The best new bikes of 2017
16 of the best new bikes to expect at this year's big motorcycle shows
THIS year's big motorcycle shows are weeks away and all indications suggest they have a wealth of lust-worthy new bikes in store.
So don't wait. Read our preview of 16 massive new bike launches, in no particular order, which we predict will take place at Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4 and Eicma in Milan, Italy, on November 8.
1. Honda Fireblade
Wake up Honda! Oh, you have. A couple of years into a superbike renaissance, finally here’s the Honda we’ve been waiting for: not some unattainable MotoGP trinket but a new CBR1000RR Fireblade.
We don’t know much about it, except what it looks like, after the picture above leaked on social media.
Honda has also all-but confirmed its existence with the teaser video below, which says it will be 'sharper than ever'.
Where: Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4
2. Yamaha MT-07 Ténéré
It’s the new MT-07-based adventure bike, with the same 689cc parallel-twin engine, replacing the XT660Z Ténéré.
Want to see it? Check the spy shot.
Where: Probably Eicma in Milan, Italy, on November 8
3. Yamaha YZF-R6
With a looming Euro4 deadline and a whole class of bikes bereft of updates for years, it looked for a while like we might actually have to say goodbye to 600cc sports bikes from 2017. Yes, really.
But no. Just as Yamaha arguably revived the superbike class with the 2015 R1, it’s now set to do the same for supersports, with a new YZF-R6, as confirmed (virtually) by this teaser video.
Where: Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4
4. Suzuki GSX-R1000
Déjà vu? Suzuki has done its usual trick of revealing a bike as a ‘concept’ one year and then waiting a whole 12 months to finally unveil an identical production version, making it feel like old news and leaving us wondering what they do all day.
We don’t mind – we’re still looking forward to it. The concept, shown above, was Visordown’s most read-about bike from last year’s Eicma, so a lot of you are evidently keen to get hold of one too.
Where: Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4
5. Suzuki GSX-R250
Another Suzuki and another GSX-R. After many a rumour, we saw this in patent images earlier this year, suggesting it was really on the way.
A Suzuki source also recently confirmed to us that a “smaller-capacity” new models was to be revealed at Eicma, after the GSX-R1000 unveiling at Intermot. Given the domination of the sub-500cc market of slightly bigger-capacity machines like the Yamaha R3 and KTM RC390, we’re not 100% sure this won’t turn out to be a bit bigger than 250cc too, for Europe at least.
We’ll find out soon enough.
Where: Eicma in Milan, Italy, on November 8
6. Street Triple 800
It’s a living legend but we can probably all agree that the existing 675cc Street Triple is due for an update. And Triumph thinks so too as it’s getting one – a big one.
We’ve known that a bigger one was in the pipeline since last year, when Triumph mentioned one ‘over 750cc’ in a buyers’ survey.
Then we saw it in a spy shot in April.
We also know there will be at least four variants: a 110hp base model, a 115hp ‘R’ version and 125hp ‘RT’ and ‘RS’ versions. The RT is likely to have touring add-ons like a screen while the RS probably benefits from high-spec components like Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes.
Where: Triumph has a history of staging its big model launches at Eicma, which is on November 8 in Milan, Italy.
7. Honda Monkey 125
Should this be on a list of the biggest new bikes? Unequivocally yes, despite its diminute dimensions. It’s the new 125cc version of the tiny, classic Honda Z50 Monkey, a model that remains popular enough to sustain a market for lookalike machines long after its withdrawal from the UK.
As shown in the above recently emerged patent image, the original monkey bike has been modernised with disc brakes and upside-forks, and we expect it to have the engine from the MSX125.
Where: Probably Eicma in Milan, Italy, on November 8
8. New Ducati Scramblers
We’re expecting at least seven new Ducatis this year including at least two new Scramblers: a café racer variant and an Enduro one, with some actual off-road ability rather than just styling.
As revealed first by Visordown in February, Ducati has also considered making a bigger version of the 803cc Scrambler, with capacity possibly boosted to 1100cc. We’ll find out if they’ve made it next month.
Where: Ducati is due unveil new models at Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4, but it’s likely some will be kept under wraps until Eicma in Milan on November 8.
9. Ducati Supersport S
Powered by the engine from the Hypermotard 939, the new Ducati Supersport was shown in a private viewing at the annual World Ducati Weekend in July at the Misano circuit in Italy.
Predictably, someone took the above picture.
The bike shown is the S version, with Öhlins forks and Brembo brakes.
High-ish clip-ons suggest it strikes a balance between comfort and outright sports performance.
Where: Ducati is due unveil new models at Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4, but it’s likely some will be kept under wraps until Eicma in Milan on November 8.
10. New Triumph Bonnies
The new Triumph Bonneville family launched this year is still growing.
Back in May we learned from Californian emission certificates that a new Bonneville T100 and Street Cup variants were planned, both with the 900cc engine from the Street Twin.
Then we saw the café racer-esque Street Cup in a spy shot, as well as a third new version, the Scrambler 900, again using the same engine.
There’s also a bobber version which was photographed in development as long ago as July last year but which has yet to be formally revealed.
Where: Triumph has a history of staging its big model launches at Eicma, which is on November 8 in Milan, Italy.
11. Honda X-ADV
Off-roading on a maxi-scooter – what could go wrong?
We many find out soon, when Honda launches the X-ADV, an adventure-style scooter sharing its engine with the NC750X.
Revealed as a concept last year, Honda confirmed last week that it was going into production.
If it ever actually does much off-roading then we’ll be a monkey’s uncle but it should be a laugh all the same.
Where: Eicma in Milan, Italy, on November 8
12. New KTM Dukes
As usual, KTM has done a spectacularly poor job of not riding past a spy photographer every time they test a new bike.
So we know there’s a new 800cc parallel twin Duke on the way.
KTM boss Stefan Perier said as long ago as 2014 that the firm was developing a 500cc and 800cc parallel twin, so it’s not impossible we’ll see a Duke 500 too.
Other models in the Duke range have been spotted with new styling, including the Duke 125.
Where: Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4
13. Husqvarna Vitpilens/Svartpilens
This whole range of KTM Duke-based machines first began to emerge two years ago, with the unveiling of the Vitpilen and Svartpilen 401, concepts that might be described as neo-retro.
Based on the Duke 390, the Svartpilen is a scrambler while the Vitpilen is more sporty.
They were followed last year by the Vitpilen and Svartpilen 701 concepts (the latter pictured above), using the same formula but based on the Duke 690.
Spy shots have since shown both the Vitpilen 401 and 701 being tested on the road and it’s possible we’ll see the final versions of all four machines at this autumn’s shows.
Where: Probably Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4
14. Ducati mini-Multistrada
Just this week, spy shots have emerged of what we think is a smaller addition to Ducat’s Multistrada range, rumoured to use the Hyperstrada 939 engine, a 937cc V-twin with 113hp and 72.2lbft.
Where: Ducati is due unveil new models at Intermot in Cologne, Germany, on October 4, but it’s likely some will be kept under wraps until Eicma in Milan on November 8.
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