MOTORCYCLE PARADISE

We have the lowdown for you from the EICMA, Milan

This time of the year it's good to be a motorcyclist because this is our riding season! Also, in Europe in the even years, there are two motorcycle shows back-to-back. Last month we brought you the showstoppers from the INTERMOT show, and now it is time for the EICMA, the largest two-wheeler show in the world. Here are our picks from EICMA this year Off-road bikes were super popular, as there were ADVs, scramblers and dirtbikes from many different manufacturers. Honda, Suzuki, Benelli and Cagiva brought middleweight contenders for the adventure segment. Honda also surprised everyone with a new scrambler motorcycle of which there was no information leaked before the reveal, an astonishing achievement in itself. Italian manufacturer Fantic brought a scrambler as well, with Yamaha power. Bimota revealed their first-ever off-roader, built with a little help from Kawasaki.

Alternative propulsion technology was in focus this year, as Kawasaki brought multiple bikes with different technologies, Honda unveiled their first ever electric two-wheeler for the European market.

That didn't mean internal combustion was on a backseat, though, as Brough Superior, an English motorcycle manufacturer which was revived in France with a factory right next door to the Airbus factory, brought out a full-carbon motorcycle, and showcased a track-only monster made in collaboration with none other than Aston Martin.

HONDA CX750 TRANSALP

 Honda has revived another legendary nameplate, the Transalp. Powered by the 750cc parallel-twin first revealed on the CB750 Hornet from INTERMOT this year, it churns out 92PS and 75Nm which should be aplenty for the 208kg machine. Suspension duties are handled by a pair of Showa SFF-CA forks, while the rear monoshock works through a Pro-Link system. Interestingly, the rear wheel is an 18-incher unlike the 17-inchers found on most ADVs.

HONDA CL500 SCRAMBLER