What are the 5 most desirable motorcycles?

What are the five most desirable new motorcycles available in Australia in 2016?

While the answer to that question is undoubtedly subjective, let’s take an objective, matter-of-fact look at what are the most desirable bikes.

We’re not necessarily talking about popular. The Honda “postie bike” is the biggest-selling bike in Australia, but it’s not exactly desirable. Fun, but not what you would class as desirable.

And desirable bikes aren’t necessarily the most powerful, most expensive, best handling or the biggest!

Desirable motorcycles are those that are a little out of reach for our budget, rare and the sort of bike that attracts attention from riders and non-riders alike, wherever it goes.

While the Honda RC213V-S is probably the rarest and expensive of all bikes, it is no longer available, only one Aussie apparently slapped down a deposit for the quarter-million-dollar bike and sports bikes are on the wane, anyway.

So here are our choices for the most desirable new motorcycles in Australia in 2016, in reverse order:

5 The adventure market is accelerating as more people find the dirty back roads are more fun than the tar. While the most popular of the big all-road juggernauts is the BMW R 1200 GS, the one that we feel is the most desirable has the biggest capacity, is the most powerful and has heaps of hi-tech gadgetry: the KTM 1290 Super Adventure at $26,995. When it comes down to it, there is no replacement for displacement!

4 Limited editions are always highly desirable, but we’re not talking the limited-edition CBR300R or KLR650R. And we would have mentioned the Jack Daniels limited edition Indian Springfield but it sold out in a day in the US and Australia didn’t get any. Instead, how about the handcrafted Lewis Hamilton MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster RR LH44 at $38,990? The standard model is drop-dead gorgeous, but the F1 star’s personal touches make this even more desirable. In fact, they’ve also sold out in Australia.

3 Mix a limited-edition model with a popular hipster bike and you have the Ducati Scrambler Italia Independent. It will be available in Australia in May 2016 on special order for $18,777 (+ on-road costs). Only 1077 of the bikes will be made as part of a joint project with Italia Independent, a design wear company specialising in eyewear and sunglasses. Wearing the matching sunnies will make it even more attractive.

2 While sports bike popularity is on the wane, there is something about the supercharger and the silver-mirror spark black paint on the Kawasaki H2 ($33,000) and track-oriented H2R ($60,000), that turn an eye wherever they are rolled out.

1 CVO is to Harley-Davidson like AMG is to Mercedes. It’s the handcrafted pinnacle of the marque.

But unlike AMG, CVO models are a limited edition, so they’re rare. They also hold their value better than any other bike on the showroom floor.

The most popular CVO of all time was the Breakout. The standard model has gone on to be the brand’s top seller for the past two years. Now the CVO Pro Street Breakout has arrived at $43,990 ride away and it is absolutely stunning.

But don’t take my word for it. Take the word of the drivers, pedestrians and other riders who give you the thumbs-up as you ride by, the Porsche owner who sauntered over at the servo and said “Nice bike. Wanna swap?” or the young hip-hopper who said “Yo man, fresh bike, eh?”

What are your choices for the most desirable motorcycle? Have your say in the comments section below.