Words: Gentleman's Journal
There’s nothing like wrapping up a working week, grabbing your helmet and whipping the cover off your bike ready for an adventure. Road trips are exciting at any time, but switch from four to two wheels and you’ll get an added touch of pioneering spirit. And here are the best bikes you can fire up this year…
Honda Rebel 500
Launches last year, this raw, simple bike from kings of reliability, Honda, is custom cool and the perfect cruiser. A chopped ‘bobber’ styled motorcycle that links authentic, traditional looks with modern technology, it i powered by a parallel twin-cylinder engine, and offers a relaxed riding position – perfect for those long, unplanned roadtrips.
Triumph Bonneville Bobber
“Darker, Meaner, Stronger,” reads Triumph’s summation of their newest Bonneville. Defining capability, iconic silhouette and engineering innovation – with even more blacked-out muscular style, more imposing poise, presence and attitude, and an even higher level of specification – this is the bike-builder’s most distinctively stripped-back creation in quite some time, and we can’t get enough of it.
Mutt Mongrel
Bred to be a city tool, this nippy, exciting little machine is riding the wave of new contemporary street trackers. And, whilst it may share some of the lines with iconic bikes of old, there is none of the buffed chrome or pretty paint here – instead there’s a satin black to give this small machine the punch its bullet proof 4-stroke motor promises.
Hookie Jackal
Hookie take existing bikes, and then make them their own. This Jackal, based on a 1980 Yamaha SR250 SE, is a bike to behold. The frame has been cleaned and reduced, the peanut-tank given a modified tunnel and the electronics fully overhauled to bring it up to modern standards. What’s more, little touches such as the leather straps and a custom exhaust elevate this even further above the base model, and onto our wishlist.
Triumph Street Twin
Hailed as Triumph’s most accessible Bonneville, the Street Twin is their most contemporary – not to mention fun – bike. Designed with the spirits of individualism and customisation in mind, this is a rare case of a mainstream bike-maker creating a machine begging for you to put your own stamp on it. With over 150 new stylish accessories available and a set of ‘inspiration’ kits, to use as your starting point, the possibilities are endless.
Hookie ROYT
Another creation of the handcrafted motorcycle builders, this Hookie ROYT has risen from the body of a 1972 Honda CB250. Cleaned, with a shortened rear frame and freshly-hidden battery box, the bodywork – from gas tank to seat cowl – has been customised, and the motor has seen a complete rebuild. A special paint with silver metallic and flat black finishes completes the look – one of effortless retro cool.
Indian Scout Bobber
Slammed stance. Chopped fenders. Knobbly tires. Blacked-out and stripped-down. The Scout Bobber is no frills, all attitude – and that’s exactly why we like it. A shameless slab of no-holds-barred engineering, unapologetically noisy and mechanical. Grab on and hold fast, this is a bike that means business.
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401
Forget everything you know about contemporary street motorcycles, the Vitpilen range from Husqvarna is innovative and progressive. Developed with a fresh perspective, reduced, pure and without industry influence, these motorcycles challenge all current design trends and use a clean, smart and less complicated way of creating a motorcycle. And they don’t look half bad either…
BMW R nineT Racer
The BMW R nineT Racer lets you relive the era of legendary superbikes. Far removed from obsessive retro romanticism, but rather on a customisable bike with innovative technology. Crouched behind the striking half fairing, both hands tight on the low-slung handlebar grips, you can feel the powerful boxer work, you hear its unmistakeable roar.
Kawasaki W800
There’s something about retro styling that really gets our motors running. This, the W800 from two-wheeled wizards Kawasaki, ticks all the boxes. It mixes high tech with heritage in one sleek package, and is available in a metallic ocean blue/pearl alpine white colour combo that just makes sense.
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