EICMA

Whatever Happened to the Kawasaki J Shape-Shifting Electric Motorcycle?

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com In the very near future, electric motorcycles will become just as common as electric cars. There are countless startups working on such projects, and even giant Harley-Davidson has joined the party with the launch of the LiveWire. But there is one company that saw the potential of electric motorcycles years before all others. Back in 2013, at a time when electric cars were just beginning their ascension, Kawasaki introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show the J concept, a bike the likes of which the world had never seen before. Half a decade before Yamaha introduced the strangely shaped Niken, Kawasaki envisioned a motorcycle with two front wheels and also the ability to shorten and rise itself to suit a particular riding style. Moreover, the motorcycle was designed to be powered by an electric powertrain, something few thought about back then. The main trait of the motorcycle was that it could provide either a low riding position for high-speed motoring, or a more upright one just for cruising. It could do that by modifying the length and height of the wheelbase at a moment’s notice. The bike lacked handlebars in the traditional sense, and they were replaced by two controllers, governing each of the two front wheels. The concept looked fantastic, as you can see in the gallery above. It was of course too far fetched to actually spawn a production motorcycle anytime soon, but we would have expected at least some of the technologies previewed on it to actually make it into production. The two front wheel layout did, not at Kawasaki but over at Yamaha. The electric powertrain never made it into production at Kawasaki either – there is an electric version loosely based on the Ninja that was shown at EICMA 2019, but […]

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KTM joins BMW Motorrad in opting out of EICMA, Intermot due to coronavirus pandemic

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by Express Drives Desk from https://www.financialexpress.com/ In the best interest of their employees and customers, KTM AG will withdraw from global trade shows for the rest of the year, including INTERMOT in Cologne, Germany and the EICMA exhibition in Milan, Italy. KTM AG have announced that the company will not participate in the motorcycle shows – EICMA and Intermot – this year due to continuing uncertainties prevailing because of the coronavirus pandemic. This means that both brands – KTM and Husqvarna – will be absent from the two very important motorcycle shows. Earlier this month, BMW Motorrad also announced opting out of the two shows as well. KTM AG has gone on to suggest event organisers, especially of EICMA, to move the dates to 2021. The press statement from KTM AG reads that the company assessed their overall strategy for the rest of 2020 and have decided to make several key decisions in the wake of COVID-19 impacting public health, communities, the motorcycle industry and business on a global scale. In the best interest of their employees and customers, the company will withdraw from global trade shows for the rest of the year, including INTERMOT in Cologne, Germany and the EICMA exhibition in Milan, Italy. The proper planning of such events is currently at risk due to the uncertainty surrounding public gathering restrictions in most countries. The annual success of these indoor shows also sees hundreds of thousands of visitors gathering in enclosed spaces for a period lasting days and even weeks. For these reasons, KTM AG have identified their exclusion as a way to contribute towards a safe and strong return to normal activity. Husqvarna Motorcycles will push ahead with current and future projects in order to provide the motorcycling market with exciting and innovative models and look for

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Ducati Multistrada V4, an ADV with hyper bike performance

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The upcoming Ducati Multistrada V4 is expected to make global debut at the coming EICMA 2020 motorcycle show that is slated to take place towards the end of this year. Ducati Multistrada V4 has been snapped testing and the latest set of images issued by Morebikes.co.uk gives a clear idea of what the upcoming ADV will be like. The upcoming Ducati Multistrada V4 can be seen wrapped in camouflage and hence, the exact visual details are not visible entirely. The test mule has been spotted somewhere in Europe. Take a look at the pictures and you will notice without any mistake that the test mule is that of a Multistrada. However, there are a few changes that make you believe that this one is a V4. In terms of visuals, the new Ducati Multistrada V4 can be seen with a new all-LED headlamp set up and the front fairing has also been revised. Moreover, the rear view mirrors also look new. Take a deeper look and you will also notice the radar units placed between the two headlamps and these are a part of the company’s radar-assisted Advanced Rider Assistance System (ARAS). As the name suggests, these units will monitor the distance with other vehicles and will give the rider a warning when a vehicle comes too closer to the bike. Apart from these changes, the upcoming Ducati Multistrada V4 will also get a new subframe along with a double-sided swingarm. You can see that the subframe is trellis type and is painted in red. Coming to the engine, this is the same motor that powers the Ducati Panigale V4 and the streetfighter V4. However, don’t expect the power figures to be as much astonishing as the engine might be detuned to order to suit the characteristics of an adventure

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Futuristic SA motorcycle to go into production

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by Denis Droppa from https://www.businesslive.co.za Unlike anything yet seen on two wheels, Pierre Terblanche’s R1.1m Hypertek electric bike takes shape A futuristic South African motorcycle that attracted interest at a recent international motorcycle show is to go into production in two years’ time. Looking like a prop from a Blade Runner movie, the prototype of the outlandish Hypertek electric bike was unveiled in November at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, the motorcycle industry’s premier annual showcase. The Hypertek is a collaboration between SA’s Blackstone Tek (BST), a Johannesburg-based company specialising in carbon-fibre automotive components, and well-known SA designer Pierre Terblanche who penned iconic motorcycles like the Ducati 749 and 999. The striking Hypertek takes a bold sidestep from conventional motorcycle design. Looking like it was assembled from a giant Meccano set, it features no fairings and has all its mechanical elements on display, with the lithium-ion batteries housed in a finned, engine-like casing. Is it pretty? You decide. Is it spectacular? Heck yes. The bike is powered by an 80kW electric motor and has an estimated range of about 200km, taking as little as 30 minutes to fully charge on a DC quick charger. BST’s Terry Annecke says the $80,000 (R1.14m) bike is aimed at the high-end luxury market and will be hand-assembled in small volumes at BST’s Joburg factory from early 2022. She says the Hypetek has received 10 confirmed orders with at least 50 people “seriously interested” since the bike’s appearance at EICMA. Annecke expects a mostly international clientele for the bike, although the first two orders were placed by local buyers. “The Hypertek is aimed at people who appreciate it for its exceptional design and Pierre’s reputation,” she says, adding that the world-famous Barber motorcycle museum in Alabama, US, wants one for its collection. Terblanche, the

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The Husqvarna Norden 901 Adventure Bike Is Heading To Production

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by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com After Husqvarna unveiled the Norden 901 concept at EICMA in November 2019, we were pretty very vocal about how much we hoped the model wouldn’t stay a concept for too long. You guys were really excited about it when it was unveiled, it made our top 10 of the coolest bikes showed at EICMA, and it even found a spot in director Jason’s top 5 bikes he’s most excited to see in 2020. Now, we learn that Husqvarna is moving ahead and will make the model a reality. In a press release published on Monday, Husqvarna confirmed that the Norden 901 will become a full-time member of its lineup. This will become the brand’s first adventure motorcycle—a welcome addition if you ask me. The brand’s main focus was motocross and dirtbikes for a long time. It only very recently made the jump to street bikes with the introduction of the Vitpilen and Svartpilen 401 in 2018, then the 701 in 2019. The Norden 901 will strengthen the manufacturer’s presence in the road bike segment and will become the biggest engine currently offered in the Swedish lineup. The Norden will run on an 890cc parallel-twin engine, use WP suspension components, and run on 21 and 17-inch wheels. That’s pretty much all the numbers we get for now. We don’t even get a release date. The company promises a lightweight adventure bike—”class-leading lightness”—that will also be comfortable and versatile. Nothing we haven’t heard before. If the 701 twins are any indication, the Norden 901 has the potential to also be a lot of fun. “Breaking cover for the first time during the International Motorcycle show in Italy, the NORDEN 901 received high levels of interest from the hundreds of thousands of attending motorcycle fans as well as

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Ducati Streetfighter V4 Declared Most Beautiful Bike At EICMA 2019

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by Janaki Jitchotvisut from https://www.rideapart.com Ducati does it again! Which of the many bikes unveiled at EICMA 2019 has haunted your dreams?? If you said “Ducati Streetfighter V4, obviously,” you’re not alone. Venerable Italian motorcycle publication Motociclismo conducted its fifteenth annual poll, both of EICMA attendees and its readers at home. Guess which bike won? According to both EICMA attendees and readers who sadly couldn’t attend the show in person, the Ducati Streetfighter V4 was voted the most beautiful motorcycle of EICMA 2019. Motociclismo took to the MotoLive stage at EICMA to present the awards. Ducati design director Andrea Ferraresi and Streetfighter V4 designer Jeremy Faraud were both on hand to accept the official award. When all the numbers were tallied, the winner stood out by a mile. Not only did the Ducati Streetfighter V4 top the charts; it commanded a solid 36.7 percent of the vote. Second place went to the Aprilia RS 660 which received less than half the votes of the Streetfighter V4— just 14.9 percent. Third place was the MV Agusta Superveloce 800, with 11.23 percent of the vote. Fourth was the Honda CBR1000RR-R SP, with 9.43 percent, and fifth was the Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel, with just 4.76 percent of the vote. That makes Honda the only non-Italian manufacturer to crack the top five. Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, Motociclismo also reported that there was a difference in rankings for some bikes between voters who saw them in person, and voters who participated from home. The top four bikes among both groups of voters were the same, but from number five down, results are markedly different between those who saw these models only on screens, vs. those who saw them live. For example, a lot more people who saw the BMW F 900 R

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5 Of The Most Exciting Motorcycles Unveiled At EICMA 2019

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by Bryan Campbell from https://www.forbes.com/ EICMA, the International Motorcycle Show in Milan is always one of the most hotly anticipated events on the two-wheeled calendar. The show lays claim to some of the biggest model reveals and news of the year and 2019 was no different. There was a strong presence of overlanding and adventure motorcycles this year as that segment continues to trend upwards, but that didn’t stop Honda from grabbing headlines with its all-new MotoGP-inspired sportbike. These are five of the most exciting motorcycles unveiled at EICMA this year. Ducati Scrambler Desert X Concept Inspired by classic rally bikes and the legendary Dakar-winning Ducati-powered Cagiva Elefant, the Scrambler Desert X is essentially a bigger, more hardcore version of the Desert Sled. The finer details are scant but not much seems to be keeping this highly-modified Scrambler from going into production. The Desert X uses the Scrambler 1100 as its base architecture, rides on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear Pirelli Scorpion tires and has no less than four fuel tanks for long-distance riding. Harley-Davidson Pan America Considering Harley-Davidson’s recent questionable marketing ploys, like randomly sponsoring the X-Games and headlining in a Katie Perry music video, you can tell the American motorcycle manufacturer is throwing a lot at the wall to see what sticks. That includes the all-new, first-ever Harley-Davidson adventure motorcycle. The Pan America made its official debut at EICMA this year and also came sporting H-D’s new liquid-cooled V-twin engine. With the way the adventure market is trending, H-D is pinning its hopes on the Pan America, but seeing as how it’s the brand’s first venture into the space, there’s no way to tell how competitive the bike will be, just yet. Honda CBR1000RR R EICMA 2019 was filled to the brim with long-travel suspension and dirt-hungry knobby

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2020 Kawasaki Z900 now gets riding modes, traction control and increased ground clearance

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by Express Drives Desk from https://www.financialexpress.com The new Kawasaki Z900 now is more feature-packed and should be able to take on the Triumph Street Triple as well as Suzuki GSX-S750 in a better fashion. Kawasaki’s second showcase at EICMA 2019 was the updated Z900. The naked litre-class motorcycle gets a full complement of LED headlights, flanked by parking lights (LED) and a redesigned cowl. The Z900 also looks inspired from the Ninja H2 and if you take a closer look, it has got flanks as well. Kawasaki has redesigned the tank extensions and there is the exposed steel trellis frame. One more part that is now LED are the blinkers. Kawasaki hasn’t tinkered with the tail light that is still shaped in the Z pattern. The instrument console too now gets a TFT display with Kawasaki Rideology app connect through Bluetooth. Riding aids was something that was missing in the Z900. It is surprising that a Rs 8 lakh motorcycle didn’t have any other electronics apart from dual channel ABS. The new Kawasaki Z900 gets two power modes – Low and Full. This is the same from other Kawasaki models and cut off power when in low mode. There is also traction control on offer now. Kawasaki has also added riding modes – Rider, Rain, Sport and Road. The names are self explanatory and in the Rider mode, one can configure it according to their requirements. Shorter riders earlier preferred the Z900 for its lower (comparatively) 795mm seat height. However, for the 2020 model, Kawasaki has raised the seat height to 820mm. The motorcycle too has grown in length and is taller too. The good part is that the ground clearance is now up from the earlier lowly 130mm to 145mm. Kawasaki has also increased the wheelbase slightly. There though

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2020 Triumph Bobber TFC unveiled at EICMA 2019

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Limited Edition with more power, less weight Triumph Bobber TFC is powered by an updated version of the liquid-cooled 1200cc parallel twin which now makes 87 hp at 6,250 rpm and 110 Nm of torque, which is a 13 percent increase in power compared to the standard Bobber. by Express Drives Desk from https://www.financialexpress.com Triumph Motorcycles custom bike wing called Triumph Factory Customs has rolled out yet another gorgeous-looking TFC edition after the Thruxton TFC and Rocket 3 TFC earlier this year. Unveiled at the ongoing 2019 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, Triumph Bobber TFC boasts of more power, is lighter than the standard bike and will be limited to 750 units across the world. Triumph Bobber TFC is powered by an updated version of the liquid-cooled 1200cc parallel twin which now makes 87 hp at 6,250 rpm and 110 Nm of torque. The TFC has received a 13 percent increase in power compared to the standard Bobber and Bobber Black which produce about 77 hp. The exhaust system has also been updated with Arrow titanium pipes and carbon fibre end caps. The second most notable change is the styling of the Triumph Bobber TFC. While the design is largely the same, it gets a new paint scheme, carbon fibre bodywork, and a short mudguard. Frame and swingarm have been black powder-coated, it gets black anodised wheels, knurled handlebar grips and billet-machined aluminium oil filler cap. The black theme continues to the Öhlins RSU spring, Öhlins forks and engine covers. The use of lighter components has led to a weight saving of about 5 kg on the 2020 Bobber TFC. It features fully adjustable Ohlins upside-down forks and rear suspension. Braking components include twin floating discs up front with Brembo four-piston M50 radial monobloc callipers. The Bobber TFC features

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Harley-Davidson’s 2020 Bronx and Pan America EICMA debuts are big flags planted in a brave new world

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by Kyle Hyatt from https://www.cnet.com/ The Pan America ADV and Bronx middleweight naked bikes are unlike anything Harley has done before, but they might just be what The Motor Company needs to stay relevant. Harley’s first ADV bike, the Pan America, is set to bring that classic H-D burble to the wilder places of the world. One of the main criticisms that we (and seemingly the rest of the motorcycle press) likes to level at Harley-Davidson is that it’s been slow to respond to the changing desires — and budgets — of a younger motorcycle-riding demographic. That criticism is still valid today, but Harley announced its response during the 2019 EICMA show, and what a response it is. PAN AMERICA The Motor Company debuted two bikes in Milan on Wednesday, and they’re both aimed at segments in which Harley has never really participated. The first is a large-displacement adventure touring bike called the Pan America, and it’s pretty damned similar to the Pan America concept we saw back in 2018. The Pan America is packing a new liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin engine called the Revolution Max that displaces 1,250 cubic centimeters and is said to make 145 horsepower and more than 90 pound-feet of torque. Those are big numbers, especially for Harley, which is more accustomed to building bigger, lazier engines with less power and more torque. The Pan America differs from traditional Harley models in several other ways, too. It ditches the brand’s almost ubiquitous belt-style final drive for a chain that allows much simpler gearing changes and ease of repair should something go awry out on the trail. It also uses a rear trellis-style subframe for strength and reduced weight, meaning it should be a snap to mount all kinds of cool adventure-y hard luggage to it. Other changes

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