There’s never been a better time to be a motorcyclist. We are spoiled for choice these days with a wide variety of models produced by at least 20 major manufacturers spread across multiple continents. The quality, range of features, and performance of today’s motorcycles are truly impressive.
For the past 35 years, Rider’s editors have reviewed the annual batch of new and significantly updated motorcycles and winnowed them down to a handful of finalists. The Motorcycle of the Year is the one we believe best fulfills its intended purpose and advances the state of motorcycle design, performance, and function.
Since last year’s MOTY (2024 BMW R 1300 GS), at least 117 new/updated street-legal motorcycles have been announced, everything from adventure bikes and dual-sports to bobbers, cafe racers, cruisers, electric bikes, luxury-tourers, minibikes, naked bikes, retro-style bikes, scooters, scramblers, sport-tourers, sportbikes, supermotos, and three-wheelers. Notably, naked bikes (37 announced, 32% of the total) and adventure/dual-sport bikes (25 announced, 21% of the total) were the leading types this year.
For the 2025 Motorcycle of the Year, we narrowed these 117 eligible contenders down to 10 finalists and one winner.
2025 Motorcycle of the Year Finalists
1. BMW R 1300 RT
After launching the radically redesigned R 1300 GS for 2024 (Rider’s MOTY), it didn’t take long for BMW to propagate the new platform to its other R-series models. But the R 1300 RT isn’t just a GS with a bigger windscreen and fairing; it has been completely overhauled to improve comfort and convenience for the rider and passenger. And the new Dynamic Chassis Adjustment option is a gamechanger.
Read our BMW R 1300 RT review
2. CFMOTO 450CL-C
CFMOTO has been on the gas, expanding its lineup of motorcycles and improving existing models. The China-based company, which also builds motorcycles and engines for KTM and other brands, has mastered the art of modularity. Its 449cc parallel-Twin is found in a sportbike, a naked bike, an adventure bike, and the new bobber-styled 450CL-C cruiser – a peppy, stylish bike priced at just $5,799.
Read our CFMOTO 450CL-C review
3. Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic
The Motor Company updated its Softail line with three variants of its Milwaukee-Eight 117 (Classic, Custom, and High Output) and adding standard cruise control and lean-sensitive electronic rider aids across six models: Breakout, Fat Boy, Heritage Classic, Low Rider S, Low Rider ST, and Street Bob. For its versatility, easy-going nature, and timeless style, the Heritage Classic is our favorite.
Read our Harley-Davidson Softail Cruisers review
4. Honda NT1100 DCT
After a long hiatus (since the ST1300 was dropped in 2013), Honda returned to the sport-touring segment with the NT1100 DCT, powered by the 1,084cc Unicam parallel-Twin from the Africa Twin and available in the U.S. only with the automatic Dual-Clutch Transmission. It needs a larger windscreen and saddlebags are optional, but the NT has the power, performance, and comfort to go the distance.
Read our Honda NT1100 DCT review
5. Indian Chieftain PowerPlus
Just like the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is “two great tastes that taste great together,” Indian’s new-for-2025 Chieftain PowerPlus combines the Chieftain’s handlebar-mounted fairing with the liquid-cooled V-Twin from the Challenger (Rider’s 2020 MOTY). Our review in the June issue called it “one of the best baggers in America.”
Read our Indian Chieftain PowerPlus review
6. KTM 390 Adventure R
At a time when some adventure bikes weigh close to 600 lb and cost well over $25,000, it’s refreshing to see lighter, more affordable ADVs enter the market. Built in India by Bajaj, the KTM 390 Adventure R punches above its weight (just 388 lb) and offers adjustable suspension, electronics, and rally styling for $6,999. A street-oriented, lower-spec X version has a shorter seat and costs just $5,899.
Read our KTM 390 Adventure R review
7. Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450
It seems like every time we turn around, Royal Enfield launches a new model. For 2025, it added the Bear 650, Classic 650, and Guerrilla 450 to its lineup. The Guerrilla 450, powered by the same 452cc Single as in the Himalayan 450 (the first liquid-cooled engine in Royal Enfield’s 124-year history), is a stylish, playful roadster that’s easy to ride and easy on the wallet.
Read our Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 review
8. Suzuki DR-Z4S
Suzuki’s DR-Z400S was a stalwart of the dual-sport world for two decades. It was finally updated for 2025 with a revised 398cc Single that’s now fuel-injected, a new steel twin-spar frame, useful electronic rider aids, fresh styling, and more. The lightweight machine is as fun as ever on both road and trail, and for those who prefer pavement or kart tracks, there’s a DR-Z4SM supermoto version.
Read our Suzuki DR-Z4S review
9. Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS
The Triumph Speed Triple, launched as a brash streetfighter in 1994, has spent the last three decades growing up, becoming stronger, more refined, and more sophisticated. It packs a helluva punch (180 hp and 94 lb-ft of torque), and with the addition of Öhlins SmartEC3 electronic suspension with objective-based tuning, it has become one of the sharpest – and most comfortable – sportbikes you can buy.
Read our Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS review
10. Yamaha YZF-R9
In 2022, Yamaha launched the YZF-R7, a fully faired middleweight sportbike based on the MT-07 naked bike, which was a more affordable and more accessible option than the now-defunct R6. This year, Yamaha applied the same formula to the MT-09 and introduced the YZF-R9, which offers more of a supersport riding experience without blowing the budget, retailing for $12,499 vs. $18,499 for a YZF-R1.
Read our Yamaha YZR-R9 review
And the 2025 Motorcycle of the Year winner is…
Can-Am Canyon Redrock
When BRP’s Can-Am brand entered the on-road market for 2008 with the three-wheeled Spyder, we weren’t sure what to think. With its two-wheels-in-front “Y-architecture,” it reminded us of a snowmobile for the street – which is no surprise, since Quebec-based BRP also produces snowmobiles under the Ski-Doo brand.
We treated that first Can-Am Spyder RS like we would any other test bike: We hit the road, traveling more than 2,600 miles across four states. We were impressed with its comfort, storage capacity, and ahead-of-its-time Vehicle Stability System, which combined anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution, stability control, traction control, and dynamic power steering. The Spyder’s handling took some getting used to, but it was far superior to a traditional two-wheels-in-back trike or a sidecar.
With the Spyder, BRP created a new category it calls “roadster,” one that has enlarged the powersports pie instead of shifting customers from one slice to another. Its Y-configuration eliminated one of the biggest barriers for non-motorcyclists: having to balance and lean. Spyders drew in customers who had never been in dealerships before, as well as a significant percentage of women.
What started out as a single model 17 years ago to test the viability of a three-wheel vehicle (3WV) in the market has since grown to include four model families: the compact, affordable Ryker; the cruiser-style Spyder F3; the touring-focused Spyder RT; and the new adventure-ready Canyon. In all, there are 13 models to choose from. More than 300,000 Can-Am 3WVs have been sold worldwide – a force to be reckoned with by any measure.
With the Canyon model family (Canyon, Canyon XT, and Canyon Redrock) launched this year, BRP says it wants to “democratize all roads” – to make adventure accessible to more people, not just those who have the skills or the inseam to handle a tall, 600-lb adventure bike. As a 3WV, the Canyon won’t tip over, so riders need not fear the limited traction of unpaved roads. And a tall seat height – another major obstacle for many riders – is a nonissue.
All Canyons are powered by the smooth Rotax 1330 ACE inline-Triple that’s rated at 115 hp at 7,250 rpm and 96 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm and equipped with a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission with reverse. With their extra suspension travel and ground clearance, the Canyons tackle rough unpaved roads with ease, and the Rally ride mode allows playful hooning around. We’re most impressed by the top-of-the-line Canyon Redrock, which is equipped with KYB Smart-Shox semi-active suspension, a back-up camera, luggage, and numerous adventure-ready features.
For nearly two decades, BRP’s Can-Am brand has been knocking down barriers and bringing more on-road riders into the fold, and we applaud its efforts. It has taken an unconventional approach, one that created a unique segment of passionate and loyal 3WV owners. And with its new Pulse and Origin electric motorcycles, Can-Am continues to march to its own drummer. That sort of creativity, fortitude, and vision are worth celebrating.
Congratulations to BRP for the Can-Am Canyon Redrock, Rider’s 2025 Motorcycle of the Year!
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Source: RiderMagazine.com
