MILAN MILESTONES

All the news from the EICMA Show

Milan may be the world’s fashion capital, but for one week a year, the North Italian City also becomes the World Motorcycle Capital in mid-November as the world motorcycle industry descends on the Tuscan city. Tis year saw several headlines, not least the Ducati Panigale V4R and its siblings, BMW’s S1000RR, Yamaha’s wacky Niken GT and a gravel Guzzi, but here was much more to see too – these were some of the highlights…

MV Agusta’s Superveloce celebrates 37 Moto GP titles in a fusion of contemporary and 70s vintage lines gracing a F3 800 with a remapped engine and a classic 3-into-1-into-3 exhaust.
Kawasaki has added electronic suspension to its accomplished supercharged 998cc H2 SX SE+ flagship to ‘blend performance and real-world handling’ among a raft of electronic tech.
Honda’s 5kg 5% stronger lighter CBR650R takes a leaf from big brother’s 1000RR styling. Add 41mm inverted Showa Forks adjustable shock and ram air ducts for that extra grunt.
MV Agusta’s 160kW F4 RC-based Brutale Serie Oro is the most powerful naked sports bike in the world thanks to ‘among the most powerful naturally aspirated fours in production’.
Husqvarna added the new ‘Black Arrow’ Svartpilen 701 to its growing naked street line-up. The edgy 56kW 697cc thumper Svartpilen draws inspiration from flat track racing.
For those who threatened by the monster 165kW RSV4, Aprilia’s a compact new 660cc parallel twin is essentially half a V4 that ‘might be way more accessible to most riders’.
BMW has expanded its R1250 boxer line-up to the R, RS and GS Adventure all sharing the quicker, more economical 7kW stronger 101kW 1254cc ShiftCam variable valve timed twin.
BMW added an Adventure model to its middleweight F850GS. Better for long-distance travel, Adventure adds a larger fuel tank for a 550km range and enduro-style controls.
KTM’s new 790 Adventure and Adventure R fill the mid-capacity gap in the line-up. Dirt-focused R gets enduro suspension and tyres while the base model is more touring oriented.
Yamaha’s 55kW Tenere 700 is parallel-twin gets modified fuel injection, a new double cradle tubular steel frame with a flatter, narrow, more slender seat and a bigger fuel tank.
KTM sees this SX-E 5 kid motocrosser replaces the 50 SX’s smoky 2-stroke engine and fuel tank with an electric motor and battery, as the future kids’ fuss-free first motorcycling step.
Kawasaki’s retro air-cooled W800 harks back to the ‘60s W1 that was the largest-displacement Japanese motorcycle available when it was introduced at 624cc.
Triumph’s Bonneville Diamond and Ace Cafe specials celebrate the 60th anniversary of the original ‘59 Bonneville T120. Diamond has a Union Jack tank design, Ace a blackened theme.

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