The 10 Best Buys in Motorcycles for 2018

Life

2018 Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Base Price: $14,500

It's not often that Harley-Davidson completely redesigns and re-engineers its bikes, and it's rarer still when that new bike replaces two complete Harley lines. And yet, that's what happened here.

This new Softail not only replaces the old Softail but the Dyna lineup, too. To do that, Harley developed an all-new, lighter chassis with better lean angles. So, it has the custom Softail look reminiscent of the old bike mixed with the sportier ride of the Dyna. Between those rails sits the 1753 cc version new Milwaukee 8 V-Twin engines that debuted last year on the company's biggest bikes for a smoother, more efficient and torque rich thrust.

The least expensive way to get into a new Softail is the Street Bob. It's blessed with fairly generous clearance from the mid-mounted pegs and a thoroughly modern suspension. So this is perhaps the first Softail that won't be out-of-place on a twisty road. Because the Street Bob is essentially stripped of any heavy fairings and accessories that sometimes weigh down Harley's bikes, this one should feel quite snappy when you roll on the throttle.

2018 Yamaha XRS700

Base Price: $8,500

The 410-pound XRS700 draws inspiration from the classic XS650 of the 1960s and '70s. The classic seat, the shape, and striping on the tank and that shorty exhaust, really give this bike a great look. The XRS700 shares quite a bit with Yamaha's sweet-handling FZ-07, including the engine and frame.

The 689cc Twin cranks out 50 lb-ft of torque and uses Yamaha's "Crossplane Concept" 270-degree crankshaft to develop a meaty plateau of thrust from low to mid-range. This bike is well-suited for commuting thanks to the suspension with a comfy tune and 5.1-inches of travel. So, if a retro-designed middle-weight standard bike free from unnecessary bodywork is appealing—this Yamaha is a good deal at just $8,500.

This one has been trolling European streets for a few years now. However, it's not a complete stranger. The CB650F is basically a stripped-down version of the CBR650F wearing taller handle bars.

It's the perfect machine to battle foes in the red-hot middle-weight naked bike class. The difference here is that Honda has two more cylinders than the competition. The 649cc inline four-cylinder cranks out the most power in this class, and that smooth motor positively sings when revved all the way to 12,000 rpm.

The downside is that it doesn't have the torquey-whallop down low in the rev range as some twins do. The CB650F is not only reasonably quick but also very comfortable. It's also quite handsome. This CB650F is easily one of the best-looking bikes in the class.