Autotrader’s Best Motorcycles of 2017: Do You Agree?

Overall Winner: Triumph Street Triple 765


It’s a good time to be alive if you’re in the market for a naked street bike. For a reasonable sum, your choice of motorcycle is nearly limitless, and one of the perennial favorites of this segment is the Triumph Street Triple.

For 2017, the Street Triple sees a bump in engine size to 765cc, up from the 675cc motor found in previous generations, and power output ranges from 113 horsepower to 123 horsepower depending on what trim level you opt for. Triumph has paired the Triple’s iconic three-cylinder engine with a sweet handling chassis, great ergonomics, and incredibly distinct looks.

It honestly doesn’t get much better than this.

Best Sports Bike: Suzuki GSXR1000

Suzuki’s venerable GSXR1000 has lagged noticeably behind its competition the past few years, but that all changed for 2017. Suzuki gifted the Gixxer a new chassis, engine, and full electronics package, and the bike is light-years ahead of its last iteration.

Much of the technology found in the new Gixxer was forged in the crucible of MotoGP racing including some key internal engine components. That translates into nearly 200 horsepower, 87 pound-feet of torque, and some serious performance.

The GSXR also features a robust electronics suite that makes it a genuine competitor to the likes of the Honda Fireblade and Ducati Panigale. Welcome back, Suzuki.

Best Naked: Aprilia Tuono V4 1100

Quite frankly, this choice doesn’t surprise me even a little bit. We’ve covered the Aprilia Tuono here on RideNow before and found it is a truly world-class machine which deserves every bit of praise it receives.

Based on the championship winning Aprilia RSV4 superbike, the Tuono is at once a comfortable daily rider and a genuine performance weapon that can embarrass all but the most hardcore sport machines. It packs a massive 175 horsepower 1100cc V4 engine and enough electronic gizmos to get a rocket scientist all hot and bothered.

The Tuono’s crown is coming under steady threat as its competition scrambles to catch up, but for now, it’s good to be king.

Best A2: Honda Rebel 500

The Honda Rebel 500 is the type of motorcycle that has the potential to save the entire industry. Simple, easy to ride, inexpensive, and packing loads of style, the Rebel is aimed squarely at newer riders and broadening the appeal of the two wheeled lifestyle.

It comes with two engine choices, a 286cc single-cylinder motor, or a larger 471cc v-twin. Neither one will revolutionize your definition of speed or performance, but they both deliver a pure riding experience by cutting away all the fetters and focusing on what’s important.

As motorcycle manufactures across the spectrum are scrambling to attract younger riders, let’s hope someone is taking note of what Honda has created with the Rebel.

Best A1: KTM 125 Duke

KTM’s diminutive Duke is anything but. Its styling is just as distinct and interesting as the rest of the street bikes in KTM’s stable, and it is imbued with a sense of riding joy.

The 125 Duke makes for a perfect bopping around town bike or a new rider’s first machine, and squares off against the likes of the Yamaha YS125 and the Honda Grom.

The original 125 Duke from 2011 suffered a few reliability and quality issues, but those appear to have been addressed for 2017. The Duke’s 124.7cc single-cylinder engine may only produce 15 horsepower, but a small package like this doesn’t need much to deliver brisk and entertaining riding.

Best Scooter: Vepsa GTS300

When you picture a Vespa, the GTS 300 probably isn’t it. This particular Italian scooter delivers a genuinely surprising 22 horsepower and 16.4 pound-feet of torque from a 300cc single-cylinder engine.

That makes this particular Vespa the most powerful machine in the company’s entire range. That’s like Barbie releasing a new doll with complete artificial intelligence.

In other words – nuts. It will do over 75 miles per hour and still return 76 miles per gallon, making the normally stylish but pedestrian GTS line of scooters darn near actual motorcycles.

Vespa, have you been drinking again?!

Best Trail Bike: Suzuki V-Strom 650

While it’s probably a safe bet to assume that most riders won’t actually use their adventure motorcycle for true off-roading, Suzuki has at least given them the tools to do so with the V-Strom 650.

It’s tall, has wire wheels, hand guards, an increase in power, and plenty of rider aides to help keep things upright and on two wheels.

The 2017 V-Strom doesn’t have the off-road chops like some of the machines from KTM or Honda, but it’s an improvement over previous generations, and it looks good doing so.

Best Sports Tourer: Kawasaki Z1000SX

I’ve always like the Z1000. It’s big, looks mean, packs a bunch of power, but isn’t a torture rack with super aggressive ergonomics. With the introduction of the 2017 Z1000SX, Kawasaki has only made a good bike better.

The SX has vastly improved electronics including traction control, multiple rider modes, cornering ABS, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that give the Kawi a level of handling and performance that it’s never had before.

Tech like cornering ABS and the IMU are genuine cutting edge stuff and it’s exciting to see Kawasaki begin utilizing it.

Best Retro: Ducati Scrambler

Let’s be honest, the Ducati Scrambler is just plain cool. It balances retro influences with modern flair and has enough variants to fill every conceivable niche.

I recently spent time on the Scrambler Café Racer and loved both its riding dynamics and the genuine excitement it elicited from people as I rode by.

First launched in 2014, the Scrambler has since birthed the aforementioned Café Racer, Classic, Desert Sled, Icon, Full Throttle, and Sixty2 (Gasp! They used letters AND numbers to spell the name! So trendy!)

It uses an updated version of the same v-twin engine found on the previous generation Ducati Monster, and absolutely looks the business in every trim level.

Best Tourer: BMW K 1600 GT

Next to the barnstorming S1000RR superbike, BMW Motorad’s line of touring bikes are some of its most recognizable.

The K 1600 GT is a handsome machine that is purpose built for gobbling up miles in supreme comfort and usability. Another trademark BMW element of the 1600 is the engine – it uses an inline six-cylinder engine (!) that makes 160 horsepower.

It features a host of electronic rider aides, a reverse gear, and clutch less up and down shifts. Look out, Honda Goldwing, this big Beemer is coming for you.

Best Cruiser: Harley-Davidson Street Glide

I mean, Harley-Davidson is practically a shoe-in for best cruiser, right? While The Motor Company is coming under heavy siege from Indian Motorcycle as the king of big bikes, the Street Glide is still the bar by which all others in this segment are measured.

For 2017, the Street Glide gets the Milwaukee Eight v-twin mill which churns out a meaty 111 pound-feet of all-important torque, and it also benefits from improved cooling and upgraded suspension.

It still looks like a properly Harley should, and makes all the right sounds and rumbles in all the right places.