EICMA 2014 Nov 6 to 9 Milan

[pritch]

Based on Honda having a very underwhelming show last month there is a lot of speculation going on in Europe as to what they have up their sleeve. Some mags even have pictures but these are probably of dream machines. The two hot picks are the long promised roadgoing RCV V4 sprotbike and a new Africa Twin.

We've been awaiting a roadgoing RCV for something like ten years by my count, so even though the Honda CEO promised it I'm not going to hold my breath.
One hopes there is something a bit special on the way though 'cause the CBRs are dated and the rest of the line up looks stodgy.

[Mort]

I'm loving the new superbikes being unveiled in Milan in the last 24 hours


The new Yamaha R1 - this brings Yamaha right back up to date with 200BHP and 199kg weight - this is the one I'll be checking out when its available...








Honda have pissed me off for a long time with their conservative bikes.... but every now and then HRC decide to do something special to show the world what real bike design is about... This bike will be the best sports bike on the planet when its is released. Its not about design and good looks.... its about being the best... shame about the rumoured price....US$100,000.







The new Ducati 1299 Panigale... 205 BHP and 166KG. The 1199 was mad enough....








The Kawasaki H2 - over 200bhp supercharged 1000cc engine... looks like nothing else












Time to buy some lottery tickets I think....

[JimmyC]

Complete with special effects mud and camo fairing -







No specifics until next year though... looking very good so far I have to say.

[pritch]

The RCV-S appears. It is stated to be a "prototype" whatever that means and details are apparently very sketchy. The Superbike teams will be hoping Honda can sell enough of them so they can be homologated in time for next season?

The new R1 looks very closely related to the M!. A less expensive GP fantasy than the Honda.

[sil3nt]

The RCV-S appears. It is stated to be a "prototype" whatever that means and details are apparently very sketchy. The Superbike teams will be hoping Honda can sell enough of them so they can be homologated in time for next season?

Not a chance. To be eligible for WSBK the production version must not exceed something like $50,000 USD. This bike will be twice that.

This bike is a road going version of their Motogp RCV Open Class machine
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/197...ion-racer.html

[MrKiwi]

This link takes you to the photo gallery section of the 2014 EIMCA show, some nice bikes...

http://www.eicma.it/en/gallery/eicma...e/#prettyPhoto

[Reckless]

Must say that Black Carbon Fibre RCV looks hot as!


Mind you we will still see heaps of vids with Audi turbos draggin off sport bikes if all this hot equipment is still limited to 299 K's

[MD]

They modelled the face of the new R1 on this guy.

Edit- after looking at it a bit more it grows on you, like a rash. I confess the R1 is quite a good looking lass.
The Yammy F09 Sports Tourer could be good machine, in a do it all sort of way.

[unstuck]

That africa twin is oh so sexy.

[MrKiwi]

We don't know much about the new Africa Twin yet, nothing is confirmed. However, from what I can glean from websites and various reviews the following has been reported on it's likely specs:
- 21 inch front, 18 inch rear tyres
- 20L fuel tank
- about 180kgs dry, 200kg wet
- adventure oriented ABS and traction control
- will come out overseas in both DCT and manual form (I'm guessing we will get the manual form in NZ)
- reported 9.8 inches of suspension travel front end (some debate on this point)
-1000cc new parallel twin motor, at around 95 hp

To my way of thinking this is a serious dirt oriented adventure bike from Honda, I hope it comes to the market sometime soon in a place near you

[MrKiwi]

The BMW S1000XR will be worth a look/testride when it comes out.

Yes, it Il be...

[nerrrd]

- will come out overseas in both DCT and manual form (I'm guessing we will get the manual form in NZ)

Read somewhere that Honda's master plan is to make all their bikes DCTs in the long run, and that showing this as a DCT first is an indication of that. Seems unlikely?

[Ribit]

Read somewhere that Honda's master plan is to make all their bikes DCTs in the long run, and that showing this as a DCT first is an indication of that. Seems unlikely?

Hmmm, I find it interesting that DCT's are not allowed in motogp -So Honda are using some other system for their seamless shift gearboxes. If its simpler than Dual clutch then the motogp technology will end up on production bikes (one day).

[JimmyC]

DCT would be fine on road but having a clutch and knowing how to use it becomes pretty important off road. I don't doubt Honda will have some nifty off road settings for any DCT they might introduce on an Africa Twin but it's not going to be as good as a clutch surely...