Our favorite motorcycles of 2021

We don't set out to say which ones are "the best," because best for us probably isn't best for you. Some of us choose the favorite motorcycle we've ridden this year while others choose one they haven't ridden yet but can't wait to try. Some of us choose what we feel is significant, what 2021 will be remembered for. And, as you'll see, one Common Tread staffer's fave is another's flop.

Herewith, our favorite motorcycles of 2021.

Brandon Wise: Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR

Maybe it's because I've been playing around in the dirt a lot lately, but sport and naked bikes just haven't been that exciting for me as of late. They all kinda look the same and after I saw Ducati completely botch the style of the latest Monster (aka the Ducati SV650), I started losing hope. There was one naked sport bike in 2021 that immediately got my attention, however, and that's the new Speed Triple 1200 RR from Triumph. Just when I was giving up on sport-naked bikes, the 1200 RR reeled me back in. It's got a little bit of that café style mixed with a sporty design that is both comfortable enough for some longer days in the saddle and yet aggressive enough for dragging a knee through corners at the track.

Based on the comments I've seen on the world wide web, riders absolutely love it or they absolutely hate it. I, for one, cannot wait to throw a leg over this machine and take it for a rip.

Jen Dunstan: Ducati Monster

The parameters on this pick for me were simple: Which new bike did I ride this year that I had the most fun on? Hands down it was the 2021 Ducati Monster.

I can already hear the hissing and booing (maybe some of it from Brandon). I get it. A lot of the Ducatisti refuse to recognize the 2021 model as a Monster and I admit to questioning some of the styling choices, as well. Still, once you look past the very subjective curb appeal discussion of the Monster, this bike has so much to offer where it counts, and that's how it rides.

The new Testastretta 937 cc L-twin engine not only sounds good but also feels good at the throttle. The quickshifter makes every shift like butter and the new frame and chassis perform to the high standards one would expect of Ducati. While purists may not be able to let the trellis frame go, a new generation of Monster riders will not be disappointed.

Spurgeon Dunbar: Kawasaki KLR650 (I have my reasons)

I’m torn between Harley-Davidson’s flagship ADV release of the Pan America, which arguably made ADV riding more accessible to shorter riders, and Honda's wallet-friendly little Navi, which made riding more accessible to all riders. The Pan America has brought The Motor Company into the wildly popular ADV category. It feels more approachable than some of its equally sized competitors and is quite a woot to ride. The Navi is a sub-$2,000 Honda. That puts a new motorcycle in reach of nearly any pimply-faced teenager slinging coffee, stocking shelves, or bussing tables. Both of those are important releases for their respective categories and my favorites for the industry.

But if I am picking the bike that was my personal favorite in 2021 it would have to be Kawasaki’s KLR650. And I am completely biased on this one, mostly because the KLR650 was responsible for getting me out of the office for a four-day ride across the Southwest of the United States. So, I guess my point is, my favorite bike of the year wasn’t necessarily the most important, or the most powerful, or the most innovative, it was the one that provided the best escape from my day-to-day grind.

And when you consider escape as the main factor, I'm guessing that your favorite motorcycle of the year is whichever one was parked in your garage.

Andy Greaser: Triumph Tiger Sport 660

If you couldn't tell from my review of the Triumph Tiger Sport 660, I think Triumph's new 660 platform is a fresh take on the 650 class. The new Trident, which shares an engine and most of its chassis with the Tiger Sport, has wide appeal and the lowest price tag in Triumph's range. It's good to see some competition in the middleweight space.

As a runner-up, the new Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello deserves a mention. Not only is it an unexpectedly modern development from Moto Guzzi, of all brands, but it's also a perfect example of how artful and expressive motorcycles can still be. It won't be cheap at an estimated $20,000 (TBD). Still, that's less than half of the average new car price in America, and infinitely more fun to us.

Spenser Robert: Moto Guzzi V85 TT

The Moto Guzzi V85 TT first came out as a 2020 model but I first got to ride it in 2021, so it's my favorite motorcycle of the year.

I'll go into more detail in an article coming soon to Common Tread, but for now let me say that of all the bikes I rode this year, I think the Guzzi had the most significant impact. A big part of the job of reviewing a motorcycle involves fixating on a bike's negative attributes. Somehow, the V85 left me appreciating its lack of perfection. It's an ADV bike that doesn’t pretend to have aspirations of Dakar or any intention of tackling a GNCC. It feels simple and honest, without being boring. And in an era where some bikes are so capable that it almost feels like they don't even need you there, it's refreshing to find a bike that does need you and whose adventures are earned rather than expected.

Zack Courts: Ducati Multistrada V4 S Honda Navi

When asked about a favorite motorcycle that debuted in a calendar year, I’m always drawn to exotica. A motorcycle like the 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 S that I tested in February, for example, is terrific to ride and the integrated radar system broke new technological ground in the world of two wheels. But, this year, I can’t help but be overwhelmed with curiosity over Honda's release of the Navi on American shores. It's not my favorite bike of 2021 in the sense that I want it more than any other, but it's more off-kilter than anything else we saw from a major brand this year. I like that Honda is willing to reach so blatantly toward the public's heartstrings and purse strings. My hope is that there will be more motorcyclists this time next year because of it.

Lance Oliver: Harley-Davidson Pan America

After moving east this year, I'm about as far from the southern California motorcycle press fleets as a U.S. resident can be. That, plus the wealth of talent I can call on for bike reviews, means that others, not me, are out riding all the latest models. So rather than pick a favorite of mine, I usually look for a bike that was particularly significant. Which 2021 motorcycle will be remembered many years down the line?

Under those criteria, I think the Harley-Davidson Pan America has to be the bike of the year. Tradition-bound Harley-Davidson produced two machines this year that are total departures from its recent history: the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, which became the LiveWire One after the spinoff, and the Pan America adventure-touring motorcycle. But while Harley-Davidson expects to have sold fewer than 400 LiveWires once the books are closed on the year in a few days, it also claims the Pan America is the best selling adventure bike in North America. It's hard to verify that claim independently with true certainty (and companies tend to manipulate wording and definitions to their benefit, such H-D touting its market share by only counting motorcycles of 601 cc or bigger), but digging through publicly available information suggests Harley-Davidson could well be telling the truth. Even if it's not the best seller, the Pan America is an achievement for a first-time effort in a totally new market segment, and that's the kind of diversification the company needs to survive in a world where its core customers are increasingly eligible for Medicare.

It seems everyone but me has ridden the Pan America (Spurgeon, Mark, Zack and Ari), but I don't need to ride it to know it's the most significant new motorcycle of 2021.