The end of the year is a time not only to reflect upon the bounty of the last 12 months but also to look expectantly toward the future.
Looking back, we gaze upon a crop of machines that left an indelible tread mark on the year 2000. Looking ahead, technology and human ingenuity have brought a new batch of bikes that have our throttle hands twitching in anticipation.
Each year around this time we pay homage to the most exciting bikes of the previous model year and look ahead with lip-smacking joy at the most scintillating new street rides available for spring delivery. We call this list “The Wheelies,” and the 2nd annual edition contains some real gems, thanks to intense competition among the manufacturers to attract consumer interest in the biggest bike boom since the ’70s.
(Prices reflect 2001 m.s.r.p.)
2000 Wheelies
– Suzuki GSX-R750: What would happen if you could combine the weight and handling of a 600 with the wallop of a 1-liter superbike? Many have sought the answer, but Suzuki solved it with its all-new 750. With a claimed dry weight of 366 pounds (17 pounds lighter than its 2000-model 600-cc sportbike) horsepower figures in the low 120s (about 10 more than a Ducati 996), the new Gixxer was a winner on the sales charts, street, strip and track. 749-cc inline 4, $9,449.
– Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce: Milwaukee’s newest cruiser was all the rage at every Harley rally or poker run. Seldom did we see a stationary Deuce that hadn’t attracted a crowd of admirers. Motor-wise, it shares the same compelling story as the rest of the ’00 Big Twins–an all-new twin-cam design that’s bigger, smoother and more reliable than the Evolution engine that preceded it. It’s looks and style that set the Deuce apart. The first things you notice are the stretched-out fuel tank, sliced-down rear fender and big, skinny front wheel. Look more and you’ll find surprise after tasty chrome surprise. 1,450-cc V-twin, $16,235.
– Aprilia RSV Mille R: The motorcycle boom of the ’90s worked out well for Noale, Italy-based Aprilia. Ten years ago, about the only Americans who knew Aprilia were die-hard fans of international racing who watched the small company’s 250 dominate dirt and road races across the continent. Flash-forward a decade and we find Aprilia growing up nicely. The past year saw track versions of Aprilia’s 1-liter Mille not only competing, but also winning World Superbike races with Troy Corserat the controls. The street-going RSV Mille R shows its track roots at every touch, from the upside-down Showa fork to the tight aerodynamics. 998-cc V-twin, $17,229.
Honorable mentions
– BMW R1150GS: The world’s best-handing all-purpose (dual-sport) motorcycle gets bigger and better for 2000. 1,130-cc opposed twin, $14,500.
– Honda RC51: World Superbike-winning precision for the masses costs $1,000 more in ’01. 999-cc V-twin, $10,999.
– Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R: Pre-launch hype suggested this would be the world’s fastest production motorcycle, but when all was said and done, Suzuki’s 1999 Hayabusa remained the top-speed king by a few miles per hour in cycle magazine tests. Ensuing marketing nightmare means good deals can be found on 12R overstock. Buy a Muzzy’s titanium exhaust pipe with the savings and laugh all the way to the finish line. 1,198-cc inline 4, $11,999.
2001 Wheelies
– Honda GL1800 Gold Wing: The last time Honda reworked its king-of-the-road touring bike, in 1988, there was a movie star living in the White House. In the ensuing years, the venerable GL1500, the first bike with 6 cylinders and an electric reverse gear, grew a bit long in the tooth; it was so good the other manufacturers gave up trying to top it. Then in 1999, BMW struck back with a stylish new K1200LT, which raisedthe luxury-touring bar. The new Wing looks to leapfrog the big Bimmer for ’01 with a new look, a bigger motor, improved handing and great creature comforts such as a key fob that unlocks saddle and trunk bags remotely. This Wing is fast, too. Triple-digit horsepower and torque numbers result in quarter-mile times in the 12s. 1,832-cc opposed 6, $17,499.
– Yamaha FZ-1: The early ’90s saw bikes get perhaps a little too focused. Cruisers got better at cruising, sportbikes got better at curve-carving, but it seemed like standards–those wonderful, comfortable, do-it-all machines–were a thing of the past. Then Suzuki found traction in the market with its Bandit 1200, and Kawasaki followed up with its superb ZRX1100. Both bikes’ claim to fame is the marriage of bulletproof, race-derived engines with comfortable ergonomics. Yamaha is late to the game with this idea, but on paper and in photos, we like their execution best. The FZ-1, due in showrooms this spring, is powered by Yamaha’s mindblowing R1 motor, re-tuned for more power and torque down low in the mid-range–right where you want it for the street. 998-cc inline 4, $8,499.
– Triumph Bonneville: Last year when Kawasaki rolled out its fun little W650, which looks for all the world like the long-extinct Bonneville of the ’60s, we figured it was only a matter of time before Triumph gave us the real deal. Turns out Britain’s reincarnated motorcycle company had been planning to do just that since 1998, and at last it’s ready. While the Kawasaki’s nice touches–such as a redundant kickstarter and rubber fork gaiters–make it look more like the Bonnie of old from across the parking lot, the new Bonneville says Triumph on the gas tank, and that says a lot about the health of the industry. Like the W650, we reckon this is a perfect bike for beginners and those returning to the sport after taking 20 or 30 years off. 790-cc parallel twin, $6,999.
Honorable mentions
– Kawasaki ZRX1200R: In 1999, Team Green gave us the ZRX1100, a modern-day superbike in the mold of the machine Eddie Lawson raced two decades earlier. The update is even better and faster. 1,164-cc inline 4, $7,899.
– Suzuki GSX-R600: Good news! Suzuki has done to its 600 this year what it did to its 750 last year. 599-cc inline 4, $7,999.
– Ducati Monster 600: Finally, a true entry-level bike from Italy. And yes, it’s still sexy. 583-cc V-twin, $5,999.
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Brian Neale is sitting around waiting for the snow to melt. Drop him a line at motojournalist@hotmail.com.
