Top five models for 2019

1 BMW S 1000 RR

Worth the wait since our first spy shots of 2017, BMW’s S1000RR is the first superbike to use fully variable valve timing and lift. It promises to start a revolution.

2 Ducati Panigale V4 R

Desperate to regain the WSB crown, Ducati has packed near-MotoGP levels of tech into a production bike that sneaks under the homologation price cap, creating a 1000cc V4 that revs to 16,500rpm.

3 Harley-Davidson LiveWire

A landmark; the first serious attempt at a large, electric production bike from a mainstream manufacturer. Who’d have thought Harley would be the first off the mark?

4 Triumph Scrambler 1200

Retro done right. Strikingly handsome, the new 1200 unashamedly mixes modern a USD fork, radial brakes and  electronics with spot-on styling from the glory days of Triumph’s desert racers.

5 Honda CBR650R

Not the most exciting new bike to appear this year, but I have a good feeling about the CBR650R. It’s a return to practicality after a decade of track-focused four-cylinder supersports.