PH2: Milan bike show
All the latest two-wheeled goodies from the Italian show
The headline stealer was the Ducati's announcement it is making a Panigale R for 2013 but when it transpired that the R gets titanium conrods, a lighter flywheel, aluminium tank, adjustable swingarm pivot, Termi exhaust system and carbon bits the focus fell on the new Hypermotard range.
With 26,000 sold so far to date, the Hypermotard is an important bike for Ducati and 2013 sees it gain a brand new liquid-cooled engine. The 821cc testastretta motor is unique to the Hypermotard and makes 110hp and 66lb ft of torque as well as coming with Ducati's APTC 'slipper' clutch. Aiming to bring the Hypermotard slightly closer to the practicality of the Multistrada, the new bike has a bigger 16-litre tank, ABS, traction control and improved riding position. Available in three guides - stock, SP and Hyperstrada - the SP features Marzocchi forks and an Ohlins shock, a radial brake master cylinder, forged wheels and a sportier seat while the Hyperstrada is touring focused with a tall screen, panniers, extended mudguards and improved rider and pillion comfort.
Finally there is the Diavel Strada, which is basically a Diavel with panniers and touring provisions including a screen, altered bars, heated grips and two 12v sockets.
Triumph has gone back to the drawing board and the 2013 Daytona represents the next generation of 675 triple.
In a similar fashion to MV, the new triple motor runs a larger bore and shorter stroke than the previous Daytona. With a 76mm bore and 49.6mm stroke the 2013 engine is 2mm wider and 2.7mm shorter dimensionally than the outgoing triple, a change that has increased the compression and also the redline by 500rpm to 14,400rpm, although power is only up 2hp and torque 1.5lb ft. As well as now running twin injectors per cylinder and titanium valves, the motor also has a slipper clutch as standard and a revised gearbox.
Chassis-wise the 2013 Daytona retains the cast trellis design of pervious models, however the geometry is altered to make it sharper and the wheelbase reduced thanks to a new swingarm. The standard Daytona comes with KYB forks and a revised shock that includes high and low speed damping control while the R version gets Ohlins NIX30 forks and a TTX shock. ABS is included on both models and as well as being switchable includes a 'track' setting that allows the rear wheel to drift into corners. The R comes with Brembo calipers while the standard Daytona runs Nissin units.
While visually similar to the 2012 Daytona, the updated bike has more aggressive lines and a side-mounted exhaust like the new Street Triple. Like the naked bike, the R is distinguished by a red subframe and white paint with a few carbon details while the standard Daytona is available in red, white or black.
Four new bikes from KTM in Milan but the 1290 Super Duke R concept bike was the star of the show. Using a larger RC8 engine the concept bike is destined to hit the roads in late 2013. Unlike previous models the new R will feature electronic riding assists such as traction control and anti-wheelie (although KTM insist they will be disengagable) as well as a single-sided swingarm and lightweight wheels with WP suspension. It's going to be insane!
For the slightly less courageous KTM also unveiled a new 390 Duke. Using a new 375cc single cylinder engine that makes 44hp and features ABS and WP suspension, the Duke is aimed at new riders and weighs just 150kg.
More experienced riders may be tempted by the new 690 Duke R, which is essentially an upgraded 690 Duke with parts that were developed through the Duke being used in the European Junior Cup one-make series in 2012. The suspension is upgraded with compression and rebound split between forks, a new WP shock, improved Brembo brakes, an Akrapovic exhaust and various cosmetic tweaks including crash bars!
KTM has also made a 'ready to go' Moto3 bike - the RC250R. Costing around 45,000 euros this is a 'customer' specification version of Sandro Cortese's championship winning machine.
MV has extended its range of 'affordable' middleweights with two new models for 2013 - the Brutale 800 and Rivale 800.
Both bikes use a stroked version of the counter-rotating triple engine from the F3. With a claimed 125hp and 60lb ft of torque as well as a comprehensive electronics package including traction control and variable fuel modes, the Brutale 800 is a naked bike while the Rivale is a Hypermotard styled machine.
BMW
A quiet Milan show for BMW saw only one new machine - the F800GT. Little more than a bigger fairing on the current F800, the GT was followed up by a few special edition paint schemes to celebrate BMW's 90th anniversary. It also announced it will be making a new naked bike that will stir emotions and showed a picture of a naked Boxer engined bike with retro styling.
The long awaited CB500s made their debut at Milan. Making a claimed 47hp from their parallel twin engine the CB range consists of three models - the CB500F, CB500X and CBR500R.
Sharing an identical steel diamond chassis, the F is naked and draws inspiration from the CB1000R, the X is more off-road Crosstourer inspired and the CBR500R a baby 'blade. All three have ABS as standard as well as 'wave' discs and immobilisers.
Honda is promoting the sporting nature of the CBR500R through the European Junior Cup, a one-make series for aspiring young riders run at selected rounds of the WSB Championship. And speaking of the CBR...
Honda has given the CBR600RR a slight tweak for 2013. The new bike gets a new fuel map, facelift, BPF forks, revised unit pro-link suspension and new wheels. It's an evolution not a revolution according to Honda, which leaves the Goldwing.
This is going to split opinions. The F6B is a stripped and lowered Goldwing with the F6 standing for the flat six engine and 'B' for bagger, which despite sounding like a sordid sexual act is a style of cruiser. The F6B is 28kg lighter than a 'wing and is arguably pretty cool looking.
News from Bimota is the firm's first sports tourer - the DB12 tourist. Terrible name but the Diavel powered Bimota isn't bad looking. Slightly more out there is the DB11 VLX, which is a Diavel engine with a supercharger bolted on taking it up to 191hp! That's more like it Bimota, give people a reason to buy the bike. Both are priced at around 30,000 euros.
Bimota also showed the BB2 'concept bike'. Powered by an S1000RR engine it isn't much of a looker but Bimota has signed an agreement with BMW and will be building bikes powered by the RR engine. Hopefully they will look better than this...
Husqvarna
Another concept bike from Husky, this time in the shape of the Baja 650 that uses the BMW single cylinder engine and harks back to Steve McQueen's Husky riding days. The Italian/Swedish/German firm also displayed its 2013 Dakar bike.
It has been a while coming, but Aprilia has finally re-launched the Caponord. Using the Dorsoduro 1200 as a base, the Caponord 1200 comes with ride-by-wire, three engine maps, ABS, traction control, hang guards and an adjustable screen as standard, upgradable with the optional Travel Pack.
Consisting of Aprilia's version of semi-active suspension, Dynamic Damping (ADD), and cruise control as well as panniers and a centre stand the Travel Pack puts the Capo right up there with the most technologically advanced big trailies.
Although the Caponord uses a similar chassis to the Dorsoduro, Aprilia claims it has been extensively modified for the big trailie while keeping the naked bike's agile handling. The 1,197cc V-twin engine is also slightly modified to produce 126hp and 83lb ft with longer gear ratios for touring use and a new 690W generator.
Moto Guzzi has updated its most iconic model for 2013 - the California. A complete ground-up redesign, the California uses a new 1,380cc transverse 90-degree V-twin which, according to Guzzi, is the largest V-twin ever produced in Europe.
The motor looks old-school but is packed full of modern technology including ride-by-wire, traction control, cruise control and variable fuel maps and makes an impressive 88lb ft of torque at just 2,750rpm with a peak power of 96hp.
The California comes in two guises - Touring and Custom - with the Touring equipped with panniers and a tall screen while the Custom is more stripped back. As you would expect there is a huge parts and accessories catalogue allowing riders to individualise their bike.
Do you not think that the attraction of sports or indeed touring bikes in recent years has resulted in a pursuit of aerodynamics and/or better ergonomics for long distance riding?
I'd say nowt to do with finding an excuse to put prices up-they can just do that to suit them.
Also have you not seen the various versions of Triumph's Bonnevilles etc.-not to mention the increase in naked bikes from the Japanese or Italians for that matter...
Odd.
Cannot see why there wouold be disappointment with the Panigale. Really want it to have more power. it get 6 over the other model and 15% more mid range.
Glad you had a good time - a good night on Tuesday as well although I wimped out a bit early.
Steve
Glad you had a good time - a good night on Tuesday as well although I wimped out a bit early.
Steve
Thanks, Euan
Thanks, Euan
Bunga bunga.
Glad you had a good time - a good night on Tuesday as well although I wimped out a bit early.
Steve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqKQ2A_FfyQ&fea...
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