the title, with the inaugural People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice poll will go live on November 10, with the People’s Choice winner due to be announced on November 24.

All of this excitement will lead to December 1, when we announce the winner of the 2021 bikesales Bike of the Year, proudly presented by Shannons. Stay tuned!