One of the things I love about this blog are reader comments. And as we approach the end of the decade, I think of 2009 as a year when your opinions were louder and sharper than ever... and I mean that in a good way.
With that in mind, I've compiled a list of the Ten Most Controversial Motorcycles of 2009*.
Check it out, and let me know (politely) if you think there's anything I missed by leaving a comment here, or by using this handy form.
Related:
* A note from Harley-Davidson validly pointed out that the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide is in its fifth iteration, and continually sells through its allotment. I rarely change article content once it has posted, but after some reflection I swapped out the CVO with the Harley V-Rod, since both bikes were the target of controversy but the V-Rod was arguably less popular.
Photo montage © Basem Wasef
Hi
How about the US market Royal Enfield C5, which, horror of horrors, does not have a kickstarter!
Season’s greetings!
Jorge
Jorge,
An Enfield without a kickstarter? That’s downright blasphemous!
Season’s greetings, and happy holidays to you.
Basem
RE: SCARY bikes
A motorcycle that is fast…even as fast as few of those mentioned need not be scary just because it’s ballistic. 175 ~ 200HP is a thing of beauty in a good chassis…which these bikes have.
Every motorcycle has a hinge in the middle (AKA steering head), however, every once in a while along comes a bike with multiple hinges that is scary on a level that has to be experienced to be appreciated.
Stuff an old H1 or H2 or a CBX in to a corner real hard and you’ll see God.
They are truly evil handling bikes with skinny tires, small forks, crummy shocks, nice flexible frames, no ground clearance and wayyyyy too much HP for their own good.
Never lose sight of the #1 rule of modern sport bikes…Too much HP is almost enough! Merry Christmas!
My Ducati ST4s has sexy bodywork? Check. Race-bred Öhlins suspension? Check. Brembos so powerful they’ll throw you over the handlebars if you’re not careful? Check. Oh, and that 120 Hp L-twin between my legs is nothing to sneeze at, either. My Ducati’s ST4s to me is so hyper focused and overachieving that virtually everything I do at its controls feels ham-fisted. Never mind its $16,000 price tag. To me the ST4s’s fierce power and laser-sharp focus makes it a terrifying ride, but ultimately inspiring. Going up through the gears it reaches 100+ mph in no time and I have to back off the throttle while looking out for the CHP!