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The 2015 model year motorcycles are just around the corner so it’s time for us to reveal our choices for the Best Motorcycles of 2014. You will find almost every genre on this list from the sub-$8,000 streetbikes to the luxurious long-distance touring machines. Our picks are in no particular order.

Best sportsbike: Ducati 899 Panigale

The successor of the 848 is a fantastic bike: it’s user-friendly and it’s a very refined concept. Power delivery, handling, fueling, and great traction control all are very precise. The Gixxer might be a little bit faster on the track but the 899 is easier to use on the street and it’s a whole lot of exotica for your money. It has a roaring 148-horsepower (110 kW) V-Twin with the well-known desmodronic system while dry weight is 373 pounds (169 kilograms). It’s not that much of a surprise that the 899 is topping sales charts in its category. Price tag: $14,995.

Middleweight streetbike: Yamaha FZ-9

Yamaha broke the annoying trend that all new models have to be more expensive than the outgoing ones. The new FZ-9 costs less than the old one and that’s not all: Yamaha has undercut the competition by more than $1,000. The playground of the FZ-9 is a growing and increasingly sporty segment than ever and the FZ-9 is one of the most entertaining players in this class. The motorcycle is powered by a 847cc inline engine and has a dry weight of just 396 pounds (180 kg) which make it an exceptionally exciting bike to ride. The best aspect of the FZ-9? Its incredible value: it costs only $7,990.

Naked bike: KTM 1290 Super Duke

You might laugh at this over-the-top bike of the Austrian manufacturer, but don’t forget what KTM did in the last couple of years: in 2000, they were just a small dirt-oriented company from a tiny Middle-European country with lots of mountains. Now, they produce motorcycles that truly shine on tarmac and exceed the offerings of its better-established competitors like BMW and Honda. The biggest Duke is the best example: thank to its 1301cc V-twin engine it can embarrass a host of seemingly sportier machines but it’s still very usable when you don’t want to unleash its devilish side. Price tag: $16,999.

Sports Touring: Yamaha FJR1300 ES

Yamaha launched the modern era of sport-touring when they revealed the FJR1300 back in 2001. Since then, they got some serious competition, just think of the BMW R1200 RT. The FJR got some important updates in 2014 and now it features an electronically adjustable suspension. This suspension upgrade has made a huge difference in the overall performance and feel of the FJR. The Bavarian’s R1200 RT is more high tech with its ESA suspension but Yamaha is more powerful and feels smaller. Price tag: $16,890.

Luxury touring: BMW K 1600 GTL

If you are interested in a BMW 1600 GTL side box, see this RKA Luggage BMW K1600GT/GTL/ 2014 R1200RT- Liners

The K 1600 GTL has been the favorite long-distance touring machine since BMW revealed the platform three years ago. The GT is a bit sportier while the GTL offers more luxury. What’s not to like? The heart of this 794-pound (360 kg) monster is a smooth six-cylinder which cranks out 70% of its torque at 1500 rpm, the option list is longer than a Russian romantic novel from the nineteenth century and the ESA-II allows on-the-fly adaptations to suit variable road conditions. It even has a Hill Start Control. Price tag: $29,950.

Small cruiser: Star Bolt

You could argue that Yamaha’s cruiser division, Star cloned the successful Sportster but the Japanese engineers made it in many ways better. The new Bolt is the most dangerous enemy of the Harley Iron 883. The Japanese cruiser is powered by a 942cc V-Twin that is more powerful than the V-Twin from Harley and there’s more suspension travel, too. The Bolt offers easy handling, more than enough low-end power and it has a dry weight of just 540 pounds (245 kg). But here comes the real deal: it costs nearly $400 less than the Iron 883. The Bolt is an affordable machine which is perfect for urban riding.

Big cruiser: Indian Chief Classic

When you relaunch a classic brand, plenty can go wrong, but Polaris, makers of Victory motorcycles, got the job done. They built the bike around the newly-developed Thunder Stroke V-Twin. The 111 cubic-inch 49-degree air-cooled engine is modern with a ride-by-wire throttle and it delivers a 119 lb-ft of torque. The engine sits in a modern aluminum frame that weighs in at 58 lb and the bodywork is just stunning. The Chief bikes are available in three models: the Classic, Vintage, and Chieftain. Price tag: nearly $20,000.

Adventure: Suzuki V-Strom 1000

Let’s get straight to the point: the V-Strom 1000 is simply the most-affordable big adventure bike on the market. BMW’s R1200 GS and the KTM 1190 Adventure are more high-tech, more powerful, faster and more economical, but the V-Strom costs around $12,700 while KTM’s bid adventurer costs you $17,800 and BMW carries a price tag of $19,500. The V-Strom has an excellent chassis and is lighter and lower than its main rivals so it handles really nice.

Motocrosser: Kawasaki KX450F

The KX450F is simply the best dirt bike in its category: for the past years, the Japanese have made it highly adjustable. It has two-position footpegs and four-position handlebar clamps and shines on the track thanks to its very versatile ergonomics. For 2015, Kawasaki had made the already superb suspension even better. The bike got a highly adjustable new air fork that features springing and damping functions in separate tubes for the new model year. Price tag: $8,699.

If you are inetrested in a 1/12 KX450F, see this 1/12 KAWASAKI KX450F DIRT BIKE (2012), Manufacturer: NEW RAY, Part Number: 370047-AD, VPN: 57483-AD, Condition: New