THE BEST & WORST - 2010

Okay, here we go again with my summary of the “best and worst” –  including the bikes that impressed me most and least during this past year. Of course when I make these picks, they’re based on bikes I’ve ridden during that year, not on what is generally available in the market-place. So it’s a fairly narrow selection criteria. If you want to know what other “contenders” there were, just go to the list on the “Bikes” page and check the ones ridden this year.

So, let the choosing begin!

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE BIKE

I rode some good bikes during the year. Quite a varied bunch too, from a 125cc scooter to a big-bore cruiser; and from Honda’s learner-legal retro to Ducati’s top-shelf Monster. I re-visited Ducati’s retro GT1000, and took the new GT version of Triumph’s Sprint for a ride. I even got out on a sportster, Triumph’s award-winning Daytona. And  more. So, what impressed me the most?

Well, I’ll mention a couple of others first. The Honda CB400 was a very impressive bike. As I said in the test, it’s a retro-style machine that is perfect for the beginner, but can also give more experienced riders a bit of fun too. For the type of bike it is, I thought it was remarkably good!

The Triumph Sprint GT is a great bike. As I said in the test, Triumph took everything that was good about the ST and re-engineered it for a better touring experience; and in the process, they probably made it a better bike over-all. So it really is, as I titled the test, a “Greater Triumph”. Still didn’t fall-in-love with it like I did the ’07 ST though.

If someone said, “You can have any one of the bikes you rode this year,” the one I’d pick would be …wait for it … the SYM HD200. Yep, a scooter! No, not in exchange for my main bike, but I’d love to have one of those in the shed to nip down to the shops, or take a run through the suburbs (or to use when my other bike had a flat battery or a puncture – see item below!).

Sure, the sluggish take-off and the brakes (where the back did more than the front), would take a bit of getting used to, but it’s a remarkably good thing, and fun to ride. I don't know how it would go on the highway, but it was quite spritely around town.

Now I should say that I haven’t ridden any other big-wheeled scoots, and I’m sure that others, (and there are a lot of them out there, from various manufacturers), would be every bit as good. But the SYM was the one I did ride, and it was impressive! Not quite the “Most Impressive” though.

So, what was the Most Impressive then? The award for “Most Impressive” this year goes to the Yamaha XVS1100 Classic. Now, in fairness to other makes I should point out that this is the only big-bore Japanese cruiser I’ve ridden. I’ve ridden other cruisers, but not of the big-bore Japanese variety. And I’m pretty sure that others – like one of Suzuki’s Boulevarde range – would be similarly impressive. But, as with the SYM 200 I mentioned above, this is the bike I rode and this is the bike that impressed me!

What impressed me so much about the big V-Star was how good it was to ride. In this respect it far exceeded my expectations.

Now I know that cruisers are a lifestyle / image thing, but this bike proves that you can have that (at least Japan’s version of it) without sacrificing ride and handling and comfort. As I said in the test, for a cruiser I reckon it’s brilliant! And I started forming that opinion within a kilometre of leaving the shop. (See the test for why). And it just kept impressing after that.

The handling amazed me! Most cruisers seem to think that corners are inconvenient bendy-bits in between the straights, which is where they love to be. Smooth straights that is; don’t like those bumpy bits either! But every time I tipped the Yammie into a corner it loved it! Wanted more! “Bring ‘em on; I’m loving this!” it seemed to be saying! No, not like a cruiser at all!

And it handled bumps better than other cruisers too. Instead of the usual harsh thump you get from the rear-end of most cruisers, the Yamaha seemed to be saying, “I might be a bit limited by what I am, but I’ll smooth those bumps out as best I can for you.”

Now this didn’t just happen by accident, Yamaha designed the bike to be good dynamically. It’s not often that the manufacturer’s advertising blurb presents an accurate description of the bike, but with this bike they come close. They say, “This exquisite incarnation of glittering cruiser metal is designed to go, stop and handle with assurance while you enjoy the peace of mind of genuine Yamaha engineering.” Okay, that part about “exquisite incarnation of glittering metal” might be a bit over-the-top, but the rest of it is a pretty good summary of the bike. It really is that good! And that’s why it really was that impressive.

THE LEAST IMPRESSIVE BIKE

It’s often said that there are no bad bikes around today. (Although I’d reckon some of the cheap Chinese ones might come close!). Sometimes, as with the BMW R1200R that got this dubious honour last year, a bike might not be “bad” as such, but a case of inappropriate design, something that I reckon the designers got wrong. Occasionally, as with the Moto Morini that almost took out the gong in 2008, it can be a case of poor quality control. (That bike had the dubious honour of being the only new bike I’ve tested to have a significant rust problem!). But mostly what it comes down to is the bike that impressed me the least when I rode it.

Now I have to admit that sometimes, as with the Yamaha that took the prize in the category above, my impressions can be effected by expectations. As I said above, the Yamaha far exceeded my expectations, and that took it some way towards being the one that impressed me the most. Similarly, my choice for the “Least Impressive” was swayed somewhat by expectations. I expected this bike to be pretty good. Almost every road-test I’d seen had praised it (although some did report a few criticisms). “The Bear” apparently thinks it’s a great bike. I think it even got a “Bike Of The Year” award from a magazine or two. So to think it would receive anyone’s vote of “Least Impressive” might seem incongruous, but as I often say, I call ‘em as I find ‘em! And this was the bike that I found least impressive; it’s the Ducati 696.

Okay, now I know what you’re thinking; “He’s an old bloke who rides a big old-style sit-upright Jap bike, so he didn’t like the lean-forward sporty Italian!” But no, that’s not it. The Triumph Daytona was more diametrically opposed to my own personal ride than the Ducati, but I thought it was a great bike! True, when I got off it I had that feeling you get when you suddenly stand up after sitting with your head between your knees (which is pretty much what I’d just done!), but looked at in the context of what it was, I thought it was brilliant! The riding-position was more unnatural than on the Ducati, but I never felt nervous on it; which I did on the Duke!

But let’s just look at some facts. First up is a lack of equipment. There are no luggage-hooks, no pillion grab-rail, and not even a helmet-lock! That’s pretty poor, really.

And then there are conflicting design philosophies. The engine characteristics (it's lacking in low to mid-range power) mean that it doesn’t really get into its stride and settle down in top gear until you’re doing about 120kph. Similarly, the handling seems a bit iffy at town speeds. Where it’s at its best is out on the highway. But with the afore-mentioned lack of equipment, and a small-ish fuel tank, it isn’t really set up for long open-road distances. So what is it really intended for?

But what I really didn’t like about it was the way, for me, it failed to inspire confidence; or worse than that, made me feel a bit uneasy and “unsafe” even. I felt like this mainly because, as with other bikes in the current Monster range, my head seemed to be poking out in front of the bike. I said in the test that it felt like, “lying on the roof of your house with your head hanging over the side”; then reaching under your shoulders somewhere to steer the thing. And the steering felt a bit quick – to the extent that around town I was trying to sit more upright to take some weight off the bars. At one point during the ride I remember turning into a long sweeper at around 110kph or so and suddenly feeling very nervous, as if I only had to twitch my hands the wrong way, or shift my weight a bit, and I’d be spat forwards – protruding-head first – onto the road! It was, in fact, quite stable, but it made me feel like that.

Now, if you are of the vertically-challenged to vertically-average build, this might not be a problem. It’s a small bike, so this is more an issue for tall folk. But to put this in perspective, the Daytona had every right – being an inherently sportier creation – to feel the same, but it didn’t. I was sitting in a very unnatural position, but it never made me feel nervous; in fact it inspired confidence!

In addition, the issues I had with the 696 were in contrast to the previous entry-level Monsters (695 and 620) that I had found quite pleasant and practical. So, I’m sorry, but the Ducati 696 took the gong as the Least Impressive this year.    

THUMBS UP!

A new segment (or two actually) this year. It’s for bikes, organisations, people etc that I reckon deserve a pat-on-the-back; or alternatively, a kick up the …! (Maybe that’s what I should’ve called it?). So here are a few acknowledgements – and some finger-waggling! – for this year.

Triumph have done some good things this year. The Sprint GT I’ve mentioned already, and it was a good move by Triumph to take this popular sportstourer and tweak it a bit more for touring.

They also deserve a thumbs-up for the Thunderbird. A cruiser that isn’t a clone of that American brand, and has a vertical-twin engine rather than the seemingly mandatory V-twin. The fact that it’s a cruiser that is good to ride and handles well makes what they’ve done even more praiseworthy. If only they’d do something about that monstrous radiator!

Harley Davidson has done some good things with their new 2011 range too. There’s been some thought and imagination put into the styling, but especially bringing praise is the way they’ve done this without entirely putting form over function. Most of the action seems to be in the Sportster range; which sees a couple of new models added. Some still have the chopped-down suspension, but they’ve improved it over the diabolical Nightster. I’ll be giving a couple of them a test-ride soon.

Yamaha get the thumbs-up for their new Super Tenere. Here at last is a real alternative to the iconic and popular BMW R1200GS. The BMW is probably better, but at least it now has a competitor for it’s role as the all-road super-tourer.

Yamaha also get a thumbs-up for keeping the XJR1300 in their line-up for this year and next. Naked bikes have enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent times, and yet most makes have dropped the big-bore nakeds from their range. Gone is the Honda CB1300, the Kawasaki ZRX1200, and now the Suzuki GSX1400. The main reason I like these bikes is that they are a very practical all-round motorcycle; just like practical all-round motorcycles used to be! Now, admittedly, Yamaha didn’t put a lot of effort into this – all they did was change the paint – but the good thing is that it’s still there.

Suzuki gets a thumbs-up for fitting a fairing to the Bandit, turning it into the sportstourer that it already was. Now it is even more so. Looks good too, I reckon!

Doug Sunderland deserves a big thumbs-up for showing us what can be achieved with a positive attitude; in the face of seemingly impossible health circumstances.  

I could add a lot more – particularly on a more personal or local basis, but that’s getting beyond what is intended with this.

THUMBS DOWN

A thumbs-down to any manufacturer (and there are a few of them!) that make their seats harder with each new model. Why?!

Suzuki gets a thumbs-down for dropping the GSX1400. Apparently it wouldn’t meet the strict European emission regs, but that can be cured – as evidenced by Yamaha still producing the XJR. Not only was the big Suzi a good bike, it was still selling very well. So why not still have it in the line-up?

NSW insurance companies get a big thumbs-down for increasing the premium for CTP insurance. I’m sure you’ve all read about this, even if you don’t live that state. There have been all sorts of attempts at justifying this, but the consensus amongst riders is that it’s a rip-off! And the increases in some categories just don’t make sense.

Still in NSW (well that’s where I live, so I notice these things!), the RTA get a big thumbs-down for their efforts at revenue-raising through speeding fines. Mobile (hide-in-the-bushes) speed cameras, lower tolerances for exceeding the limits, and so on; it’s obvious they are doing all they can to increase their revenue. Even the police don’t agree with what they’re doing! Yes, it’s true – as some have said to me – that if you don’t exceed the speed limit then you’ve got no problem with all this. But it’s not that simple. I could present various scenarios to explain, but I’ll just say that it’s putting a stricter, nastier nanny in the already nanny-state.

Still on the RTA, they also get a thumbs-down for lowering speed-limits in what are obviously just attempts at being seen to be doing something for road safety, but which in reality do nothing to solve the problem. Yes, there have been accidents in the areas where they’ve reduced the limits, and speed has been a factor in many of those accidents. But I’d guarantee that in those cases where speed has been a factor, the speed would have been much higher than the former limits.

But they put a few signs up with a lower number on them and then stand back and say, “Look! We’re doing something to stop accidents!” And quietly rake in extra money from fining people who exceed the new limits. In the meantime conscientious riders / drivers are constantly taking their eyes off the road to make sure they’re not breaking the law.

For people in Victoria, let’s give a thumbs-down to the authorities (mainly Vic-Roads) that ping people for exceeding the speed limit by a death-defying 3kph!

Finally, a thumbs-down to motorcycle dealers who put exorbitant mark-ups on parts and accessories. As an example, in my Blog in August I mentioned a friend who got a quote for a Yuasa battery for his Yamaha. The dealer quoted him $470. A local battery shop quoted $399; on exactly the same battery! I’m sure most of you could list similar examples of rip-off prices from dealers. It’s no wonder people are increasingly shopping on-line, and even overseas, for their parts and accessories.   

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT

There were a few, I suppose. Group test-rides, especially those that involve lots of twisting roads, are potentially embarrassing because the other riders are usually faster. (Young hoons!). But I can live with that. And I wasn’t too far behind on those particular rides this year.

Attending the big charity ride in August (see my Blog) in the car rather than on the bike was a bit embarrassing. I saw a few people I knew at the end-point of the ride and had to explain that the bike was at home in the shed with a flat battery. Somehow a puncture – which eliminated the bike from the next “charity” ride, the annual Toy Run – didn’t seem as embarrassing.

I am not typical of the male of our species. It is decreed somewhere that the male of the species will only ever consult the instructions if all else fails. I’m not like that. I read the instructions first.

In the case of the Oggy Knobbs, I read the fitting instructions on-line before I even received them, and then when I did receive them, I considered how they would fit before even opening the package. This brought some confusion. So I sent off an email to the manufacturer. Having done that, I then opened the package. Taking out the mounting bracket and holding it against the bike it was obvious how it fitted. So I had to fire off another email apologising for my haste (stupidity!). The manufacturer replied with a smile saying he was glad I figured it out. The wholesaler, when I related the incident to them, jokingly said it was “un-Australian!” to read the instructions first!

But more embarrassment was to come with the Oggy Knobbs. When the article first hit the web-site, I had misspelt the word “Knobbs”, using just one “b” instead of two. Misspelling the name of a product you’ve been given to review is not a good look! It was, of course, hastily corrected when the error was pointed out. So I guess the Oggy Knobbs incidents combine to take the prize for most embarrassing moment; in particular the misspelling. (The wholesaler didn’t complain though; in fact they were very generous with their praise for the article).

I do try to be precise with spelling and grammar etc, but I was also caught out with another typo; this time in the story of Doug Sunderland. According to the story, he suffered from a cancer that had something to do with lying down; “prostrate” cancer. Oops! That was corrected also.  

MOST MEMORABLE RIDE

May was a good month. If you go to my Blog and scroll down to May you’ll see 4 photos that illustrate at least some aspects of what makes riding so enjoyable – especially at that time of year.

If I have to pick a “Most Memorable” ride from the year then it would probably come from the rides I did during that month. Although a recent day-ride I did into the Southern Tablelands of NSW, through Goulburn, was a very enjoyable – and memorable – one too.

But getting back to the rides I did in May, I enjoyed the one that took me through Cobbity, and past this intriguing historic church. (It’s actually one of the oldest churches in Australia). As far as I can recall, I’d never been through the town or that immediate area before. So new roads, new sights to see etc. Always enjoyable.

Maybe the pick for “Most Memorable” would be the one that took me to a lunch-stop at Greenwell Point; a small town by the water. It began with me heading into the Southern Highlands region, then changing my mind and heading to the coast. I’d heard about a bowling club with a great location right beside the water, and had long been intending to go there and check it out. So I made a sudden decision to go there instead.

Getting to the coast involved a ride down (and up) a couple of great mountain passes, and some very scenic countryside.

Having gone on this unintended detour though, by the time I got to the club the bistro was just closing. The lady who operated it was cleaning down the tables. I asked if the bistro was closed, and she confirmed it was; but offered to make me some lunch anyway. The grill was off, but she could do some toasted sandwiches. I told her that would be fine. So I sat down near a window and admired the view.

Lunch was good, the staff were friendly, and the view was terrific. For the return journey I rode along an enjoyable undulating, winding road through a forest. The only down-side to this was that I was riding into the sun, and regular signs advising of the dangers of wildlife kept my eyes darting from one side of the road to the other, hoping to spot any errant kangaroos through the haze of light shimmering on my visor.

I’ve been back to the same place three or four times since – although not via the Southern Highlands detour! The nice lady at the bistro even remembered me; and the riding has always been good. So yes, that’s my pick for this year.

Click here to look at what got the nod in these categories last year. And there are links to previous years, so you can follow it back if you want to.

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