Its really quite difficult to pick my top bikes - I need to have ridden a particular bike in a relevant manner in order to pass proper judgement...
But here goes in no particular order...
Thanet Silverlight - I love my Silverlight which for me rides wonderfully on the road in large because it fits me and the geometry also suits - but and this is important, when I rode it on Herne Hill track (which is by no means extreme) was awful so demonstrating the importance of horses for courses
Bates Cantiflex - a classic frame generally built very soundly which rides beautifully in a very modern way on the road - in other words its steering is quick, stable... and precise. Which is generally important to me.
Longstaff Audax a keeper of the flame who until his untimely death was the most impressive builder I have seen in action ... and I have seen quite a few actually building and ridden their frames but of course not all... And rides great ... which is what it is all about
Hirondelle Retro-direct - great fun ... not fast ... but not every bike has to be fast...
Peugeot TDF 1922 - awful on tarmac but great on unsealed surfaces as in the Tours of the 20s, supremely stable though with pathetic brakes
Cinelli Super Corsa 1950s/60s - my first classic and gorgeous, such a sound handling bike ... that also looks so right
Moulton APB set up right, a wonderful ride quite different to anything else we normally ride
Levant and Watanabe keirin track bikes - I've not ridden either but I've watched my son, Keir ride both and heard his comments - their geometry is spot-on for the track and they ride better than most other track bikes - they are are also ultra tough ... though one did not fully survive a pile up at Newport Velodrome but is being repaired as we talk.
But I better not mention the more modern bikes that ride outstandingly... Trek OCLV, Corima, Raleigh Dyna-Techs (several different ones and don't laugh, bonded steel, metal matrix, titanium), Fuquay 853, Specialized Stumpjumper
But if we are judging on looks ... I'll have to have another think...
Hilary Stone, Bristol, England