Auto Trader has named the Triumph Street Triple 765 ‘Bike of the Year’ for 2017.
Experts from the digital automotive market-place had ridden hundreds of miles, testing every new bike on sale in the UK to shortlist 12 category winners, as well as whittling down the entrants to find the overall Best Bike of 2017.
Paul Lilly, Triumph UK & Ireland general manager, said: “We are delighted the all-new Triumph Street Triple 765 has won Auto Trader Bike of the Year and received the recognition it deserves – it really is the pinnacle of modern middleweight motorcycles. Building on the legendary capability of the previous generation Street Triple, the new 765 is packed with state of the art technology, a new dynamic engine and an intoxicating soundtrack that will soon be heard on race circuits around the world through our Moto2 collaboration from 2019. It’s without doubt one of the most exciting motorcycles currently on the market and with five different spec levels available it really is a bike for everyone.”
Judges this year included British motorcycle racer Michael Rutter, who brings 25 years’ racing experience to the judging panel, Auto Trader’s Phil West, one of the UK’s most authoritative, respected and long-established motorcycling journalists, and Auto Trader’s Robert Morphet, who started Auto Trader Bikes back in 1996 and was key in Auto Trader Bike’s shift to digital.
Picking out some of the strongest contenders this year, head judge and Auto Trader Bikes Exper, Phil West, said: “At the performance end of the spectrum, Suzuki’s all-new GSX-R1000R and Aprilia’s uprated Tuono 1100 Factory have proven to be winners straight out of the box. Learners are better catered for than ever with machines such as KTM’s revamped 125 Duke and Honda’s A2 cruiser, the CMX500 Rebel. Ducati’s Scrambler family, Suzuki’s value-packed V-Strom adventure bikes and Kawasaki’s brilliant Z1000SX all-rounder go from strength to strength.”
Speaking of the judge’s unanimous decision in awarding the 2017 Auto Trader Best Bike Award to Triumph’s old 675 Street Triple, West, added: “Despite the strong contenders in every category, there was one bike that stood out from the rest. Triumph’s old 675 Street Triple was already the best middleweight roadster/all-rounder for its combination of performance, fun and good value, but 2017’s all-new replacement takes things to new heights.”
“The new Triumph’s 675 Street Triple version is not just better performing and equipped, but it also suits more riders and budgets, so much so that it really is the bike for virtually every rider.”
2017 Auto Trader Bike Award category winners:
Best AM
Lexmoto Echo 50
Best A1
KTM 125 Duke
Best A2
Honda Rebel 500
Best Scooter
Vespa GTS300
Best Naked
Aprilia Tuono 1100 Factory
Best Retro
Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
Best Tourer
BMW K1600GT
Best Adventure (inc trail)
Suzuki V-Strom 650
Best Cruiser
Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO
Best Sports
Suzuki GSX-R1000R
Best Sports Tourer
Kawasaki Z1000SX
Best Middleweight
Triumph Street Triple 765
For more information on the winning bikes and all runner-ups, please visit:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bikes/best-motorbike-awards
So far this year there’s been nearly 20 million visits to Auto Trader Bikes, contributing to 36 million searches for new and used motorcycles. With 86% of these visitors claiming to be in the market to buy their next bike, the 2017 Auto Trader New Bike Awards acts as a trusted annual review of the best two-wheeled machines in every category, covering the needs and wants of every motorcyclist.