Every fall, Milan, Italy plays host to EICMA, the biggest industry showcase of the year.
EICMA is the show where manufacturers big and small compete for headlines with their newest, hottest model reveals. This year has been even better than most, with something from almost every major manufacturer prompting enthusiasts to start clearing garage space: full-fledged track demons; neo-retro classics; smaller, lighter, nimbler, go-anywhere ADV bikes. These are the debuts you should keep an eye on.
BMW
BMW’s been busy. Not only did they roll out an updated R1200 GS, a Dakar-inspired R nineT and a small ADV bike, but they also gave us the HP4 Race. Similar to Ducati’s Superleggera, the HP4 makes use of extensive carbon fiber — right down to its twin-spar frame. The S1000RR that it’s based on puts down 199 horsepower and weighs 434 pounds. Less weight, more power, and much more envy.
Honda
Africa Twin Enduro Sports Concept
It would be easy for Honda to rest on the laurels of its incredible Africa Twin; instead, they’ve developed a concept based on that beast, made for riders seeking an 80:20 dirt-to-asphalt ratio. Dubbed the Africa Twin Enduro Sports, this concept is lighter, has longer travel suspension and sports a healthy dose of aggressive Dakar styling.
Triumph
Based on Triumph’s new Street-Twin Bonneville, the Street Scrambler scores Hinckley a seat back at the Scrambler table. The chassis has been reworked to accommodate the longer travel suspension, a set of wide bars directing a 19-inch front wheel, a requisite high-mount exhaust and knee pads on the tank. This classic also gets a dose of modernity with ride-by-wire throttle, traction control and a uniquely switchable ABS.
Ducati
Ducati didn’t wait for the doors to open to wow crowds. The Italian marque took the wraps off of six new models — all of them absolute bombshells. Follow the jump below for our take on the whole group.
Moto Guzzi
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the V7, Moto Guzzi gave their most iconic motorcycle a well-deserved and gorgeous refresh.
Kawasaki
Husqvarna
It goes without saying that last year’s Vitpilen and Svartpilen concepts are the sexiest neo-retro bikes to hit the market — well, ever. The good news is, both have been green-lit and neither strays from the original design. The better news is that the 401 Vitpilen Aero Concept was also introduced to an awestruck crowd — in case you were worried that the Cafe Racer was starting to look a little tired.
Yamaha
The Yamaha T7 Tenere Concept may be the most exciting bike to debut. Lightweight materials, high-spec components and Yammi’s venerable parallel-twin power plant combine to create an off-roader with serious attitude — and the chops to back it up.
Suzuki
If you’re looking for an all-new entry-level sport bike, the Suzuki GSX-250R looks to be an incredible choice. Styled as a mini-me to the top-shelf GSX-1000R, the 248cc parallel-twin is inherited from the old stalwart GW250. But expect it to run with a sportier tune to help compete with the likes of Yamaha’s R3 and Honda’s CBR300R.
KTM
Two years ago we pegged the KTM Super Duke R as one of our bikes of the year for its power, aggression and handling. Now, Austrians figured, why not just turn those dials up to 12? The LC8 V-Twin gets a bump to 1,301cc and an extra seven ponies, along with an even more linear power band and a revised WP suspension setup.
Aprilia
Packing 95.2 horsepower and 66.4 lb-ft of torque, Aprilia’s newly revised Dorsoduro has its sights squarely set on one of our favorite Ducatis. It will be down on power from the Duc, but Aprilia’s electronic wizardry is second to none — which should make for an exciting and infinitely rideable Supermoto-style machine.