Eicma2012: What To Expect |
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File under EICMA Exhibitions
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
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A few more days and world's biggest motorcycle exhibition and fair opens its doors in Milan, Italy. EICMA  as it is known is enormous, with more halls than you can imagine, more manufacturers, more stands and more visitors than anywhere else.
The annual event draws every major and minor motorcycle manufacturer and accessory maker in the world to show off their gear to thousands of journalists and visitors. So what can we expect to see? Well for one, as usual Eicma is FUBAR since they have not released the press conference schedules, so we do not know who will be presenting what. Which is normal for the Italian organization, they'll probably release it the day after the show has closed. So we'll just guess our ways...
(UPDATE: They just released the press schedule, too late for this article)
But here's our guesstimates.
APRILIA
Aprilia is on their home turf so they have the added advantage of having a bigger reception when they announce new goodies. We can for sure expect their new Caponord dual-purpose bike. But what else is Piaggio planning for their sports motorcycle brand?
Your guess is as good as mine.
BENELLI
Benelli, despite being Italian and on their home turf, usually are low key in their new motorcycle launches. Their current motorcycle range is not enormous, but that might change this year.
This year expect some new motorcycle, particularly in the lower displacement range, like 250cc. Their target is export for Asia, where they prefer lower displacement.
BMW
BMW made their big splash last month with the Intermot presented R1200GS water-cooled motorcycle, but we're sure it's not going to end there. A sports roadster version of the S 1000 has a good chance of being presented.
There's also a good possibility that the previously shown concept motorcycle in 2008, the BMW Low-Rider, will become a reality. A return to the cruiser market for BMW.
DUCATI
Ducati is on their home turf, and every year they've managed to surprise us with some new and novel stuff. Expect some new versions of the Hypermotard, but more honestly, I keep hearing rumors of an off-road motorcycle.
Maybe this year...
Ducati's press conference is Monday afternoon.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Harley-Davidson never releases new motorcycle at Eicma, and I don't see this year as an exception.
Harley's biggest market is North America, and they use Eicma as an "acte-de-presence". They'll have a big stand, lots of motorcycles, but nothing new.
HONDA
Honda are preparing something big. Something big and international, since apparently they've got international events going on 12 November (the day their press conference in Milan is scheduled).
We all know by now that they've got the CB 500 coming, enough spy photos have been circulating on that one. But what else are they planning. They've hired out a theater in Milan to make their show, and you don't do that for peanuts. So expect something BIG.
Honda press conference is Monday evening.
KAWASAKI
I'd say Kawasaki have shot their load in Germany's Intermot, and don't really expect anything new, but I'm flying blind here, since I don't know if they've got a press conference.
Did they keep something back?
KTM
KTM have been teasing the world with sounds of their new engine. They've been playing the rumor mill up to the hilt. The most obvious announcement will be the Duke 390, a welcome addition to their line-up.
But hearing the sound of the new engine, is it a 390? Or is it something bigger and bolder?
MOTO GUZZI
Will Moto Guzzi finally release their very long awaited California 1400. They're presenting to an Italian public, in Italy, in an Italian exhibition... what else could they want.
We've waited long enough.
MV AGUSTA
MV Agusta have already, more or less, told the world what they'll be presenting as new in Milan. The 800 Brutale is a winner in all aspects, but the 800 Rivale, with the photos they've already released is to die for.
Expect a major crowd at the MV Agusta stand.
SUZUKI
Suzuki are in trouble as we've seen this week, and I'd say though they're concentrating on their motorcycle and ATV market, we're not going to see anything really new this year in Eicma.
Or maybe some adjustments on their GSR 1000, or maybe not.
TRIUMPH
Triumph will not make any big splashes this year, apart from the new versions of the Daytona motorcycle. Will we see the Daytona 675? I just hope this time they brought enough press kits, something they are usually in short supply.
YAMAHA
Yamaha had shown a lot with their new 3 cylinder engine during Intermot, but have else have they got up their sleeves.
IMHO, I don't think we'll see a new motorcycle, apart from a concept bike or two.
And yes, I'll be there. So if you want to see stuff as they are happening, follow me on one of the following sites;
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