A Look Back at Five Most Exciting Motorcycles From 2016

For some, motorcycles are a lot more than just a transport from A to B. For some, their motorcycles are their cathedrals, their tool to tranquility, their companion. Motorcycle connoisseurs, be it sport or cruise or adventure bikes, share a common comradery. The following is an attempt to bring together a list of the best of some of the motorcycle segments.Suzuki Hayabusa

We begin with the apple of the eye for most superbike enthusiasts, the Suzuki Hayabusa. Many believe it to be the ultimate sportbike. With a single twist of the throttle, it delivers mind numbing acceleration and crisp gear shifts make for effortless top-end charge.

It has a lightweight and rigid twin-spar aluminum frame, that gives it impressive handling, and a suspension that provides exceptional control in tight corners, reassuring a smooth ride on the highways.

The Hayabusa is powered by a massive 1340cc in-line 4-cylinder fuel-injected, liquid-cooled DOHC engine, that churns 197 bhp @ 9500 rpm and produces 155 Nm of torque @ 7200 rpm.

It may be heavy at 266 kg of kerb weight, but is capable of doing 312 Kmph on full chat. Now, that is high speed touring.

Then there's Harleys. Harley Davidson riders almost follow a religion of their own. A fantastic addition their line up was the Street Glide Special, perhaps capable of doing cross-continent tours. It's massive size is only complimented by a powerful Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine (1,745 cc that produces 150 Nm of torque @ 3,250 rpm). The engine is a visual treat in its own.

It comes packed with features, so many that it's almost like describing a car. The Special features a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated GPS and the BOOM! Box 6.5 GT audio system, standard ABS, a gloss black inner fairing and color-matched fairing skirt.

The Glide makes an ideal touring cruiser with deep contoured bucket seats along with a narrow neck that relieves pressure on the thighs and provides more back support and comfort.

Finally, we get to talk about sheer speed and looks to kill for. Super bike enthusiasts would agree the H2 does not just catch your attention but casts a spell and make you keep drooling. It's been designed to rip through air, which builds resistance on high speeds.

The H2 has big speed and so it needed bodywork that both minimised drag and added control when riding at high speed. Its powered by a 998 cc, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke in-line four, that churns out 197 bhp @ 11,000 rpm and 134 Nm of torque @ 10,500 rpm.

The H2 surprisingly does not have a forward-canted stance like most supersport models, because Kawasaki believes that the speeds that the brand intends to take the H2 to requires a more neutral, almost flat riding stance. The bike can do 331–400 km/h for which it took Kawasaki a lot of research to give the H2 a body that was as aerodynamically sleek as possible.

It's safe to say the Ducati XDiavel represents the best of both worlds - it provides low speed relaxing journeys and gives out very high performance too. Being Italian design, there's plenty of technical sophistication.

Also read: Ducati XDiavel and XDiavelS Launched in India

But when we say low speed relaxing journeys, it does not in any way mean that it is a slouch, the engine (1,262cc four-stroke V-twin engine with six-speed gearbox) produces 156 hp @ 9500 rpm and 128,9 Nm of torque @ 5000 rpm. It's capable of doing a top speed of 240 kmph.

Also, it covers the needs of a cruiser, with a comfortable riding stance and a total range of approximately 250 km on one full tank.

Enough with talks of big numbers on speed and power, let's talk fun - the Triumph Street Triple. Brimming with three-cylinder character, the Speed Triple is nimble on narrow city streets or wide open country roads.

The potent in-line three cylinder 675cc engine delivers midrange torque of 57.3 Nm and 79.3 PS of peak power, that allows effortless acceleration upto a screaming 11,054 rpm. Its riding stance, handling balance and suspension ensure stability and easy-to-do maneuvering.

Also read: Triumph Speed Triple Review : The Naked Monster Madness