EICMA Motorcycle Show 2018 – My Milanese Adventure...PART 1:

Amazing really. There I was, about a month ago, walking round the Intermot Motorbike Show in Cologne, thinking how low profile and sombre it was. Reflecting on how the industry that I’ve been in for 26 years has changed dramatically and what the future holds for its growth back to the glory days, if ever possible; but then....as if my magic....I turn up to Milan and see a massive effort from literally all manufacturers to showcase their 2019 hardware, clothing, accessories and off the wall products from the niche guys.

Here are just a few snippets of some of the bikes that stood out...

• The Suzuki Katana 1000. Modelled around the existing GSXS1000, but with Katana-esque bodywork, available in both silver and black. It just looked hard. 12L tank, but who cares; you’ll never ride it far, but will laugh like mad and you’ll always get a crowd around the bike when you part it up
• MV Agusta – under new (probably spurious) Russian ownership. Staggeringly good looking bikes and lots of them. I’ve never seen taillights like it
• Harley Davidson Livewire – electric’s coming. We may hate it. We may call it Commie propaganda. We may still have the IC engine in our lifetimes, but this damn bike looks amazing and is apparently even better to ride than it looks
• Yamaha Tenere 700 and Fantic Caballero 500 – if you’re of a certain age – those 2 names are properly evocative. They look the part and will no-doubt be amazing to ride, yet priced really well
• Indian FTR1200 – what is it about a flat tracker? Apparently, it’s already selling really well and hasn’t even been launched
• Mondial HPS300 – if you’re after a 2^nd bike, a local run-around, or are just starting out on bikes, this is the one to have. Looks dead cool, is well made and not expensive
• Triumph Scrambler 1200 – it’s what Triumph’s range needed for a few year to compete with the BMW R Nine T Urban GS, Ducati Scrambler 1000 and so on. Beautifully made, great to sit on and just right if you’re into your scrambler-styled bikes (which I am)

There’s a tonne more product to see from BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Benelli and so on. I could write about it all day, but I won’t; I’ll let the following pictures give you the idea.

So, this blog’s really just about the new bikes and massive effort that all manufacturers are making in the face of economic uncertainty. If there’s a further downturn coming, these guys aren’t giving up without a fight....