Milan Preview 2015: PH2
PH2 man Jon runs us through what to look forward to from next week's show
Ducati
Ducati will be kicking off proceedings in Milan with a preemptive strike a day before the show officially starts. Streamed live (go to Ducati UK for info) the unveiling happens at 4pm on Monday November 16 and according to Ducati will involve nine new models. What will they be? The new Monster 1200R and Diavel Carbon have already been released but the star of the show is likely to be the new Panigale 959. As well as a larger 955cc capacity, the baby Panigale will gain a new look and improved electronics. Alongside this there is almost certain to be a new Scrambler variant and probably also another Diavel with rumours pointing at it using the Multistrada's DVT variable valve timing engine. The rest of the range will probably consist of small updates and special models but a small capacity Scrambler is also on the cards and capacity hikes to 937cc for the Hyperstrada and Hypermotard.
Following on from Ducati, Yamaha is also jumping the gun but a little later in the day. Also live streamed at 8pm, Yamaha is promising something special but won't say exactly what. There is almost certainly a MT-09 flat track bike, which is basically a body kit in a similar way to the XSR700, but what else? The cheaper YZF-R1S will not be making it to the UK, that is certain, but could a naked version? If so it is more likely to be powered by the older crossplane engine, but there again BMW and Aprilia have demonstrated you can just pull the fairing off a modern sportsbike and it will sell. What else? The half-faired MT-07 must eventually break cover after the success of the Tracer and you have to think a naked R3 is on the cards. However the biggest entertainment will be which of Yamaha's MotoGP stars have been press-ganged into attending! Last year it was both Rossi and Lorenzo, something that is unlikely to be repeated this year...
Kawasaki Variable Boost
Show day and Triumph's stand will be packed full of people staring at the new Bonneville models. What else will capture their attention? An updated Speed Triple and Speed Triple R have been spied testing numerous times and, after the Bonnies gained ride by wire, you have to assume the Speed will as well, alongside traction control and variable fuel maps. The engine is unlikely to receive much aside from the usual basic tweaks, but we can hope. An updated Explorer is another certainty, so expect refinements and probably electronic suspension. Aside from that, there is talk of an 800cc Street Triple, but this rumour has been doing the rounds for a while.
Suzuki
After failing to turn up in Tokyo, the new GSX-R1000 will be at Milan. Which is the good news, the bad news is that the talk is that it won't appear in the UK until summer so might well leave potential owners frustrated. It will look new, have the usual electronics (although apparently not gyroscopic controlled traction control and ABS) and possibly even variable valve timing. Fingers crossed it hits the mark. Interestingly, Suzuki displayed a new parallel twin turbo engine in Tokyo, could we see this in a road bike in Milan? Fingers crossed...
Kawasaki Spirit Charger
The new Ninja ZX-10R has already been unveiled, so you get the feeling Milan might be quiet for Kawasaki. Tokyo did see a new supercharged concept bike displayed with a variable boost charger, but this is unlikely to be productionised so soon. The ZZR1400 update has already been announced, as has the tweaked Z1000SX and H2 models, so what is left? The most likely news from Kawasaki will be updates to small capacity bikes, but we could be very wrong.
BMW
Another show, another bike called Scrambler, however this time it is a BMW Scrambler. Following on from the success of the R NineT, BMW is going all hipster with a Scrambler edition. It will be powered by an air-cooled boxer engine and will probably have high level pipes, pseudo-knobly tyres and a stack of customisation accessories. Expect it to look a lot the 'concept model' displayed earlier this year. Anything else on the cards? BMW has been working on a small capacity bike of around 300cc, which is also likely to make an appearance and could be a big worldwide seller for the company.
BMW Scrambler Concept
Will Honda pull another RCV road bike surprise at Milan? It looks unlikely. The main news from Italy is likely to be updates such as the tweaked NC750X, CB500 models and Crosstourer that have already been announced. There is no new 'blade, this not due until 2017. Possibly...
And the rest...
An Italian show usually means a few new models from Aprilia and MV, but this isn't on the cards. MV's Lewis Hamilton replica Dragster 800 RR has already been seen and it is appearing less and less likely that an updated F4 1000 will make an appearance. Aprilia usually has something up its sleeve, but with the WSB team now folding the big Milan news will probably involve MotoGP rather than any updates to the RSV4. KTM shouldn't let the side down and as well as a brand new Duke 690 and 690R being shown, the half-faired Super Duke 1290 GT will be officially unveiled and possibly a few more details on the RC16 MotoGP project announced.
 |
 |
I don't understand KTM launching themselves into motogp, months after their big boss declared that sportsbikes were unreasonable and they wanted to save their customers' lives by stopping the RC8 altogether... Or some bulls
t like that! (Of course nothing to do with the fact the RC8 was outgunned by almost all its rivals 
)Could we see a new RC8 in a couple of years time?Apparently Indian are releasing a new Scout variant...
For anyone interested there's teaser shots of old Indian Scouts (restored) in the Indian FaceBook page - a 1929 101, and a military one complete with gun, and a 48 flat tracker. https://www.facebook.com/indianmotorcycle/
A flat tracker would be neat, but maybe it'll just be they're adding the option of a rifle. Certainly be a better cure for dozy drivers than a GoPro.
Victory is meant to have a new bike too.
I don't understand KTM launching themselves into motogp, months after their big boss declared that sportsbikes were unreasonable and they wanted to save their customers' lives by stopping the RC8 altogether... Or some bulls
t like that! (Of course nothing to do with the fact the RC8 was outgunned by almost all its rivals )Could we see a new RC8 in a couple of years time?
I am hoping for a downward blipper and an updated screen. I'm also hoping the new exhausts, which have been angled differently will help with the heat issues, as I found the 899 far too hot.
BMW might unveil their Bagger. They were showing off a concept earlier this year, but no mention of it in their recent press conference. There have also been rumours of a new R1200S, but I haven't seen any spy shots so it might just be speculation.
Some of the language is unclear. Are they bringing a new R model plus the Scrambler, or just the latter.
BMW Motorrad at EICMA 2015. The model initiative enters the next round.
Munich. With a world premiere, five motorshow premieres and a new Make Life a Ride stand design BMW Motorrad performes at the EICMA motorcycle show from 17. – 22. November 2015 in hall 13 on the Milan trade fair grounds.
For the first time a new BMW Motorrad model from the R series will be presented to the public. In the new “Heritage” world of experience, a second, no less emotional model will be placed alongside the successful R nineT cult bike.
BMW Motorrad will also be showing the series version of the new BMW G 310 R for the first time. This motorcycle transfers the properties of a true BMW roadster to a new market segment for BMW Motorrad.
Only a few days after the presentation to the international press, the new BMW C 650 Sport and BMW C 650 GT maxi scooters will see their public premiere. In addition to that, there will be new things to see and discover with regard to the BMW F series.
Speaking of the Scrambler, a video has been leaked.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff