10 of the best bikes for different types
Are you the sort that likes to be different and doesn't follow the pack. Want something that isn't necessarily the best but oozes character and stands out from the crowd?
BMW HP2 Sport
The essentials: 1,170cc, air-cooled, 8-valve boxer twin, 128bhp, 84ftlb, 178kg, 160mph
Why is it different: It's arguably BMW's first proper sportsbike. Only 150 were brought into the UK. Don't be fooled by the flat-twin engine, this isn't a tweaked R1200S. The HP2 Sport is what happens when BMW gave their technical boffins in the R&D department carte blanche and an open cheque book. Based on BMW's 24-Hour Endurance Racer; a higher compression ratio, forged pistons, a quickshifter and close ratio gearbox are just the start. The HP2 Sport is dripping with techno-porn; carbon fibre fairings, self-supporting seat unit, milled aluminium calipers and forged alloy wheels. It was the bike that paved the way for the S1000RR and is as exotic as a Brazilian lap-dancer sipping a Pisco Sour on a zebra-skin rug on the deck of your solar-powered catamaran.
Definitely buy one if: You're a speed junkie who can speak fluent latin.
Price: £14,495 new. From around £11,500 second hand.
Read BMW HP2 Sport review
Track T-800 CDI
The essentials: Three cylinder, 800cc turbo-charged diesel, 50bhp, 80ftlb, 214kg, 110mph
Why is it different: It's a diesel motorcycle and that, should just about be that. But it's not. The Track is Dutch-made, so that's another tick for your individual list. It's shaft-drive and uses a CVT, automatic gearbox - no clutch levers here. Track claim the T800 can deliver 140mpg. The only counter to that is the asking price.
Definitely buy one if: You'd rather put on another jumper than turn the heating on.
Price: £15,995
Brammo Empulse
The essentials: Permanent Magnet AC (PMAC) - Water Cooled, 270A, 47ftlb, 213kg, 100mph
Why is it different: It's an electric motorcycle, which means you're already different to 99.9% of other bikers, but you'll also be different to most other electric motorcycle owners too, as the Empulse is the first electric motorcycle to feature a water-cooled power train. The mechatronic propulsion unit has been designed to emulate the feeling and performance of a traditional internal combustion engine and it's not automatic either; it has a clutch and six gears. It'll cover 120 miles in the city or 56 miles flat-out before the battery needs charging and the juice costs around 1p per mile.
Definitely buy one if: You sort your rubbish into at least 5 different bins.
Price: £11,000 new
Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 8v
The essentials: 1,151cc eight-valve v-twin, 100bhp, 80ftb, 214kg, 140mph
Why is it different: It's Guzzi's answer to the GS but really it's the GS for people who don't want a GS. The Stelvio comes in two flavours, the 1200 8v and the Stelvio NTX. The NTX is more of a GS rival, with wire wheels and the whole adventure look. The 1200 8V is actually closer to a Tiger 1050, with its off-roady looks but road rims. The Stelvio features build quality to rival the Germans but the Stelvio makes the GS - and most other bikes of this ilk - look about as exciting as a tax return. It isn't trying to be cutting edge, it just does what it does. It's got masses of old-school charm and you can't buy that in a BMW showroom.
Definitely buy one if: Your CD collection contains: Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, St. Germain and Erykah Badu.
Price: £10,549 new. From £9,000 second hand.
Read Moto Guzzi Stelvio 1200 8V review
Bimota DB10 Bimotard
The essentials: 1078cc, air-cooled v-twin, 98bhp, 77ftlb, 180kg, 130mph
Why is it different: Ducati's Hypermotard is niche-enough but along come Bimota and make a niche of a niche. This is Bimota back to their best. You gotta love 'em. Based on the Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO, it features Bimota's own modified frame and swingarm (which looks identical to the one used on the DB5), a Bimota-made exhaust system, OZ wheels and fully adjustable suspension. It's nothing but a toy, a glorious one at that.
Definitely buy one if: You understand how to manipulate Libor
Price: TBA
Piaggio MP3 400LT
The essentials: 398cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke, 34bhp, 27ftlb, 244kg, 100mph
Why is it different: It's got three wheels. This surprises most onlookers and warrants an entry to this list on that basis. However, the axle distance between the front wheels is over 465mm so this scooter classes as a trike and can therefore be ridden on either a full car or a full bike licence and technically, without a crash helmet! Seasoned bikers will probably laugh at you, but as far as all-weather commuting goes, the MP3 is up there with the best. The front-end won't budge on greasy roads or wet manhole covers but its width can hamper your filtering.
Definitely buy one if: You can't be bothered to do your bike test.
Price: £4,999 new. From £2,000 secondhand.
Aprilia SXV 5.5
The essentials: 549cc liquid-cooled V-Twin, 8-valve, 65bhp, 35ftlb, 155kg, 90mph
Why is it different: All supermotos were single-cylinder, until the Aprilia SXV came along. There is absolutely nothing sensible about the Aprilia SXV5.5 and there's no sensible way of riding it. You get some bikes that claim to be race-reps, modern 600s for example. Yes, they look like race bikes, but the truth of the matter is that they are only shadows of their race track brethren. The SXV isn't a shadow, it's a full frontal assault. It kicks out 65bhp, has a seat that feels like you've sat on an upright hardback book and it'll do 45 miles until it hits reserve. If you still want one, then you're definitely the sort of person this feature was aimed at. Aprilia, we salute you.
Definitely buy one if: Your idea of a good night out is getting in a fight and arriving home wearing someone else's shoes.
Price: £5,800 new. From £2,500 second hand.
Moto Morini Scrambler
The essentials: 1187cc, liquid-cooled v-twin, 115bhp, 81ftlb, 200kg, 120mph
Why is it different: It's a 115bhp motorcycle with standard-fit knobbly tyres and not just mock Adventure-style tyres either: full on lumpy ones that spin up at the slightest hint of throttle. It's mad, bad and dangerous to know and I can't think of one instance where, if someone gave me their criteria for a bike, I'd come out and say "Yes, a Moto Morini Scrambler is EXACTLY what you need." I can't think of anything it does that another bike can't do better but if you had asked me what my first trip on the back of a motorcycle felt like and then you turned those emotions into a motorcycle, you'd have a Scrambler.
Definitely buy one if: You were into 'experimental' drugs in your youth.
Price: £10,000 new. From £6,400 second hand.
KTM 640 Adventure R
The essentials: 625cc single, 54bhp, 41ftlb, 158kg, 105mph
Why is it different: It's an adventure bike that isn't a middle manager's mid-life crisis. KTM fucked up massively by not letting Ewan and Charlie go and play on their bikes, handing the golden baton of worldwide recognition and success to BMW and now everyone thinks an adventure bike needs to be 1100cc+ and have questionable off-road capability. The 640 Adventure R is different. It's a single-cylinder 625cc engine with a giant 25.5-litre tank, massive 945mm seat height and 300-miles in between fill-ups capability, all while carrying a 230kg payload. It's the hardcore, thinking man's adventure bike. It looks like it's just rolled off a Paris-Dakar stage and wants some more. I doubt you've ever see one, because unlike the GS, people who buy them tend to head off to tackle the tough stuff, just like it was designed to.
Definitely buy one if: You have caught and killed an animal with your bare hands.
Price: New £6,495. Second hand from £2,500
Black Douglas Sterling
The essentials: 200cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke, 17bhp, 100kg
Why is it different: Looking like it's knocking on for 100 years old, the Black Douglas Sterling is actually brand new. Looking like a British classic, it's actually made in Italy. If you want a classic looking bike, with classic performance, you could get a Thruxton, a W800 or if you're feeling lucky, a Norton. But if you want to properly stand out from the crowd and blaze your own trail on the modern classic scene, you are looking at the answer. Just 40 will be made each year.
Definitely buy one if: You're 30 and you like steam trains.
Price: £8,500 new.
Yes, the eagle-eyed among you will have spotted we're onto bike number 11 out of 10. Well, like you, I like to be different.
BMW HP2 Megamoto
The essentials: 1170cc, air-cooled, flat twin, 113bhp, 84ftlb, 178kg, 115mph
Why is it different: Born in an era where someone was slipping LSD into the water-cooler in BMW Motorrad's design department, the bonkers HP2 Megamoto is BMW's take on a supermoto. At least, it's packed with supermoto attitude. The HP department have kitted out the Megamoto with a powder-blue lightened chassis, an Öhlins shock, Marzocchi forks and carbon bodywork. On one hand it's a very expensive toy for immensely rich posh-boys only, on the other it's one of the most desirable and high-performance BMWs you can own and one of the fastest B-road bikes you can buy. If you can find one.
Definitely buy one if: You've ever worn a bow-tie where the dress code didn't warrant it.
Price: £13,010 new. From £11,000 second-hand, if you can find one.
Benelli Tornado Tre 900 RS
The essentials: 898cc, triple cylinder, 120bhp, 68ftlb, 191kg, 158mph
Why is it different: It's a sportsbike with a weird engine capacity, in a weird configuration that never raced with any degreee of success and is made by a niche Italian manufacturer. Oh and it has cooling fans under the rear seat. You can't help but admire Benelli's bold claim that it's 'the ideal sports motorcycle' despite the fact hardly anyone bought one. It's not without its problems, but if you're up for living with one, the engine is fantastic for UK roads. It's fast without being frantic and nothing else comes close to it lookswise. The LE and RS models offer lightweight wheels, better quality suspension a cassette gearbox and radial brakes. They're an absolute bargain secondhand as no-one understands them.
Definitely buy one if: You've got a Bose Wave radio in your kitchen
Price: LE version £10,999 new. Stock bikes can be had from £2995 second hand.
Have I missed any? What would you add to this list and why?
