When you’d like a snapshot of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the motorbike trade, this yr’s EICMA commerce present is it. It’s clear that budgets have shrunk over the previous two years, and it’s even clearer that main OEMs have discovered cheaper methods to launch bikes to the general public, than to splash out on ground house at a commerce present.
Notable gamers like BMW and Triumph opted to disclose their 2023 updates within the weeks main as much as EICMA, quite than ready for the present itself. And most of the manufacturers that did pitch up, did so with mildly up to date variations of present bikes.
Main revelations had been few and much between, however we did handle to pick a handful of highlights (and lowlights) to your studying pleasure. If we missed something, be happy to holler at us within the feedback.
Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor Royal Enfield’s trendy 650 twins are lauded for a way simple they’re to trip, how delightfully minimalistic they’re, and the way their traditional design lends itself to customization. However regardless of the platform’s versatility, it solely is available in two flavors: the Interceptor roadster, and the Continental GT café racer. Till now, that’s.
The brand new Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor cruiser provides a 3rd model to the combination. It’s powered by the identical 648 cc engine as its siblings, but it surely’s nearer to the smaller Royal Enfield Meteor, design-wise (therefore the identify).
Its low-slung silhouette is courtesy of its distinctive tubular metal body, designed by Harris Efficiency. The bodywork has been designed to match, with a sculpted tank that rolls down right into a scooped saddle. It’s propped up on upside-down forks with a 19” wheel up entrance, and twin shocks with a 16” wheel out again.
Positive, the Tremendous Meteor is slightly small in comparison with most cruisers, however we reckon that’s a part of its attraction. The actual query although, is whether or not Royal Enfield will lastly add a 650 scrambler to their vary, now that each different field is ticked. We wait with bated breath.
MV Agusta 921 S Idea Some of the intriguing bikes to come back out of EICMA this yr, is that this neo-retro café racer idea from MV Agusta. Dubbed the 921 S Idea, it’s a shocking design that borrows from MV Agusta’s heritage with out attempting to appear to be a classic machine.
It was designed as a tribute to one of the crucial iconic MV Agusta bikes ever, the 1973 750S. And though the 2 machines are worlds aside, there are hints of the 750S sprinkled all around the 921 S—plus its livery is a lifeless giveaway. The design is visually gentle and intensely well-balanced, emphasizing the bike’s inline-four engine.
And that’s the actual information right here; the 921 S motor is a brand-new, floor up design, not at present discovered within the MV Agusta vary. The 921 cc, 115.5 hp unit hangs from a metal trellis body with aluminum pivot plates. There’s quite a lot of fascinating stuff right here—from the distinctive ‘spoked’ rear wheel to the floating tail bump.
There’s no information on whether or not the 921 S will make it to market in its present type—and if it does, when it’ll arrive and what it’ll value. Nevertheless it appears to be like unimaginable, so our fingers are crossed. [Source]
Bimota KB4 RC Bimota introduced a few new machines to EICMA (together with a dust bike primarily based on the Kawasaki KX450X). However the largest neck-bender, was the Italian model’s KB4 RC ‘café racer.’
Bimota first teased the KB4 RC in 2021, as a unadorned idea of their fully-faired KB4 sportbike. Now they’ve lastly fleshed out, and revealed, the ultimate bike. And all we wish to do is put the fairing again on.
The faired KB4 is definitely a quite engaging motorbike, laden with high-end supplies and elements and powered by a 140 hp Kawasaki engine. However take away its fairing, and its distinctive, flowing design turns into an ungainly mess. It doesn’t matter what angle you have a look at the bare KB4 RC from, there’s simply an excessive amount of occurring—and that doesn’t gel with the ‘much less is extra’ aesthetic that the majority café racers intention for.
Little question the KB4 RC’s exclusivity and unique nature will attraction to some… however we’re not seeing it.
Honda XL750 Transalp Everybody knew that Honda had been about to launch an up to date model of their widespread Transalp journey bike. However scores of Honda followers nonetheless rejoiced when Huge Pink made it official at EICMA. In any case, the Transalp has at all times been widespread for its versatility and reliability—but it surely’s been lacking from Honda’s line-up for a decade.
The brand new 2023 Honda XL750 Transalp takes every part that was good about its predecessors, and cranks it up a notch. It’s powered by the identical 755 cc parallel twin mill that you simply’ll discover within the new Honda CB750 Hornet, with an output of 67.5 kW [90,5 hp] at 9,500 rpm and 75 Nm at 7,250 rpm. A 270-degree firing interval provides character, whereas Honda’s ‘Unicam’ head design helps hold the motor tight.
It will get a ride-by-wire throttle with a number of driving modes, a 5” TFT show and LED lighting. The body is a metal diamond affair, with preload-adjustable Showa suspension operating at each ends and a curb weight of 459 lbs. And when you like your journey bikes with large wheels, the Transalp has you lined with a 21F/18R combo.
The brand new Transalp slots into the hole between the smaller CB500X, and the larger CRF1100L Africa Twin. Its middle-of-the-road styling displays this; it’s not fairly as visually thrilling because the Africa Twin, but it surely’s significantly better trying than the CB500X. Some would possibly name it bland, however we expect it appears to be like uncomplicated and utilitarian—and that vibe has at all times been the Transalp’s energy.
Honda CL500 Honda introduced multiple bike to EICMA. Switching focus from journey bikes to trendy classics for a minute, they threw the wraps off the brand new Honda CL500 scrambler.
The brand new CL500 isn’t precisely a reproduction of the Honda CLs of the 60s and 70s, however quite extra of a homage. It borrows its 471 cc twin-cylinder engine from the Insurgent 500, with adjustments to its gasoline injection, and consumption and exhaust setup. So it makes an enough 34.3 kW [46 hp] and 43.4 Nm.
The Insurgent’s affect is felt within the strains of the CL500’s body and gasoline tank too—and we’re not fairly positive how we really feel about that. That sharp upward line on the entrance of the tank doesn’t do the bike’s appears to be like any favors, however we don’t completely hate it both. The drilled warmth defend over the high-riding exhaust is a transparent nod to the classic CL sequence.
The CL500’s rough-and-tumble appears to be like are backed up by a 19F/17R wheel combo, shod with blocky dual-sport tires. Quirks apart, it’s a good-looking little motorbike that needs to be enjoyable sufficient to trip, and, if the worth is true, may do rather well.
Ducati Scrambler Ducati previewed updates to their Scrambler vary at EICMA, marking the primary time they’ve achieved something main to the platform because it was first unveiled eight years in the past. The brand new bikes don’t look radically totally different from earlier than, however there are a variety of marked variations.
The following technology Scrambler remains to be propelled by Ducati’s twin-cylinder Desmodue engine, and remains to be constructed round a trellis body. However that body’s been redesigned to shave weight off, the subframe is now a separate unit, and the rear shock now sits nearer to the middle of the bike. The engine’s gone on a weight-reduction plan too, and there’s a very new clutch.
Visible adjustments embrace a brand new gasoline tank with swappable facet covers, and new wheels. The headlight is now a full LED affair, with a daytime operating gentle. And the speedo’s been changed by a quite awkward-looking TFT unit.
The Scrambler now is available in three variations: Icon [top], Full Throttle [above] and Nightshift [below right], every with its personal ultimate trim. There’s no point out of the wholly radical Desert Sled, which leads us to imagine that it’s been dropped from the vary—which makes us unhappy.
However maybe the most important change to the Scrambler line-up is within the textual content itself. Ducati has lastly stopped referring to it because the ‘Scrambler Ducati,’ and has lastly joined the world’s press in merely calling it the ‘Ducati Scrambler.’ That alone is trigger for celebration.
