The 10 Most Controversial Motorcycles of 2009

Talk about a tumultuous year. Buell’s 1125R took the AMA Sportbike championship in a class dominated by bikes with roughly half the engine displacement, and race fans responded by screaming bloody murder. Adding insult to injury, the bitter aftertaste from the controversial victory turned out to be the least of Erik Buell’s worries, as Harley-Davidson discontinued his eponymous brand shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, remaining streetgoing 1125Rs are reputed to be selling for pennies on the dollar, while Mr. Buell continues to keep his racing dreams alive with his socially volatile, liquid-cooled sportbike.

One of 2009’s most controversial motorcycles isn’t even a motorcycle, really. The BRP Can-Am Spyder RS has long prided itself (okay, prided itself for a couple years) on being a three-wheeled offering for those who choose to opt out of the two-wheeled paradigm, and the Spyder RT and RT-S took that principle and added a touring twist. Problem was, the RT’s car-like attributes took some of the fun out the equation, and its powerplant had only slight revisions that didn't quite match up to the nearly 1,000 lb chassis. The RT gave two-wheeled enthusiasts yet another reason to decry the so-called “backwards trike” phenomenon, but its proponents remain as enthusiastic as ever.

The six year-old Ducati Multistrada was a beloved—if long-in-the-tooth—sport tourer that somehow never quite lived up to its name, which happens to translate to “many roads.” Enter the 2010 Multistrada 1200, which Ducati introduced as a high-tech, traction control and ABS-equipped enduro that’s really capable of hitting the dirt. Problem? Its proboscis… its beak… its schnoz... is, well, aesthetically controversial, to say the least. This one’s a case of prejudiced contention; even if you haven’t yet ridden this latest, greatest Duc, chances are you’ve got an opinion about it.

It’s unclear if the Ducati Vyper will even make it to market as suspected in 2010, but this chiseled power cruiser concept is making waves for a number of salacious reasons. For starters, its most probable target is the Porsche-powered Harley V-Rod, a fact certain to get most Ducatisti riled up on principal alone. Secondly, said Ducati fans are prone to scoff at anything cruiser-related, and this raked out ride embraces an aesthetic that doesn’t quite vibe with the Italian manufacturer’s sensibilities-- even if it resembles a laid-back Streetfighter. If the Vyper sees production, anticipate an entertaining powder keg style reaction from Ducati die-hards.

Harley-Davidson's V-Rod was controversial enough when it was introduced in 2001, as the power cruiser attempted to lure a younger crop of buyers through Harley's first ever use of a liquid-cooled engine. But the move only angered die-hards and confounded sportbike enthusiasts. The sportier Street Rod variant offered greater lean angles and less fork rake for 2006-2007, but didn't sell strongly enough to remain in Harley's lineup. Fast forward to 2009, and the V-Rod Muscle earned some positive attention thanks to supermodel Marisa Miller. But Harley's abrupt departure from the sportbike market redirected attention towards the fact that the V-Rod still hasn't managed to settle comfortably into either half its dual personality.

The motorcycle industry buzzed when Honda announced their DN-01 was coming to North America, as word had it the quirky cruiser was being forced upon the U.S. market by Honda headquarters. U.S. product planners allegedly warned the Japanese that the $15,599 bike wouldn’t sell here, while others quipped that DN-01 stood for “Do Not Own One.” Unfortunately for the automatic transmission-equipped bike, the decline in motorcycle sales has made the DN-01 more a victim of bad timing and ambitious pricing than anything else. But if you think the DN-01 is controversial, take a look at our next featured bike, the Fury.

Most Honda fans don’t mind when the notoriously conservative Japanese manufacturer steps out of their comfort zone, but this one came from left field. What started as a seemingly ludicrous internet rumor actually ended up being true: Honda was building a chopper. “A decade too late,” decried some. “Real choppers are air-cooled and don’t have shaft drive,” protested others. Yet another crop simply dismissed the raked-out bike as too poseur-ish for words. But the last laugh might be on the critics, as the $12,999 Fury happens to be a reliable, well-priced custom alternative that’s unexpectedly appropriate for these recessionary times.

The naked Suzuki SV650 enjoyed a cult following among track day junkies, so imagine their rage when the venerable middleweight was discontinued. Its replacement? The quirky looking Gladius. Not only is the oddly-named Gladius equipped with a strange-looking exhaust pipe and more than a few plasticky bits, it also lacks the ground clearance to make itself viable on the race track. “I knew the SV650,” you can practically hear Suzuki fans proclaiming to the Gladius, “and you’re no SV650!”

Victory has long been referred to as the “other” American bike company, so it’s easy to understand why they’re eager to stray from their Harley-like reputation. Though powered by a traditional air-cooled V-twin, Victory’s CORE concept threw together unlikely material combinations like carbon fiber and mahogany wood, packaging the goods in a sand cast aluminum hardtail frame. But was it a step in the right direction? At least based on some of your comments, it seems the unusual design divides more than it unites.

The future of motorcycling may be electric, but try convincing combustion-loving riders that a brave new electrified world is a place they’ll want to live in. Not only do electrics lack the comforting chug-a-lug (or potato-potato) sounds of a regular engine, their relatively short range, high price, and protracted charge times can dampen two-wheeled fun. Consider this less an indictment of the Zero S in particular, and more a perception issue that plagues brands including Brammo, Mission Motors, and the like. While they offer seamless torque and quiet operation, we’re hoping battery technology will improve rapidly enough to sway public opinion so that “controversial” isn’t the first word that comes to mind at the mention of electric bikes.