Milan motorcycle show report

December 11th, 2014

This month's Milan motorcycle show celebrated the centenary of an event that traditionally showcases the following year's new models. Rarely in those 100 years can the Italian halls have hosted a more exciting display than this year's, which confirmed that after several quiet years the motorcycle industry has burst into life in spectacular fashion.

That's good news for British enthusiasts because Motorcycle Live, this country's biggest show, opens next Saturday (November 22). The Birmingham bash won't match the Italian EICMA event for tradition or glamour, but all the new bikes will be on display at the National Exhibition Centre.

Sports bikes were the big story in Milan, with a diverse array of sophisticated machines built to challenge BMW's freshly revamped S1000RR. The closest challenger is Yamaha's YZF-R1, an all new version of the 998cc four, now producing 197bhp, weighing just 179kg and incorporating state-of-the-art electronics. A more exotic YZF-R1M, inspired by Valentino Rossi's YZR-M1 racer and featuring carbon fibre bodywork plus semi-active suspension, will be produced in limited numbers.

Kawasaki followed last month's unveiling of the outrageous, track-only Ninja H2R by revealing the roadgoing Ninja H2. This has similar looks and 998cc four-cylinder engine, and is boosted by an identical supercharger but detuned to a street-legal 197bhp. (The equivalent figure of 200PS has seemingly become the 2015 par for superbike horsepower.)

Aprilia celebrated French racer Sylvain Guintoli's recent capture of the World Superbike championship by unveiling the RSV4 RR. As well as producing 201bhp from its 999cc V4 engine, the RR has the option of GPS-enabled electronics that can be fine-tuned via the rider's smartphone.