Driven Road Bike of the year

Yamaha MT-07. Photo / Supplied

Yamaha MT-07

When it came to picking the top road bike launched this year in New Zealand, it came down to two contenders.

The return of the Indian Scout to the landscape was a strong contender for the title, bringing back the iconic name to its spiritual home in a brilliant package.

Then there was the Yamaha MT-07, the learner-approved bike with more than enough power to keep even the most experienced riders happy.

But it was the learner over the iconic name that won the title. The Yamaha MT-07 beat out the returning Indian due to its accessibility to all riders and competitive pricing.

Launched in September this year as an Australasian-specific model, the MT-07 is a fantastic bike for riders of any experience. With a 655cc parallel twin specific to the LAMS market producing a brilliant 57.6Nm, the MT-07 has enough grunt to keep enthusiasts happy. It's also well priced - entering the market at $10,999 plus on-road costs.

The MT-07 also combined with supremely friendly ergonomics and an easy-to-control fully fuelled weight of 179kg, making it a winner for everyone.