Harleys Softail range has long been a favourite, not just of mine, but a vast mob of Kiwi riders in this country. The Blackline is a new version that is arguably the best-looking American bike ever, and it weighs in 30kg lighter thanks to a new frame that better isolates the rider from engine vibration. However, what really makes the Blackie stand out from the Softail pack is the way the rear indicators also do triple-duty as taillights and brake lights. It is an innovative design feature that cleans up the look of the bike along with the paint-it-black-then- lacquer-it theme of the powertrain and other components. If a cruiser's appeal is always to be judged on its looks first and foremost, the $28,300 Blackline will never disappoint.
Best Tourer: BMW R1200GS
BMW might have added a new fully-equipped 1.6 litre, six- cylinder tourer to its catalogue in 2011, but the twin-cylinder R1200GS would still be my first choice for any inter-island trip around this country. Lighter, more agile, and more tolerant of variations in road surfaces, it still is capable of carting lots of stuff with its well-designed hard luggage, and the weather protection bears comparison with its more expensive new showroom rival. Adaptable electronic suspension, a revised boxer-twin engine that both sounds and performs better, and a long list of options (sat-nav, spotlights, kitchen sink and so on) make the $28,302 R1200GS a bike capable of performing a wide range of exploration duties with considerable verve.
Best Sportsbike: Kawasaki ZX-10R
The Japanese fightback for sportsbike supremacy starts here, with a resurgent ZX-10R that is as rideable and refined as its forebears were vicious, demanding and treacherous. The complete about face in the manners of Kawasaki's flagship sportsbike hasn't come at any loss in performance however.
The Ten is faster than ever, with a 190+bhp engine to propel its reduced mass, and terrific brakes and suspension to match. However, the real progress is found in the increased ease with which the rider can extract the Kawasaki's performance.
Best of the best?
The little Honda, for the CBR250R brings some much- needed spark to a sector of the bike market, where mediocrity and stodginess have become the accepted norm.
Parts of a Street Bike
Street bike, also known as naked bikes, are a very basic type of motorcycle. They resemble dirt bikes but feature parts designed for street driving rather than off-road use. Street bikes also feature smaller engines and fewer accessories than sport bikes or long-distance cruisers, making them among the least-expensive motorcycle options.Frame
The center of a street bike is its frame. Motorcycle frames are made from welded metal, and street bikes use lightweight construction to achieve a strong frame at a low cost. A street bike's frame includes connecting points for many of its other parts, including the seat, front forks, handlebars and engine mount.
Engine
Street bikes usually employ a dual-cylinder internal combustion gasoline engine. A four-stroke engine is the most common configuration, operating much like a typical car engine with intake, compression, ignition and exhaust cycles. The engine uses one spark plug for each cylinder and two or more valves per cylinder for intake and exhaust. Street bikes may feature either an air-cooled engine, with fins on its cylinders to create more surface area and keep the engine cool while driving, or liquid-cooled engines, with a front radiator and pump system like that found in a car.
Fuel Tank
The fuel tank on a street bike is positioned directly above the engine, in front of the rider. Street bikes feature small fuel tanks that may only hold a few gallons. However, this may give the rider an even greater effective range than the rider of a larger, heavier bike with a larger fuel tank but poorer fuel economy.
Wheels
Street bikes use wheels in the 15-inch to 18-inch range. Wheels may be forged, cast or spoked, and carry rubber tires with rubber inner tubes and a mild tread pattern for on-road driving. So-called hybrid street bikes may come with a more aggressive tread pattern for off-road performance. Each wheel includes a disc brake with a single caliper for slowing the bike.
Seat
A street bike's saddle is usually designed for a single rider, though dual-rider saddles are also available. The seat-and-handlebar configuration place the rider in an upright position with foot pegs directly below the seat. Street-bike seats may include a storage space for tools and often conceal the battery, which powers the onboard electrical system.
Driveline
A street bike uses a chain for its final drive, and a manual transmission with a pedal shifter and handlebar clutch lever. The transmission may include anywhere between three and six gears. The chain drive attaches the transmission, located near the center of the frame, to the rear wheel, which is the drive wheel.
Controls
A street-bike rider has access to a number of controls. These include a foot brake, a hand brake, the pedal shifter and hand clutch. Street bikes also include switches for engaging the headlight and turn signals. Some models may come equipped with a radio, but such amenities are not common on street bikes.
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