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Are fairs a thing of the past? That’s not the case at the world’s most important motorcycle show. According to organizers, the 80th Eicma fair was the most successful in the fair’s 100-year history, with more than 560,000 visitors – 19 percent more than in 2022. 700 participants introduced themselves in a total of eight halls in Milan, Italy.
So what are the trends of the 2024 motorcycle season? What is striking is the return of some once popular models. While some only carry old names, for some brands also look to the past in terms of design. Second information from Eicma: Flashy and powerful bikes are always in trend. Third: The number of electric motorcycles is increasing, but the focus of many classic brands remains the combustion engine; The reason for this is that customers are very hesitant about purchasing e-bikes. But electrification is also leading to the emergence of a large number of start-ups or revived brands that can now enter the market without experience in combustion engine technology.
Performance is always in fashion
Honda introduced two exciting new products. The focus was on the CB1000 Hornet, the new big sister of the CB750 Hornet. With the latter, the Japanese manufacturer has successfully revived the Hornet (English for hornet) model name this year. It was so successful that the two-cylinder Hornet became the best-selling naked bike (i.e. without fairing) in Europe by the end of August. The 1000 now comes with the powerful inline four-cylinder engine from the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade launched in 2017: 150 hp and maximum torque of over 110 Nm allow for a sporty pace. Accordingly, it has a much more aggressive appearance than the 750. Honda’s second surprise was the return of the CBR600RR super sports car. In addition to the update to the current Euro5+ emissions standard, the machine, which weighs just 193 kg with a full tank, comes with the latest electronics such as cornering ABS, precise driving dynamics and a 121 hp inline four-cylinder engine. There is also a quick-shift system on board; a gear shifting system that shifts gears without depressing the clutch, thus interrupting traction.
Let’s continue with the Japanese brands: Kawasaki will bring more displacement to the lower middle class in 2024. Both the 167kg Z and the only slightly heavier 171kg Ninja now come with the higher-torque 500 two-cylinder engine producing 45bhp. Also new is the Ninja 7 Hybrid’s undisguised sibling, the Z7 Hybrid, which was launched shortly before the trade show; both with 451 cc inline two-cylinders, an additional 9 kW electric motor and automatic transmission.
Japan and Italy show their trump card
In Milan, Suzuki showed the GSX-S1000GX, a modern four-cylinder crossover with 152 hp that will arrive this spring, and the paneled GSX-8R, based on the GSX-8S naked bike launched a year ago. The XSR900 GP, with its nostalgic racing machine design from the 1980s and early 1990s, will arrive at the Yamaha stand from April. Of particular importance is also the revised successful model MT-09 / SP with new lamp mask and sportier ergonomics.
to Italy. The first single-cylinder supermoto from Bologna (I) was one of the highlights on the Ducati stand: the Hypermotard 698 Mono (starting from 13,290 Swiss Francs) and its RVE abbreviated version with quick shifters (starting from 14,290 Swiss Francs) in standard and graffiti as paint. The bikes, which weigh only 151 kg dry, will be available from January. The new 659 cc single-cylinder engine, called Superquadro Mono, produces 77.5 hp at 9750 rpm, or even 85 hp with an off-road racing exhaust. The chassis promises driving pleasure and there’s no shortage of electronics, with ride modes, cornering ABS, traction control and wheelie control. Also seen live for the first time was the Panigale V4 SP2 30° Anniversario 916, a special model of the current Ducati flagship limited to 500 pieces and costing 46,000 francs. The Moto Guzzi Stelvio is back again with the 1042 cubic V2 of the V100 Mandello (115 hp) and a slimmer silhouette. The production of the travel enduro MV Agusta LXP Orioli, whose price is approximately 30,000 francs, is limited to only 500 units.
Chinese brands are also coming
Ironically, German manufacturer BMW has decided not to attend Eicma again, as it did in 2021 and 2022. Shortly before the trade show, the Bavarians launched the all-new travel enduro R 1300 GS, arguably the most important new model of the upcoming season despite its absence. For more than 40 years, the GS with its two-cylinder boxer engine has become the benchmark in the travel segment. Compared to its predecessor, the R 1250 GS, the new one is more powerful (145 instead of 136 hp), lighter (237 instead of 249 kg) and more compact. The BMW is currently on sale with prices starting from 19,690 francs.
Another important innovation of the 2024 model is the KTM 990 Duke, introduced at Eicma. On the 30th birthday of the Duke family, the 990 Duke replaces the 890 at KTM. This vehicle, whose price starts at 13,990 francs, has a much more tightened design and more power (123 hp instead of 121 hp). Nothing remains the same when it comes to the chassis, which will provide an even sportier driving experience.
What about Chinese brands? Suppliers from the Middle Kingdom have long been oriented not only to the automobile market, but also to the European motorcycle market. They usually come fully electric under names like Niu or Davinci, but brands like CFMoto or Qianjiang (QJ) also come with classic combustion engines – often thanks to collaborations with established brands in Europe or Japan. Sometimes they even take over old brands in Europe: as in the case of Italian manufacturer Benelli, founded in 1911 and part of QJ since 2005.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
