With so many new scooters and motorcycles on the market today, it's not easy to choose one’s next two-wheel ride. Thankfully, AutoTrader has made the process a little easier, with its Best Bike Awards - now in its fifth year.

 

The judges looked at bikes across 12 categories, scrutinising practicality, performance, reliability, running costs, styling and technical features. The awards aim to provide honest, impartial advice to those considering a new bike.

 

Here are the winners for 2018:

 

Best Scooter: Honda X-ADV

This unorthodox-looking bike combines the qualities of a scooter and an adventure bike. One downside however was the near-£10,000 price tag.

 

Best AM: Peugeot Speedfight 50

The perfect scooter for 16-year-olds, the Speedfight 50 features a phone dock, USB socket and a backlit digital dash.

 

Best A1: Aprilia SX125

The SX125 won over judges thanks to being "cool, fun, easy to ride, well equipped and affordable" - although some beginners might struggle with the high saddle.

 

Best A2: Kawasaki Ninja 400

The entertaining Ninja 400 was described by judges as “a great sports bike introduction for novices”.

 

Best Middleweight: Suzuki SV650X

A fun-packed café racer that offers superb value for money.

 

Best Naked: Triumph Speed Triple RS

Britain's Triumph took the Best Naked accolade with its latest Triple RS, featuring 10 extra HP and the same superb handling.

 

Best Retro: CCM Spitfire Flat Tracker

Tiny Bolton-based outfit CCM won the Best Retro award, although the Spitfire Flat Tracker isn't the most practical of machines.

 

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Best Adventure: BMW R1200GS Adventure

Judges described the BMW R1200GS Adventure as “the Range Rover amongst bikes – the definitive”.

 

Best Sports Tourer: Yamaha Tracer 900 GT

This great all-round sports tourer impressed judges with its revised body and seat.

 

Best Cruiser: Harley Davidson Fat Bob

This Softail-focussed incarnation is lighter and quicker than predecessors, and handles better too.

 

Best Tourer: Honda Gold Wing GL 1800

If you can get over the near-£30,000 price tag, the Honda Gold Wing is the king of high-end tourers, offering “astounding refinement and ability… it’s a quantum leap on before”.

 

Best Sports: Ducati Panigale V4S

Judges say the updated V4S sets "a new standard in super-bike performance”, having swapped the V-twin engine for an all-new V4. Downsides include it looking pretty much the same as before, and it costing about £10,000 more than direct competitors.

 

Overall winner: Ducati Panigale V4S

Guest judge Andrew Shim said of the V4S: “The Ducati V4S is by far the superior bike this year. I own a Ducati V4S and I can say first-hand that Ducati hasn’t just moved the goal posts; it’s changed the game.”