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NEWS
Bikes we most want to ride in 2015
The Kawasaki H2 and Yamaha YZF-R1 dominate the voting, but KTM, BMW Motorrad, Aprilia and Triumph also sneak into the equationMark Fattore: Bikesales editor
1. Kawasaki H2/R. No explanation required.
2. Yamaha YZF-R1/M. Updated Japanese sportsbikes aren't exactly thick on the ground these days, so that's cause enough for palpable excitement alone. If it's a ball-tearer, we'll be wetting ourselves.
3. KTM 1290 Super Adventure. The new flagship in KTM's adventure range and, with the company's current strike rate in this genre, plenty of ’em look set to be cutting a swathe through this massive expanse we call Australia.
4. BMW Motorrad S 1000 XR. An S 1000 R with long-travel suspension – this one could really leave your mates behind on a bumpy road.
5. Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. This thing already had wedges and wedges of beautiful power before, but the V4 is now bigger and bolder.
6. Triumph Tiger 800XCx. The most serious of the off-road 'applicants' in the company's updated Triumph 800 range, and we'll be riding it in February in some testing terrain.
Alex Penklis: Bikesales freelancer
1. Kawasaki H2. While I may not get the chance to get on the race version (H2R), I will be pretty content with the road version. 200hp of forced induction thrills is going to make for one pretty exciting riding experience.
2. Yamaha YZF-R1M. Yamaha’s flagship R1 has remained unchanged for a number of years, falling further and further behind its competition -- but not for 2015. The model is all new, 200hp, electronic suspension and rider aids, matched to one of the best sounding superbikes out there. Luckily we won’t have to wait too long to ride it as the world launch is at Sydney Motorsport Park in February.
3. KTM 1290 Super Adventure. Sometimes it is good to get off the beaten track and explore the countryside. And with 160hp and 140Nm mountains will be made into hills, because we all know 160hp on dirt is a good thing (yikes!). Luckily the KTM employs all the rider aids you could ask for to keep everything in check. One nifty feature is it has an optional hill hold. The heated grips and seat will keep you comfortable and a 30-litre tank will allow hours upon hours of exploring. It really could be the go anywhere motorcycle.
Steve Martin: Bikesales freelancer
2015 is going to be a great year if you’re a Yamaha fan. I have had a love affair with the brand from the ’80s but it doesn’t mean I’m not harsh when I need to be. The current R1 might sound great but it hasn’t really ticked all the right boxes. It’s heavy, slow and basic. The new R1 is going to put that right. I hope the new machine delivers the promise we expected from the first big-bang model. The H2R Kawasaki has to be on the list. I’m sure it handles well enough and stops well enough but we all know that’s not the reason we want to ride this bike... 300 horsepower at the rear wheel is unheard of from a production bike.
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Written byBikesales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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