So Motorcyclist's choice for their Motocycle of the Year this time is the Kawasaki Versys.



It's one thing to acknowledge the existence of non-european bikes, but to declare one bike of the year? Inconceivable.  Sad to see them go out like this; almost like losing a friend to dementia. 

make the beast with two backs....I was going to post up something similar....If can't put together a decent magazine at least fill it with T&A. The Brits do both, very well.

i don't get that magazine, I only get MCN, but what was their reasoning behind choosing that bike?



Andy

I really don't know anything about this bike.

First impressions. Mufflers are clever Buell knockoffs - but it's got a big block ass, and the front end is just hideous. 1990s mirrors and indicator need to go too.

It must have a REALLY good engine, to get bike of the year.

You guys are funny and sound a lot like the Harley guys

If someone does not have the same viewpoint as you they must not know what they are talking about! I always thought the letters I read in the American magazines where made up where if someone's favourite bike did not win whatever comparison it was in, they would threaten to cancel their subscription or never buy the magazine again. Seems I was wrong! 

I love my Ducatis, have had a few a over the last twenty years, but for the vast majority of bike riders out there they simply do not deliver what they need or want

long haired lout

what is your avatar?

Quote from: GotDuc on August 03, 2008, 05:09:45 AM
long haired lout

what is your avatar?

Someone, not me has messed around with the Public Enemy logo.

Quote from: long haired lout on August 03, 2008, 05:05:27 AM
You guys are funny and sound a lot like the Harley guys

If someone does not have the same viewpoint as you they must not know what they are talking about! I always thought the letters I read in the American magazines where made up where if someone's favourite bike did not win whatever comparison it was in, they would threaten to cancel their subscription or never buy the magazine again. Seems I was wrong! 

I love my Ducatis, have had a few a over the last twenty years, but for the vast majority of bike riders out there they simply do not deliver what they need or want

I'll freely admit that I am a ducati snob.  Proud of it, too.  I sent them an email clearly stating their judgement was obviously suspect, and I would be having nothing more to do with them (like I ever bought that crappy mag anyway) unless they print a retraction naming the Monster S2R as bike of the year for 2008 and 2007.  And I highly suggest you do the same - mcmail@sourceinterlink.com

Let's face it that Versys or whatever is a little commuter POS.  Compared to righteously awesome bikes like the beemer HP2, KTM Super Enduro and Adventure, and of course just about any Ducati, I can't see it holding up in any way. 

The British mags positively slay consumerist whore rags like Motorcyclist.

MCN's review from Nov 2007:
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval/200711-versystest.pdf

it's all about the benjamins.  always has been. 

I stopped reading motorcyclist about a year and 1/2 ago....seems I'm not missing much. Pity, 'cause it used to have a bit of an edge to it once.

 I gave up on my Motorcyclist Mag subscription @ a year ago but forgot to tell the 'ole lady cuz she renewed  it.

Pretty much just Performance Bike /Bike Mag / and TWO around here......

Quote from: factorPlayer on August 03, 2008, 09:54:01 AM
I'll freely admit that I am a ducati snob.  Proud of it, too. 

+1 I fall into that category as well.

I was dumfounded when I saw they chose that stupid bike as MOTY. I have a subscription because it was given as a gift. I still enjoy some of the content and they do seem to be including more Ducatis since Catterson took over as EIC.

I don't know if you guys noticed, or even read that far into the story but they chose that stupid B-King as the best Naked bike. I was like WTF?? The two dealerships that sell the Versys and the B-King can't give away either one.

It seems that C_rex is correct, it's all about the money.

I subscribe to a ton of mags and read a ton more that I pick up with varying degrees of consistency, and all I can say about Motorcyclist is duuuulllll.  Since Brian Catterson took the helm a while back it's gone through a lot of changes, to say the least.  I agree that it used to have a bit of an edge to it that is certainly lacking now.  Catterson came from Cycle World and seems to be trying to reach for their broad appeal by trying to hit the entire riding public with a giant swath of articles every month, rather than focus on the semi-hardcore street (slightly edgy) content and editorial slant they used to have.  Whether it's resulted in any increase in readership, I have no idea.  But I do know that I read it less and less frequently than I used to.  Their road tests seem more like  short snapshots rather than in-depth tests, and they're certainly trying to appeal to the (dull) middle ground that the Versys is meant to appeal to.  Not to knock the bike, because it's certainly capable of being a do-everything kind of mount that can get the job done for a great many riders.  But of course in my riding world such a bike comes from Italy and goes by the name Multistrada.

I've ridden it and it's a really nice bike. Plenty of power, easy to ride, and a good platform for a tourer. Don't know about Motorcycle of the Year though.