- Every year, we look forward to the time when we sit down and take a good look at all the four and two-wheelers that were launched (and that we actually reviewed) in the previous year. It’s an entertaining exercise, and something that leads to much discussion, argument, and hilarity — we like to call this our Jury Round. At the end, we’re left with a select set of the very best automotive products — the ones making up the Motoring World Awards. Here, then, are our winners for 2022!
Commuter of the Year
Premium Motorcycle of the Year
Adventure Motorcycle of the Year
Cruiser of the Year
Performance Motorcycle of the Year
Superbike of the Year
Design of the Year
Scooter of the Year
Motorcycle of the Year
Manufacturer of the Year
Commuter of the Year
As the world we live in evolves, so have motorcycles progressed over the years. While commuter bikes are and will prevail to be the backbone of our Indian two-wheeler industry, they have outgrown that typical commuter persona and sprouted into different subgenres. This year saw a good bunch of sporty commuters that have added a zing to the rather vanilla line-up of usual commuter bikes. These motorcycles have either been built from the ground up or are watered-down versions of their bigger siblings. The contenders for the Commuter of the Year award include the Bajaj Pulsar NS125, TVS Raider 125 and Yamaha FZ-X. Bagging the award with the highest points was the new, stylish and refined TVS Raider 125.
Premium Motorcycle of the Year
This segment chiefly comprises buyers who want something exciting yet comfortable to make their daily commuting a lot more enjoyable. To achieve the same, these motorcycles have been designed keeping the looks, performance and agility at the forefront. The nominations for this year are the Bajaj Pulsar N250 and F250, Honda CB200X, Royal Enfield Classic 350 and the KTM RC 200. Off the lot, the winner for this year’s premium motorcycle of the year award goes to the Royal Enfield Classic 350. It’s the same bike, yet all-new. A true RE!
Adventure Motorcycle of the Year
The iconic American motorcycle maker stepped outside its comfort zone — and delivered big time. Very few motorcycles in history have gotten things right at the first go, and the Pan America is one of them, with a unique character of its own.
Cruiser of the Year
Riding down the favourite stretch of tarmac, with arms stretched out, legs resting on the forward-set footpegs, cruisers have a vibe of their own. They are probably the best way to enjoy riding a motorcycle in a leisurely way. However, for this year we have two competitors and both apart from their leisure stance are very capable cruisers in terms of performance and agility. That said, the two contenders for the Cruiser of the Year award include the Benelli 502C and the Indian Chief Dark Horse. And the cruiser to bag the award this year is the iconic American brand Indian with the Chief Dark Horse.
Performance Motorcycle of the Year
No awards event is complete without this category. It is the Performance Motorcycle of the Year and it is this category that packs all the powerful and fast machines that are on offer in the two-wheeler market. While it is not only about performance, the bikes nominated here also need to perform well in the twisties and well as not be cumbersome to live with on an everyday basis. That said, the contenders for this year include the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, Suzuki Hayabusa, Triumph Trident 660, Honda CB650R, Ducati Streetfighter V4 S, Ducati Monster and the Kawasaki Z650RS. We won’t deny that it was a tough decision to choose a winner among all these capable contenders, but we had to select one — and it could only be the hyper-naked, the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S.
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Superbike of the Year
Superbikes belong at the very top of the motorcycle pyramid. They’re tarmac-focussed machines that deliver the highest levels of speed, handling and braking, and for years, one name has done all this and much more — the Hayabusa. It was a shoo-in this year for this award.
Design of the Year
What do you expect when you strip a MotoGP-inspired motorcycle of its fairing but still retain the winglets and impossible levels of power? The Ducati Streetfighter V4 S is like nothing that came before it, even by the Italian manufacturer’s own lofty standards.
Scooter of the Year
Scooters have become an indispensable part of our two-wheeler lives. With everyone wanting the ease of the two-wheeler, along with the convenience of storage space, this year saw a couple of interesting additions to the scooter market. There’s the fresh and edgy Avenis from Suzuki, the well-engineered Jupiter 125 from TVS, the premium and classy C 400 GT from BMW and the proper sporty Aerox 155 from Yamaha. After a lot of discussions and a clash of opinions, we finally agreed to elect the Yamaha Aerox 155 as the Scooter of the Year for 2022. Go, Yamaha!
Motorcycle of the Year
This is what happens when someone makes a commuter with the soul of a cafe racer. When the focus is on economy as well as on entertainment, we don’t see how the bike can be anything but a winner. The TVS Raider is a rare motorcycle that does a lot more than anyone expected of it in this segment, and is a thoroughly deserving winner of the biggest award of them all.
Manufacturer of the Year
The company is 120 years old. And it’s better than ever. What’s heartening is that it’s going to get even better! For an Indian manufacturer to make motorcycles that appeal to riders all over the world and to dive headlong into the very culture it’s helped to create is something that should make every Indian rider proud, even if they don’t ride a Royal Enfield.
