Cycle World Ten Best Bikes 2022

After a full year of testing, reviewing, and comparing motorcycles, Cycle World names the Ten Best motorcycles of 2022.

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Pure uncompromising track performance, value for dollar, touring comfort: The spectrum of criteria for the bike you need or want varies widely. Most of the time those values and features fall into generally defined segments. Those segments include a multitude of choices, and most of those choices are perfectly well-engineered, designed, and assembled.

But there are always true standouts. All year long, our writers and editors search for those exceptional performers. We set and define the standards by which each motorcycle should be judged, each according to its category. And after 12 months of testing, we have Cycle World’s Ten Best.

Not every category in our Ten Best may matter to you, and that’s fair enough. But you may trust that each category matters very much to us. We take the task seriously, because naming a motorcycle as the best of its kind is not something that should be taken lightly. Countless hours of riding, countless reams of data, and near-infinite debate and discussion goes into each and every choice. This year, as usual, some reliably excellent models have returned and some brilliant debutantes are first-time inductees. Whatever the case, they’re the very best for 2022. Best of all, there’s a best bike here for everyone.

Best Adventure Bike: 2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
KTM’s LC8 V-twin powerplant is the Austrian gift that just keeps on giving. Throughout its life cycle the 75-degree V-twin has grown from 942cc to 1,301cc. Now, as the centerpiece of the 1290 Super Adventure R, it produces 136.3 hp and 87.5 lb.-ft. of torque at the rear tire. That’s near-sportbike power in a machine meant to rule the roads and be pointed at as much dirt as possible. One hundred and thirty-three ponies in the dirt—if not for the chassis and electronic engineering prowess of 400-odd engineers working in the sleepy Austrian town of Mattighofen, such a machine would not be possible.

Big power is nothing new in open-class adventure-touring motorcycles, but no contemporary bike can match the capability of the 2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R. The previous 1290 SAR was impressive, but KTM has elevated the big-bore game yet again. KTM refined the chassis, shortening the frame at the steering head by 15mm to sharpen response and feeling of the front tire while lengthening the swingarm for added stability. A new three-piece fuel tank moves weight lower in the chassis, carrying most of its 6.1 gallons in saddle-style tanks. The result is a surefooted ADV bike that feels lighter than its 545-pound curb weight.

New electric rider aids are controlled via a massive 7-inch TFT dash that’s clear, bright, and easy to navigate. Lean-sensitive traction control and ABS tame the ferocity of the LC8, but can be turned off or tailored depending on the rider’s needs. Multiple modes also alter the power output, throttle response, and ABS settings. But the real star of the 1290’s electro-wizardry is Rally mode, which lets riders select how far they want the rear tire to step out before the system reins in throttle input.

All of this can also be found on the Super Adventure S, but the R adds off-road-friendly 21- and 18-inch wheel sizes, aggressive knobby tires, and manually adjustable (versus semi-active electronic) 240mm (9.4 inches) travel suspension that eats up terrain at a pace that’s simply not possible on most other ADV bikes. Everytime you push what you think of as the limit, the 1290 SAR asks if that’s all you got.

A massively entertaining powerplant, handling that belies its size, and electronics that make difficult situations easy all combine to give the 2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure a leg up on the competition. It pushes the limits of what an open-class ADV can do while still nailing the basic requirements of comfortable travel. It’s the full package for global domination. —Justin Dawes

Best Middleweight Streetbike: 2022 Aprilia RS 660
Think of the RS 660 as a scaled-down model of the RSV4 Factory with huge potential, blending the work of Aprilia’s proven racing department with the everyday functionality and comfort. This is the best of all things Aprilia in a platform that’s ridiculously entertaining, and educational to even the most experienced riders.

[MadChalet]

No sport-touring category, eh? They are still out there: the Ducati SuperSport, Kawasaki's Ninja 1000SX and Suzuki's GSX-S1200GT ... oh yeah, BMW's R1250RS. Some great bikes there.

[jacquesmartin]

Yes, these the 10 best, but only because maintenance and reliability are not taken into consideration

[johnnydangerously]

These end of year list are just for fun. People need to relax if there particular brand of bike isn’t represented.

[ronwhite]

1290 biggest adventure is trying afford it and then keeping upright! The biggest adventure most of these will see is posing at the latte shop.

[williamb.]

Unfortunately the design of the new 1290 crash bars appears to be mostly cosmetic. I am looking at a 4K repair bill after a very low speed trail spill due to the crash bar sliding down and then buckling which caused considerable additional damage (the part meant to protect the bike was responsible for all of the damage). My old 1090 was down multiple times at triple this speed and never collected more than a mirror or lever. I have talked to other new 1290 owners that saw the crash bar slide down and buckle on 0 MPH drops in the mud.

[AddyAdderson]

It's obvious, for the most part, the the idea of reliability was thrown out in this year's judging.

[Green_stax]

I’ve seen that the Husqvarna TE has some major issues though. Not sure if I would put that on the list from one I have seen and heard.

[lowlevelcritter]

How is the husky a dual sport as with a 2 stroke, it can’t be registered for the road?

[dereckwisniewski]

Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 - “Moto GP for the masses” 😂😅😂. That bike cost more than the average household income in most first world countries. I wouldn’t exactly consider that the ‘masses’

[aaronkelley]

It seems like they just picked the most expensive bikes in every category... Yeah a Ducati V4R SP2 is sick but is it enough to spend more than double a ZX10R? Likely not...

[lopsided]

This seems like a best spec sheet award

[ATRocker]

The reviewers need to wake up and take affordability, reliability and dealer support into account.

[patricksandeberg]

Your knees are soooo high up on the HD. Looks really uncomfortable 😂

[Dansk]

Speed Twin 1200 overall best bike. Just perfect torque curve through out. No high revving like a maniac in the streets. Its perfect

[crownmoto]

Almost a European clean sweep. How come no Super/Hyper Naked Bike category?

[marscruz]

Heavy on the Euro-brands this year. OK. At first I was wondering if it was going to be a clean sweep.

[UncleWally]

Doesn’t determining “best” imply metrics are used to identify performance indicators to measure, sort and rank? When the metrics are hidden, maybe it’s best to assume “best” is more a figment of someone’s imagination, or worse, a kickback for advertising revenues? My evidence-less opinion aside, it appears this list speaks more to how expert riders perform within limited and controlled conditions than the bikes most are actually riding outside those limitations. Until these “best” lists include indicators like warranty, dealership support, parts, service and actual bike availability, reliability, etc it’s all moot to me.

[thebluvdone]

Yeah, thanks for the suggestions but ummm NOPE!!. These suggestions are based on a test drives not any kind of long term assessments. "RIDE" what you like. "LIKE" what you ride. 💪

[two-up]

Hello great channel very nice filmed ;)

[michaelskinner]

I didn't see a dyno run or figures for the GW.