The KTM 1290cc Super Duke R motorcycle was on Friday awarded the title of 2014 Pirelli South Africa Bike of the Year at the official opening of this year’s Association of Motorcycle Importers and Distributors (AMID) Motorcycle & Quad Lifestyle Show, in Johannesburg.

Twenty-seven eligible entries were submitted for this year’s Bike of the Year competition, with nine finalists selected.

Aside from the KTM Super Duke, the finalists included the BMW S1000R, which took second place, and the Ducati Monster 1200, which came third.

The other finalists were the BMW R1200GS Adventure, the Ducati 899 Panigale, the Kawasaki Z1000, The Suzuki V-Strom, the Yamaha MT-09 and the Yamaha MT-07.

The Bike Show presenter and AMID Motorcycle Show organiser Mat Durrans tells Engineering News Online that, to determine the winner, 14 experienced motoring journalists were given information on each of the eligible bikes, which they used to give their preferences and select the finalists.

Once the nine finalists were chosen, Pirelli was given two of each of the bikes for the group of journalists to take for test drives over a two-day period. This year, the group covered about 1 000 km around the Hazyview and Sabie areas in Mpumalanga.

“We think about each bike, how much of an improvement it is on its predecessor or how big a deal it is within its own class,” Durrans said, explaining that this enabled the judges to compare the different types of bikes with each other.

Further, Pirelli moto and product manager Wayne Doran told Engineering News Online that it would be difficult to state exactly why the KTM Super Duke was chosen as the winner.

“You have 14 journalists that all have their own opinion on which motorcycle will win, and different criteria [were] used in terms of comfort and value for money and performance and fun rideability.

“Personally, I think it is a great bike that has won, because it has a huge fun element to it. It is an immensely powerful and fast motorcycle, it performs and handles very well,” he said.

2014 SHOW
Meanwhile, several motorcycle manufacturers would be revealing their 2015 model ranges at the 2014 show, which was running from August 8 to 10.

AMID director Lachlan Harris said the market was currently “rather tight”, which made it an ideal time to raise the profile of motorcycles, quads and scooters in the eyes of the general public.

Speaking at the expo opening, he added that “never before was the need for a cohesive approach more necessary. The industry will not survive unless it works together towards a common goal”.

Among the brands to be launched to the South African public at the show were the Polaris American Indian cruiser range, which included three models – Vintage, Classic and Chieftain – all using a 1.8 l Thunderstroke V-twin engine.

Further, Japanese manufacturer Yamaha would launch its Tri-City scooter powered by a 125cc engine. The scooter had two front wheels, spaced 700 mm apart, and a parallelogram-type suspension system, which allowed it to travel easily over irregular surfaces. It was also stable and easy to ride.

Husqvarna, which returned to South Africa a couple of years ago and was marketed by Combined Motor Holdings, would showcase its full 2015 range of 13 enduro and motocross machines, with engines ranging from 85cc to 501cc, both two-strokes and four-strokes, while KTM would also preview several 2015 models.

The AMID show was running concurrently with the Johannesburg Boat Show, the Fishing Lifestyle Show, the Dive Show and the Outdoor Lifestyle Show.