Here’s the first taste of what we’ve got coming out of EICMA 2014 currently being held in Milan, Italy.
Yesterday evening was the first day of the EICMA Press day in Milan, Italy. The world renowned bikes show celebrates its centennial this year, making it really a special one. As expected there were numerous launches by major brands throughout the day. Here are the some of the more significant ones.
Kawasaki Ninja H2
Finally, after so many teases, the longest foreplay ever by a bike manufacturer, the road version of the screw-you-beat-this bike is finally revealed.
While the H2R version comes with an excess of 300hp, the road legal version “only” comes with 210hp. Missing also are the winglets thats said to stabilise the bike at high speeds and the stubby muffler. In its place are side mirrors and a twin muffler, both a must to make it road legal.
While the power is tuned down mostly probably due to meet emission levels, we have a feeling that the H2 will have a wider torque curve making it more applicable to real world riding.
But until we have some time on the saddle, that is still to be proven. Apparently we don’t have to wait too long as apparently Malaysia is one of the first stops where the H2R will make an appearance and maybe we’ll get to sample the bike in Sepang.
Ninja H2 Specification:
Engine: 998cc, supercharged, 16-valve DOHC, liquid-cooled, in-line four-stroke
Claimed Power: 200bhp @ 11,000rpm (210bhp with Ram Air)
Claimed Torque: 98.46lbft @ 10,500rpm
Bore x Stroke: 76.0 x 55.0mm
Compression: 8.5:1
Gearbox: 6-speed, dog-ring
Chassis: High-tensile steel
F Suspension: KYB 43 mm inverted AOB fork, fully adjustable
R Suspension: Uni-Trak with KYB gas-charged dual-speed shock, fully adjustable
Front Brakes: Brembo radial-mount, 4-piston calipers, 330mm discs
Rear Brakes: Brembo 2-piston caliper, 250mm disc
Wheelbase: 1455mm
Seat height: 825mm
Kerb weight: 238kg
Fuel capacity: 17 litres
Read more about the new Kawasaki H2 in our in-depth report.
BMW S1000XR
While the GS1200 is still king of the DP, BMW decided to release a sportier and more road oriented version of that genre.
The bike manufacturer took the 160hp engine off its S1000RR supersports bike and injected some GS genes into the bike like long travel suspension which it gains 30mm over the supersports brother and a more touring friendly sitting position.
While the body cladding may look somewhat familiar with the asymmetrical headlights and gills of the S100RR, essentially only the engine and gearbox were carried over with a new chassis and swing arm engineered specially for the bike.
And being BMW it comes packed with electronic rider aids and of course the specially tailored touring kits.
Read our report of the all-new Ducati S1000 XR and F800 R facelift.
Ducati 1299 Panigale
Ducati did a lot of tweaking to the Panigale to refine further the supersports.
New lighter exhaust system and 87cc more than the 1199 gives it about 10hp more to 205hp and 106lbft of torque at 8750rpm. All packed in a package that weight 166.5kg dry.
There is also an R version which retains the engine capacity at 1198cc as to comply to the Superstock and Superbike racing regulations but still benefits from the various upgrades the bike receives.
Check out our report on Ducati’s full EICMA 2014 line up.
Triumph Tiger 800
Triumph unveiled four new versions of the Tiger 800 – the XR, XC, XRx and XCx (pictured). The R is more road oriented while the C is for off-road with WP suspension. Traction control, switchable ABS and Ride-by-Wire technology comes standard in all versions while the ones with the small x means it comes with with three riding modes to control throttle maps, ABS, and traction control.
The 800cc engine have been tweaked to be more fuel savvy while maintaining 95hp, it is reported that it now gets 65mpg compared to 55mpg on the current engine.
More in our in depth report of the new Triumph Tiger 800 range.
Yamaha MT-09 Tracer
The MT-09 naked triple gets some clothing, longer travel suspension, more relaxed sitting position and a few other new features like a centre-stand, a 12-volt power socket, soft panniers, switchable traction control, adjustable screen and handlebars and an 18-litre tank – four litres bigger than the MT-09’s to become a new touring machine dubbed as the Tracer.
The 847cc in-line triple engine remains untouched making 11hp and 64.5lbft while the bike weights about 210kg. ABS is standard and the Tracer also have switchable traction control with its drive by-wire system.
See and read more about the new Yamaha MT-09 (FJ-09) Tracer and the YZF-R1 in our report.
Honda
Honda didn’t really showed much but two concepts caught everybody’s attention the first being the RCV 213V-S, though a prototype it is also listed as 2015 model.
The bike is a street legal version of the 1000cc MotoGP bike raced by Marc Maquez who rode the bike on to the stage for the reveal. Apart form that not much information yet about the bike.
And the second bike, an adventure bike it calls ‘True Adventure”. This is rumoured to be the new Africa Twin as it was displayed next to the legendary Africa Twin and Honda’s current Paris-Dakar contender. Again no other information about the bike as of yet.
More on these two Hondas in our in-depth report.
MV Agusta
Last but not least of the surprises that day is from MV Agusta which rolls out a new touring model named the Stradale 800. Sharing the much used 798cc triple from its stable making 115bhp at 11,000rpm, with 57.89lbft of torque at 9,000rpm.
It is mated to a steel trellis frame with fully adjustable inverted Marzocchi fork up front and a single-sided swingarm. It is reported that it comes with one-hand adjustable windscreen,16litres fuel tank and the panniers as standard equipment. The seat is 870mm off the ground and riders can choose four engine maps from its ride-by-wire throttle.
Read our report on the new MV Agusta Stradale 800.
Stay tuned to our site as we dissect all things new out of EICMA 2014 the soonest we can.
Source: Visordown, MCN, and Asphaltandrubber
