2017 forecasts: PH2

What we can expect from the world of two wheels over the next 12 months

2016 has seen some fairly major updates to every manufacturer's model range as tighter Euro4 emissions laws have come into force. However, far from being a bad thing (well, aside from an increase in massive and ugly exhaust systems) this new legislation has forced manufacturers to focus their design efforts on specific models and, as such, we are getting a far clearer view as to where each manufacturer is concentrating their future efforts. This, combined with the usual array of concept bikes and prototypes that we saw unveiled at the tail end of 2016, gives us the biggest hint to date at what is in store for two-wheeled transport. PH2 spoke to some of the most influential people in motorcycling to get a clear indication as to what the future holds...

BMW's air-cooled boxer engine will survive and will continue to power a range of retro bikes for the foreseeable future, despite tightening emissions laws.
"We will go on making the air-cooled engine, no question, and we will bring it to Euro5 specification, which is beyond 2020. I can't say in which models..."
Karl-Victor Schaller, BMW's head of R&D

But Kawasaki won't be building any air-cooled retro bikes.
"The W800 has stopped production and while we are interested in the retro market, we are not ready yet. We see retro bikes in Kawasaki's future, and a few years ago we showed a retro Z1000 made by an Italian company, which was an interesting concept. But sadly an air-cooled engine is not an option for us anymore."
Tsuyoshi Shibata, Kawasaki Motors Europe Product Planning Manager

Husqvarna is a brand to keep an eye on as it has big plans for the future.
"We want to become one of the top three motorcycle manufacturers in Europe and to produce more than 60,000 units. You can't simply achieve this with off-road, you need to diversify. The new 401s will not be our only road bikes; we will increase the 701 range and in years to come produce bigger bikes."
Oliver Gohring, Husqvarna's MD

And after several years in the wilderness, Suzuki is starting to wake up and is aiming to replicate the rejuvenated Yamaha's recent level of success.
"Maybe Yamaha will have achieved it a little bit quicker, but we will definitely replicate their success."
Toshihiro Suzuki, President and CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation

BMW is targeting selling 200,000 bikes by 2020, however it won't be doing this through small capacity models like KTM.
"It is not BMW's strategy to have lots of volume in the small capacity segment. We want to attract new customers, but we will not go 125cc or lower. The G310 is 100 per cent a BMW that attracts new customers who may step up to our big bikes, as our main focus will remain the big bikes above 500cc."
Stephan Schaller, President of BMW Motorrad

KTM won't be replacing the RC8 as it doesn't see any future in road legal sports bikes. However, fear not if you like fast orange bikes, it is building a MotoGP replica anyone can buy! Provided you have lots of money...
"MotoGP is one of the biggest pushes you can do for a brand, so much so you don't need a superbike in your road bike model line-up. However, we have a MotoGP track only replica in mind and it will be a very small volume track day weapon! It will also be incredibly expensive!"
Hubert Trunkenpolz, KTM's Chief Sales Officer

Ducati is working on engines that aren't only V-twins - could this hint at the return of the Desmosedici RR?
"Ducati is not about a very specific type of motorcycle; we made a V4 in the past so it is a possibility for the future. We will see something in the future that is different than just two cylinders, but exactly when this happens and what it is I cannot say."
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati's General Manager

However, sadly, there will not be a BMW MotoGP replica in the near future as the firm doesn't believe in the benefits of entering top-flight racing.
"Our focus is not to serve MotoGP, it is to serve the customers. We will always try to build the best superbikes that money can buy, but for a broad range of customers not two or three pilots that run around in circles."
Stephan Schaller, President of BMW Motorrad

The real reason for the BMW HP4 Race isn't as a track only bike, but as a clear indication that BMW is planning on using carbon technology in future road bike projects.
"We have many patents and innovations in the construction of the HP4 Race's components. When our carbon parts leave their mould, they are ready to go, much like an aluminium part would be, and have very little, if any, variations in their construction. We have simplified the whole construction procedure to the point it is ready for mass production with precise tolerances in flexibility and with none of the variations in construction you get with hand built one-off carbon parts."
Christian Gonschor, the project leader for the HP4 Race

They won't be alone, either, as there is a new 1299 Panigale on the way, and it will use carbon technology from the Superleggera.
"Carbon is very difficult technology so will never be mass-produced due to the amount of manual content needed in making it, but we are investigating some kind of technology that involves carbon that is half way between super premium and mass-production. We will have something in the range of our typical S models which while not exactly the same, and therefore may lose a little bit of the benefits, but will be much more reasonably priced. We are developing new versions of the 1299 Panigale at the moment; stay tuned and you will see if it carries this new technology."
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati's General Manager

Yamaha's T7 concept bike is far from a concept...
"By the end of 2018 we will release a final road version of the T7 concept bike."
Eric de Seynes, Yamaha Europe's COO