Triumph

The legendary Daytona 675 is commonly regarded by many as the most complete mid-sized sports bike in the world, and thanks largely to its depth of ability, Triumph proudly announces a continuing increase in sales year-on-year. That old adage, “race it on Sunday, sell it on Monday” works the same with bikes as it does with cars. So well are things going for the British maker that they have opened a second manufacturing plant here in Thailand to keep up with demand in India and the far east. The firm had to overcome a horrific factory fire at their Leicestershire facility back in 2002 (which was alarmingly close to my UK home!), but they have bounced back strongly, and it seems every new model they launch wins new acclaim, multiple awards and new buyers. The aggressive and minimalist Speed Triple sits alongside classics like the Bonneville, and no other maker covers quite so many bases as successfully as this European marque. Key to the Triumph appeal is the long-standing 3-cylinder engine, which gives the bike its characteristic howl. Several of the Japanese sports bike makers routinely site the Daytona as the accepted recipe for making a superb, knee-down all-rounder. The fact it handles so well and is so beautiful has made it tough to beat.

Harley Davidson

You would expect a company that can trace its roots back to 1901 to market itself purely on its long-standing heritage. Not so with this massive North American institution. William Harley and Arthur Davidson were boyhood friends who experimented with attaching tiny motors to bicycles; humble beginnings indeed for a fledgling company which would go on to become a world leader by 1920. Few vehicles in modern history can lay claim to creating a whole scene from scratch, but these big-capacity bikes were responsible for the conception of the jacket-and-chrome custom bike scene, the idea of using a motorcycle as a long-distance cruiser, and of course, the notorious Hell's Angels and their Chapters which span the entire globe. Despite these legacies, the Milwaukee firm has also launched a more sporting range (the stunning VRSC), and continues to extend its line-up of classic tourers and low-riders. To some, there is nothing to touch the street-shaking rattle of an oversized soft-tail hog cruiser.

Ducati

This Italian maker has long been seen as a two-wheeled Ferrari of sorts, and has had so many owners over the years that its continued existence would seem to be something of an enigma. Few other sports bike manufacturers have so successfully combined race-inspired performance with such incredible self-conscious style, and the Ducati marque frequently lists worldwide as one of the most prestigious and most cool of the iconic mega-brands in any industry. Alongside the gorgeous 1098R sits the animalistic and suitably-named Monster, and whilst some believe that buyers are paying extra for the brand name, there are many who simply do not care. Even non-bikers look at something like the 999R and go weak at the knees. Ducati frequently uses current owners in their promotional material (the best-looking ones, of course), and the importance of rider satisfaction shines through their bike offering perhaps more strongly than any other super-sports maker. There are cheaper bikes and there are more reliable bikes, but none can quite compete with the glamour of a Duke.

Buell

The first Buell race bike was unveiled in 1983, and was designed by a Harley Davidson engineer named Erik Buell. The bike was based around a 1-litre Harley V-Twin engine (which they still use), and the eventual purchase of the company by Harley Davidson was perhaps inevitable. Buell now represents the sporting arm of Harley, yet their fresh and raw styling has attracted many new fans. Buell have now sold well over 120,000 bikes; small-fry indeed, but impressive figures for such a niche designer. The company likes to specialise in cross-over machines, such as the Ulysses off-road adventure bike, and their 60's-inspired “café racers.” Erik Buell makes a big play of the fact that their bikes are unique in offering strong power despite being light and easy to ride. This is the sports-exotic of choice for those who are not quite sure of there ability to handle a mad-power super-bike. If you did wish to walk this route, though, Buell will quite happily sell you a 1125R, which is more than capable of making you swallow your own tongue should you wish to nail it in second gear.

Piaggio

If you've ever been to Verona or Turin, you will know that this is the only way to get about a cosmopolitan cityscape. Piaggio sells 600,000 scooters a year in fifty countries, and own Aprilia and Moto Guzzi, who are some of the world's most respected sports bike brands. Perhaps best know for the classic Vespa scooter, this Italian marque offers a baffling array of models, with pricing to suit their sought-after reputation. Fan following has become something of a cult, and no young city dweller would be truly complete without one. There are cheaper scooters certainly, but none that match the passionate “must-have” desirability of a Vespa. Piaggio is also pushing forward with the concept of the electric scooter, which may change the way we look at small urban transportation. For the meantime, we will make do with the evocative image of a sexy, dark-skinned Italian woman dismounting a green-and-cream Vespa outside an espresso bistro.