My High Ten Bikes from Eicma 2023

I attended Eicma 2023 which is held in Milan, Italy in Fiera Milano or “The Milan Bike Present” because it’s generally recognized. It is among the largest occasions within the motorbike business with over 500,000 annual guests and the place a whole lot of producers use this present to launch new bikes and merchandise.

I’ve not been right here earlier than so I used to be actually excited to see what all of the fuss was about. For these of you who’ve by no means been earlier than, the present is big and I imply enormous! It’s held over a number of halls and you need to be ready for many strolling!!

I might say that is extra of a commerce present and exhibition that’s open to members of the general public to attend, you could possibly buy the odd t-shirt or hoodie however usually producers are there to showcase their new merchandise, they don’t seem to be out there to buy on the present.

I believed I’d share with you my high ten picks of bikes from the present. There was an unbelievable quantity of bikes to select from, so a few of chances are you’ll disagree with my selection, let’s see……

Quantity 10: Kawasaki 2024 Ninja 7 Hybrid – Worth tbc

I like this as a result of it’s revolutionary in that it’s each gas and battery powered. Kawasaki refers to this as a robust hybrid system which ‘combines an inner combustion engine (ICE) with an electrical motor for highly effective driving, and due to their massive battery capability they’re able to run on electrical energy alone’.

The Ninja 7 Hybrid has a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke parallel twin 451 cc engine and a Lithium-ion battery pack providing you with the moment acceleration of a 1,000 cc class bike from a standing begin (with e-boost). 

There are 3 driving modes to select from – Sport-hybrid; Eco-hybrid and low-speed short-distance EV.

The Ninja 7 Hybrid has a stroll mode with reverse to assist when transferring the bike  – opening the throttle strikes the bike ahead at strolling pace and shutting the throttle previous the zero level strikes the bike in reverse. 

This is a wonderful mode for my part as maneuvering an electrical bike could be fairly troublesome as after all you don’t have any clutch lever in which you’ll ‘slip the clutch’.

The bike weighs 227 kg (the battery itself weighs 13 kg) and can have a seat peak of 795 mm.

I might have an interest to see what this bike is prefer to trip and in case you have ‘vary nervousness’ which I’ve skilled with different absolutely electrical bikes.

Oh, and the Ninja 7 Hybrid does look extremely cool 😎

Quantity 9: Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono – Worth tbc

The Hypermotard 698 Mono is Ducati’s first single-cylinder road-going Supermotard. 

The 659 cc Superquadro Mono engine with desmodromic timing, Ducati say, is their most refined and high-performance single-cylinder street engine ever constructed and is ready to obtain the best engine pace in its class.

The Hypermotard 698 Mono has a straight double-sided swingarm with a excessive fender with the rear fairings wrapping across the exhaust. I really like the look of the dual silencers that are mounted excessive up on both aspect of the tail.

Now this isn’t a motorbike for these of us with a shorter disposition – the usual seat peak is 904 mm with a low seat choice of 889 mm out there. At 5’6” I would wish using a step to get on this bike!

Apparently, the RVE livery choice of this bike was voted ‘Most Stunning Bike of Eicma 2023’ by the general public. I’m unsure I might agree with this.

Quantity 8: Royal Enfield Himalayan – value tbc

The brand new Himalayan has Royal Enfield’s first liquid cooled engine, a Sherpa 450 and is their lightest and most technologically superior automobile built-in powertrain.

With the other way up entrance forks, ride-by-wire throttle and TripperDash full map navigation tft show, this bike is prepared for journey. 

The unique Himalayan bike was impressed by the 60 yr outdated custom of exploring the Himalayas on a motorbike and was born within the Himalayas. How good wouldn’t it be to see this for your self – an journey on an Himalayan within the Himalayas.

Some nice color choices out there too and with a snug driving place. This bike garnered a whole lot of consideration on the present.

Quantity 7: Aprilia RS 457 – value tbc

The Aprilia RS 457 is powered by a liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine with twin camshaft timing and 4 valves per cylinder able to 35 KW of energy which after all is the utmost for these driving on an A2 licence. 

With 47 hp and weighing 159 kg (dry weight), the RS 457 has nice power-to-weight ratio.

With full LED lights with built-in flip indicators (I completely want these got here as customary on all bikes!), a 5” tft color display and the handlebar controls being backlit.

It is a severely cool trying bike and doesn’t appear like it is just a 47 hp bike.

Quantity 6: Suzuki GSX-8S – value from £8,199 

You possibly can select the faired (8R) or unfaired (8S) choices right here. Personally I might go for the unfaired however I do know this can in all probability divide opinions!

With 83 bhp and 78 Nm of torque, the 8S has an all-new 776 cc DOHC two cylinder liquid cooled 4 stroke parallel twin engine. The 8S has a seat peak of 810 mm and a kerb weight of 202 kg.

With Suzuki Clever Journey System (SIRS) (a set of superior digital rider help methods) and a 5” color tft show, the tachometer doubles up as a programmable rpm indicator mild that blinks when the engine reaches a pre-set pace and a operate that permits you to show massive pop-up alerts and reminders. 

There are three color choices out there – Pearl Cosmic Blue, Pearl Tech White or Metallic Matte Black. Personally, the blue is by far my favorite.

The 8R – value tbc, additionally has the brand new 776 cc engine with 83 bhp and 78 Nm or torque so actually it’s a query of private desire.

Quantity 5: Moto Guzzi Stelvio – value tbc

The Stelvio garnered a whole lot of curiosity on the Moto Guzzi stand and I can see why. I do just like the look of this bike.

The Stelvio has the Moto Guzzi V-Twin “Compact Block” Euro5+ engine with shaft drive transmission. Its 1,042 cc engine delivers a most energy of 115 HP at 8,700 rpm and a peak torque of 105 Nm at 6,750 rpm.

Options on the Stelvio embody cornering ABS and traction management, cruise management and 5 customizable driving modes – Tourism, Rain, Avenue, Sport, and Off-Street.

Additionally on this bike is PFF Rider Help Resolution utilizing 4D radar imaging know-how to supply an exceptionally large visual view comprising 4 completely different features: FCW – Ahead Collision Warning; FCC – Following Cruise Management; BLIS – Blind Spot Data System; and LCA – Lane Change Help.

I’d have an interest to get out for a trip on the Stelvio, not simply to take a look at all of the options but additionally to take a look at if the Stelvio’s ‘V’ twin sounds and behaves as earlier Guzzi’s 😎

Quantity 4: Honda CB650R – value tbc

This trendy trying bike is available in two fabulous colors and I can’t resolve which really appears to be like the best – matte gunpowder black metallic or grand prix pink – I believe I’m leaning in direction of the pink 😍

The inline 4, DOHC 16 valve engine produces 70kW / 94 hp @ peak – as much as a 12,000 rpm redline – with 63 Nm of torque. For A2 licence holders, there’s a 35kW conversion out there.

Moderately curiously, and distinctive to Honda, is an E-Clutch choice. You’ve got the traditional choice of guide clutch management or you’ll be able to select through the tft display the E-Clutch choice which means you allow the clutch lever alone. When setting off from standstill, shifting up/down, and coming to a cease, all you want to do is function the gear lever, E-Clutch does the remainder.

I want to do that, it sounds fascinating and I would love to expertise this.

To have fun 4 many years of efficiency machines, Kawasaki are releasing for 2024, fortieth Anniversary fashions of the Ninja ZX-4RR; Ninja ZX-6R and the Ninja ZX-10R.

I noticed these within the media earlier than I went to Eicma and was excited to see them up shut as I used to be actually taken with their liveries.

Every of the three fashions can be out there within the early 90’s Kawasaki World Endurance livery of inexperienced, blue and white harking back to the three-times championship successful bikes of the time.

A number of stats for every of the bikes:

These fortieth Anniversary fashions didn’t disappoint up shut, they had been sooo a lot better than the photographs I had seen beforehand. The colors look so good collectively and the bikes are beautiful.

Quantity 2: Yamaha XSR 900 GP – value tbc

This was very almost my number one. I completely love the styling and colors of this 900 GP – the legend pink. There’s a energy gray choice out there however for me, it will be the pink.

The 900 GP is impressed by the YZR500 racers of the 80’s and 90’s with the entrance fairing and seat hump iconic of the golden period of Grand Prix racing. 

Beneath the fairings after all is Yamaha’s cutting-edge know-how with the most recent braking and suspension, driving modes and an array of electronics.

The 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC 3-cylinder 890cc engine has a max energy of 87.5 kW (119 PS) @ 10,000 rpm with a max torque 93 Nm (9.5 kg-m) @ 7,000 rpm. 

With a seat peak of 835 mm this appears to be like prefer it presents a sporty bike place to trip and with a weight of 200 kg, I believe the 900 GP could possibly be enormous enjoyable to trip. I undoubtedly want to check trip one in all these to search out out 😎

No 1: Bimota KB4 – value £29,995

Okay, I do know that is manner up there on the value scale however after I noticed the KB4 I knew this was my number one bike of Eicma 2023. 

It’s completely stunning 😍😍😍

Bimota, who’re partly owned by Kawasaki, have an fascinating choice of bikes on supply with some pretty engineering.

The KB4 combines the basic design of the Bimota bikes of the 70’s with fashionable know-how and is described by Bimota as a ‘road authorized monitor bike’ with an revolutionary excessive strain cooling system – the one-piece radiator is neatly positioned diagonally below the seat unit.

The 4 stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC 1043 cc engine pushes out 142 bhp with max energy of 104,5kW (142HP) / 10,000 rpm and max torque of 111 Nm (11.3kgfm) / 8,000rpm.

The 810 mm seat peak is adjustable plus or minus 8 mm and the KB4 weighs in at simply 194 kg.

With Ohlins suspension entrance and rear, with the rear sporting an aluminium alloy billet swingarm, the KB4 is the right fashionable bike.

I completely want to check trip one in all these to see if it lives as much as my expectations 🤩

Properly that’s it, that’s my high 10 bikes from Eicma 2023. The toughest a part of this high 10 was that there have been many, many bikes on my checklist however I needed to be brutal and I do know a few of you’ll disagree with my decisions.

As for Eicma, I had an absolute blast, liked each minute of the present, there was sooooo a lot to see, the meals stalls had been scrumptious and the espresso was excellent.

I can be again 😜

BK