Motorcycle of the Year 2011

With the motorcycle industry still trying to creep out of its recession-hit malaise, manufacturers have kept their taps only half cocked, with a slower flow of new bikes being introduced. But the motorcycles that have made their way to dealerships in the last 12 months have been category-crushing and stunningly well developed. Some are on the technological bleeding edge, while others are simpler and more value-packed.

After riding everything this year, from $4000 sportbikes to $25K luxo-barges, here’s our selections of the best motorcycles of 2011.

Motorcycle of the Year 
BMW K1600GT/GTL

BMW’s new K1600 platform is nothing less than impressive, whether discussing its marvelous inline-Six motor, its lengthy list of technologically advanced features, or its beguiling sporting performance for a comfy touring mount of its size. And, amazingly, the K16’s underpinnings give it the ability to compete simultaneously with luxury-touring bikes and serious sporty tourers. The K16GT was judged to be the best sport-touring bike in a comparo with Kawasaki’s Concours 14, while the slightly more relaxed K16GTL made Honda’s Gold Wing shake in its heavier, well-worn boots in this comparison.

The K1600s are most notable for their sensational inline-Six engines, the 1645cc powerplant proving to have an incredibly deep well of power while being uncannily smooth. The motorcycle world hasn’t seen an I-Six since the early 1980s, and BMW has used advanced architecture and a relatively small bore size to create an engine much narrower than a Honda CBX or Kawasaki K1300, allowing for the steeper lean angles its stiff aluminum frame allows. As a bonus, it has what is perhaps the sweetest exhaust note of any production motorcycle.

BMW has blown apart what we thought we knew about touring bikes, whether talking about the GTL pictured here or the slightly sportier GT. Gearheads might think they’re worth their $20K-plus price tags solely for the sonic delight trumpeted by the only inline six-cylinder motorcycle engine currently in production

And yet the mellifluous and powerful engine is just one part of a wonderful touring package, excelling in comfort, handling and a plethora of standard and optional amenities, several of which are unique to the K16s. BMW’s clever and effective look-through-corners adaptive headlight and innovative multi-controller handlebar wheel thoroughly impressed us, and the swing-out wind deflectors in their fairings are gracefully simple yet incredibly effective.

While the GTL isn’t quite as two-up comfortable as the Gold Wing, and the GT is heavier and more expensive than most big sport-tourers, both machines expand the possibilities and capabilities of both categories. And for the GTL to be priced competitively with the Gold Wing is yet another significant accomplishment for the German brand. The K16s are stunning, spectacular, appealing, capable and effective, easily earning a combined place as our Motorcycle of the Year.