Alas, that time has arrived when the riding season has come to an end — for me, at least! Looking back at the last nine months, it has been quite the adventure. There have been some standout moments since I first got on two wheels back in February. Today, I’ll reflect upon the highlights and lowlights. Best Bruises: After a day of romping in the snow on a KTM 500, I was ready for a nap and a serious bath in Epsom salts. Thanks to a mountain horse conversion kit by Timbersled, I was able to play in the powder all day atop a bike that I didn’t even need to put my feet down — not that I really could anyway! Converting your dirt bike to a snow bike takes a matter of hours and is an endless source of fun. After the day was done, my body was bruised and aching. But my goodness, what a blast. Biggest Surprise: The Triumph Thunderbird. Hands down. Being a lover of sport bikes, connecting with cruisers isn’t tough, it just takes a little more effort. After a few minutes on this 1,700-cc black beauty, I was kind of hooked. It had a smooth ride, a great style and felt good all over. It’s not svelte in physique by any means, but doesn’t feel too sluggish or sloppy in the turns. Best Epic Ride Day: It’s a toss-up. There was the California ride adventure atop the 2012 Honda CBR600RR (more than 500 kilometres logged in the SoCal regions). Then there was the 600-plus kilometre excursion on the 2012 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback. Each experience was completely different, but the company and the bikes sure made the ride just that much better. Litre-Bike Showdown: It may not be the most technologically advanced in the class. It doesn’t have a ton of fancy bells and whistles. It does cause body fatigue when ridden aggressively, but despite its drawbacks it is a very manageable city bike. The 2012 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 is my litre-bike of choice this season. Best City Bike: My top three best city bikes include the Suzuki SFV650 Gladius, Honda NC700SA and Moto Guzzi V7 Classic. The Honda NC700SA takes the cake, though. I don’t find it to be the best-looking bike in the bunch, but its undeniable practicality, amazing fuel economy, storage compartment and ease of use trump its lack of prettiness. Favourite Italian Stallion (aka Ducati): This was a tough one. I fell in love with the Streetfighter 848 on our test ride. The 848 Evo superbike was a dream on the track, but the Diavel Carbon Red was the best fit for me. Plus, I could ride on it for hours on end without feeling too tired. And that Termignoni exhaust: I could listen to that music — I mean engine revving — all day long. Best Learning Curve Experience: Four words: West Coast Superbike School. “It’s just not working out” Bikes: A tie. The Ducati Monsters and I had a rough start. I really wanted to like it more, but the clutch/throttle combination was something I just couldn’t get used to. They are beautiful bikes with other admirable traits, just not my top pick. Then there’s the Harley-Davidson Sportster Superlow. Its suspension was way too abrasive and I just didn’t enjoy the ride. That said, I quite liked the Sportster Iron 883. Best Motorcycle Gadget: The Scala Rider by Cardo. Not only could I listen to music while I ride, I could make and take phone calls through its Bluetooth capabilities. It’s also a fabulous safety tool when riding in groups. Couldn’t live without it. Biggest Product Letdown: My Alpinestars GP Plus leather pants. You’d think that brand new expensive riding gear would last at least a season or two — or five. Nope. The second time I put the pants on, the zipper had already broken and the clasp fallen off. Luckily they were under warranty so they were replaced. Round two is still intact, thank goodness. But I don’t think I’d go down this road again. Top Spots: I’m going to take the easy way out of this and say that I don’t have a favourite bike of the season because I really don’t. It’s like picking a favourite child. But I’ll give a top five, in no particular order: The BMW F800R, Suzuki SFV650 Gladius, Triumph Street Triple R, Ducati Diavel, Honda CBR600RR. Starting next Thursday, Riding turns into Driving for the winter months. Looking forward to an exciting season next year! Read more: Best bikes (and bruises) of 2012
