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Yamaha MT-09 – Best Naked Bike of the Year 2025 (Below 1000cc)

This is another difficult category as any motorcycle that is not ‘clothed’ in a fairing can be considered as a naked bike to some degree. However, after much gnashing of the teeth and rising voices (no, just joking), the Yamaha MT-09 won out as the best Naked Bike of the Year 2025 (Below 1000cc) category in the Allianz-BikesRepublic.com Motorcycle of the Year Awards 2025, but only just.

Why did the Yamaha MT win?

The bike is the embodiment of what a naked bike (sportsbike) should be: Light, flickable, and rowdy. But Yamaha pushed it toward the ‘streetfighter’ end of the spectrum. Stripped of superfluous parts but given an outlandish and purposeful look.

In fact, the MT-09 was designed from the ground up to be a hooligan bike. If you are riding it like a law-abiding citizen, the you are not riding it right. It is the bike encourages you to cut loose and be naughty. It wants you to blast off the lights while pulling a wheelie, scythe through traffic like a bat out of hell, and chucked into corners like a supermoto.

To recap, “MT” stands for Monstrous Torque, and that is what the engine delivers in spades. How do you wheelie without torque?!

It is of no surprise that many stunt riders overseas use it, including one in Australia who fitted a turbocharger.

What we liked: Monster torque(!), lithe body, madcap character.

What we did not like: Running out of excuses why we rode like maniacs.

Nett selling price: RM 57,900

Harley-Davidson Road Glide – Cruiser of the Year 2025

Cruisers, yes, motorcycles that do everything it in style. Some of them can be considered the queens (or kings) of motorcycles, and none more so than the Harley-Davidson Road Glide which won the Cruiser of the Year category.

Why did the Harley-Davidson Road Glide win?

We shall start off by saying that it was not an age thing, because our judging panel consisted of both young and older individuals. Nor was it because of being wannabe ‘bad boys’. No, it is more subtle possibly enigmatic.

As regulations choke motorcycles more and more, they start to lose their character. Instead of providing something palpable, bikes are starting to feel very machine-like. Their souls have been robbed and are increasingly muted. It is like someone installed an AI program in your brain and it is starting to take over. Yes, yes, there are more refined and comfortable cruisers in the market but the Harley sticks two fingers in their faces.

Make no mistake, the new Road Glide has been refined a lot. The build quality, fitting, can be seen and felt. The audio system is now much better, the switches are more tactile instead of feeling cheap, and the suspension does not feel like you hit a mountain instead of a speed bump.

The heart of ‘Glide is the Milwaukee Eight 117. That is 117 cubic inches which translates to 1917cc to us Metric people. It produces 115 HP and 188 Nm. It rumbles along at less than 1,500 RPM at 110 km/h. By comparison, a 1000cc inline-four sportsbike would be turning nearly 5,000-plus RPM at that speed.

Vibration? Of course the Harley vibrates. But, the difference is that Road Glide’s engine beats like a huge mechanical heart, inline-four’s buzziness numbs your hands and arms.

And there is the torque. The engine does not feature high specific horsepower but its torque is useful in the real world. Open up and the heart beats faster but still feel lazy at the same time, while you overtake a whole line of cars.

And that was why the Harley-Davidson Road Glide won.

Nett selling price (base model): RM 211,900

What we liked: Character!

What we did not like: If there was, then we would be missing the plot.

Triumph Daytona 660 – Best Sportsbike of the Year

The Triumph Daytona 660, oh what a love affair.

Winning the Sportsbike of the Year 2025 category in the Allianz-BikesRepublic.com Motorcycle of the Year Awards 2025 means knocking out some very advanced and powerful contenders, some of which are of World Superbike Championship winning pedigree.

So why did the Triumph Daytona 660 win?

You see, we ourselves love the 1000cc supersports bikes too. However, we cannot ride them on a daily basis, no matter how hard we try. The roads conditions are not getting any better, and there are increasingly more poorly skilled drivers out there who would add you to the national road accident statistics.

Also, the closest the 8 out of 10 supersports bike get to a track is the parking lot.

The segment in which the Daytona 660 resides is itself hotly contested. These are “everyday” sportsbikes that you can commute and tour on, and then ride on trackdays. And this was the biggest consideration.

Built on the amazingly popular Trident 660 platform, it provides superb handling, confidence, ease of controls, and a super punchy engine. The way it was designed even allows for saddlebags should you want to go touring. The seating position does not have your buttocks in the faces of other road users. And the handlebars are not placed so low that have you doing push-ups.

Let us not forget that engine. Triples usually have an aggressive punchy (along with a rowdy exhaust to it). However, Triumph have always worked hard to produce linear throttle response for all their bikes. As such (along with confidence inspiring handling), new and inexperience riders will not find it intimidating, while veteran bikers will still find it entertaining.

And that was why the Triumph Daytona 660 is the Sportsbike of the Year.

Nett selling price: RM 49,500

What we liked: Everyday usability, styling, handling, character.

What we did not like: No fully adjustable suspension.

Vespa Sprint 150 S – Best Scooter of the Year 2025 (Below 250cc)

The Best Scooter of the Year (Below 250cc) category is another segment that proved supremely difficult to determine the winner for the Allianz-BikesRepublic.com Motorcycle of the Year Awards 2025, as there are more than 10 models. And all of them are worthy. However, one stood out and that was the Vespa Sprint 150 S.

Why did the Vespa Sprint 150 S win?

Firstly, the Vespa Sprint 150 S is not the fastest scooter. Nor is it the more powerful.

But motorcycling is a way of life. It goes further than about how many HP and Nm. It transcends the top speed of a motorcycle. It is not about about how much a motorcycle costs to buy and maintain. Sometimes, it does not even matter if the motorcycle has the latest features.

The bike evokes emotions, albeit differently, to those young and old. The younger generation sees it as hip, while oldies like me look at it behind nostalgic glasses. Some spend thousands more than the price of the bike to personalise it. Some just want to enjoy the wind on their faces and hair, just like in the Roman Holiday (the 1953 version). You do not even have to understand it: Love the best parts, and live with the flaws.

This model continues the traditions of the very first Vespa, such as the wasp-like body, wide floor boards, seating position, but is as modern as it can be without trampling on those long-lived features.

It is about La Passione (the passion – make sure to include the hand gesture).

And that, our friends, is what the Vespa Sprint S embodies to a tee.

Nett selling price: RM 20,900

What we like: Easy going, undying style.

What we did not like: We will be missing the point is there was something we did not like!

Honda ADV350 – Best Scooter of the Year (Above 250cc)

Scooters, well, more specifically adventure scooters are all the rage these days. It all began when Honda introduced the X-ADV (750), which turned out to be a sales success. Before long, Honda scaled things down to the ADV160. Since then, almost every manufacturer has an “adventure scooter.” Finally, the Honda ADV350 “Urban Adventure Scooter” was launched amidst heady anticipation in 2022 and arrived in Malaysia in 2024.

The ADV350 was the first 350cc adventure scooter in market when it was launched, and continues to enjoy steady sales despite several new challengers. This maxi adventure scooter category is definitely heating up.

Why did the Honda ADV350 win?

First and foremost, it bears striking resemblance to its bigger X-ADV brethren, more so that the ADV160. A big sized body, which also ensures maximum space for storage and the seats, in addition to providing protective features such as a large screen from the elements. It looks great, too, maybe even more so than the bigger bike.

Powered by a 330cc, single-cylinder, SOHC, liquid-cooled engine equipped with PGM-FI fuel injection with enhanced Smart Power Plus (eSP+) technology, it produces 28.8 HP at 7,500 RPM and 31.8 Nm at 5,250 RPM. It provides punchy torque and power, while maintaining frugal fuel consumption.

Its transmission is CVT, unlike the X-ADV’s trick Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT).

One nifty feature is the Emergency Stop Signal (ESS – Emergency Stop Signal) which flashes the brake lights when the rider apply sudden and hard braking. it is the first for a scooter.

Lighting is LED all-around, the underseat ‘trunk’ can accommodate two full-faced helmets, the TFT screen provides Bluetooth connection, and fuel capacity is 11.7 litres.

These are the aspects that endeared us to the bike. Talk about having your cake and eating it.

Nett selling price: RM 33,999

What we liked: Practicality, great looks, build quality, torque.

What we did not like: The waiting period!

Yamaha Y16ZR – Best Kapcai of the Year

Winning the Best Kapcai of the Year category for the Yamaha Y16ZR in the Allianz-BikesRepublic.com Motorcycle of the Year Awards 2025 is no easy feat.

This is a hard-fought category, chock-full of motorcycles that are truly capable, showing us just how far kapcais have come. It used to be that kapcais were just a means of getting from Points A to B, but there are so many these days that are full of great features. It is no surprise that even veteran bikers buy kapcais to get their adrenaline fix while revelling in the bike’s practicality.

Supporting this category of motorcycles is a fully mature aftermarket industry that provides all the solutions to customise one’s kapcai from bog stock to personalised, and of course, the upgrade the bikes’ performance from mild to wild.

So why did the Yamaha Y16ZR win?

Launched in 2021, the model took performance kapcai category to a new level, even overshadowing its long-running cousin, the Y15ZR, more commonly known as the YSuku.

Central to this shift is the Yamaha Y16ZR’s engine. The 155cc, liquid-cooled, SOHC with Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) powerplant produces 17.7 HP at 9,500 RPM and 14 Nm at 8,000 RPM. It remains as the only kapcai to utilise an engine with VVA, and was the first to feature a slipper and assist clutch.

Heck, this engine platform is so good that it powers another three of Yamaha’s super popular motorcycles, namely the YZF-R15/R15M sportbike, MT-15 naked bike, and the NVX scooter.

The VVA features ensures that the bike pulls hard from the lights, and continues to pull all the way to its redline. Overtaking is a breeze, too, as there is torque and power available throughout the rev range.

While there is one particularly more powerful kapcai in the market, the Y16ZR boasts a well-rounded character, in terms of performance, handling, (passable) comfort, practicality, and features. Its overall build quality is fine, too.

Last but not least, although it is not something we recommend, there are plenty of aftermarket parts and accessories to support the model.

These are the reasons why the Yamaha Y15ZR is the Best Kapcai of the Year in the Allianz-BikesRepublic.com Motorcycle of the Year Awards 2025, despite being launched 4 years ago.

What we liked: Flexible engine, sportiness, handling.

What we did not like: Seats need more cushioning.

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