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2018 EICMA: Top five motorcycles we’re excited about

These bikes have a huge chance of coming to the Philippines by next year.

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2018 EICMA: Top five motorcycles we’re excited about to reach the Philippines

Every year, Milan in Italy hosts the most anticipated motorcycle show in the world, bringing in motorcycle manufacturers the world over. EICMA (Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori), or better known as the Milan Motorcycle Show, is an annual event, setting the stage for the biggest reveals and product presentations that are aimed at shaking and shaping the motorcycle industry.

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It is the dream of every motorcyclist to set foot in the halls of this multi-day convention, and, as of this writing, 2018 EICMA has reached its midway point, starting on November 6 to November 11, 2018. In just three days into the convention, we’ve seen the biggest motorcycle manufacturers launch and preview some very exciting products, and the best part is, the Philippines will most likely have its share of new models. With only a few more days to go and surely with more surprises in store, we’ve decided to compile a list of the best bikes we’ve seen so far, and give you a little info about them. It truly is a very exciting time to be a motorcyclist, and there are more ways now than ever to get started riding.

1. 2019 KTM 790 Adventure

We reviewed the street-going version of the KTM 790 Duke very recently and we found ourselves extremely impressed. It’s no wonder that the 790 Duke platform opened new doors for KTM, applying their expertise in off-roading and various Dakar Rally championships into a more extreme version of the “street scalpel”. Employing the same level of electronics, adding more ground clearance, beefier and taller forks, bigger wheels and off-road focused tires, and utilizing the same wonderful parallel twin engine, the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure is sure to be a lightweight enduro bike blockbuster.

2. 2019 Yamaha Tenere 700 World Raid

It seems that the middleweight adventure bike category is finally getting more fleshed out, and Yamaha is well aware of a growing market. Positioned right below, the flagship Yamaha Super Tenere 1200cc behemoth, the Tenere 700 World Raid is a slim, Dakar Rally inspired motorcycle that aims to provide off-road thrills and excitement with maximum agility and performance. It uses the same engine as the MT-07 naked streetbike, a parallel twin 689cc engine that makes 72 hp and 68 Nm of torque. High ground clearance and rally-bred specifications should make this bike quite fun when flying over sand dunes.

3. 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 R

When Ducati adds the letter R to the end of their model designations, you know they mean serious race spec business, and the Panigale V4 R embodies the latest technologies and racing passion that the Bologna-based manufacturer is known for. Now pushing 218 hp in street legal form, the Panigale V4 R is the second most powerful bike in the world, with the Kawasaki H2 still retaining the top spot. The catch is, it won’t be a mass-produced motorcycle. Instead, launching as a homologation special so that it can be introduced at the 2019 World Superbike Championship. Nevertheless, the added carbon winglets and reduction of weight and other slight modifications create a bike that is beautiful to look at and even rarer to own.

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4. 2019 BMW S1000RR

It has been a long time coming. Since its introduction in 2009, the BMW S1000RR was a benchmark superbike, wowing and creating a trend of electronics and engine working seamlessly together to create a superb and effortless ride. And BMW has just built on almost motorcycle perfection with the all-new 2019 BMW S1000RR. Asymmetrical headlights have been ditched for a twin slim LED lighting signature, there’s a new aluminum chassis, semi-active electronic suspension, a brand new 999cc engine that makes close to 210 hp, and weight savings that make this bike lighter than the previous generation by 11 kilograms. BMW just brought the fight to the 1000cc superbike class once more.

5. 2019 Triumph Scrambler

Two variants of the handsome Triumph Scrambler were showcased at this years EICMA; the base XC and range-topping XE, which is more off-road focused than the former. A direct rival to the Ducati Scrambler 1100, the Triumph Scrambler features a classic tank, a comfortable riding position, dual side exhausts, and a neat looking multifunction instrument cluster. Powering the bike is a 1200cc parallel twin engine which makes 89 hp and 110 Nm of torque. The XE variant adds some goodies such as heated grips, a USB charging socket, cruise control, and optimized cornering traction control.

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