Royal Enfield’s Super Meteor will be the star of the show, but there’s a lot else to look forward to as well.
We’re just a handful of days away from the biggest two days of the year in motorcycling – EICMA 2022, which is scheduled to take place on November 8 and 9. There is a whole host of important new models that are likely to be showcased, so here’s what you can expect.
Royal Enfield
The most important new bike for the Indian market that will be shown at EICMA is the highly anticipated Super Meteor 650. RE’s latest cruiser has been spotted testing many times in the recent past, and RE finally put out a teaser this week confirming that the Super Meteor will be officially unveiled at EICMA 2022.
RE has also simultaneously been developing other new 650cc models, most notably the Shotgun 650 roadster. But the company’s literature suggests that the Super Meteor will be the only new model to be shown at EICMA this year. There is, however, a chance that it could show a concept previewing one of the other upcoming models. The Shotgun has already been previewed by the SG650 Concept from last year, but maybe RE could show a concept version of the new 650cc scrambler that it has been developing.
KTM
While there is no confirmation for this just yet, we think that KTM will use EICMA to show the world the next-generation low-capacity Dukes. Significantly updated versions of the 125, 200 and 390 Dukes have been spotted testing for over a year now, both in Europe as well as back home in India, where they will be manufactured. Changes include an all-new chassis and design language, among other updates. Considering how long the bikes have been under development, and how prolific the Milan show is, there is a chance that KTM could pull the wraps off the next-generation Dukes at EICMA.
BMW
BMW’s most likely candidate for an EICMA unveiling is the R 1300 GS. The successor to the company’s most successful model, the new GS has been spotted testing a number of times recently, and small glitches on BMW’s website have confirmed the new name and consequent increase in displacement. There’s no bigger stage than EICMA, and no important model for BMW, so don’t be surprised to see the R 1300 GS being officially unveiled at the show this year.
The company also recently updated its S 1000 RR, and even more comprehensively revised its apex predator, the M 1000 RR. Another new M model joined the line-up in the form of the naked M 1000 R, and all these new machines are likely to be showcased at EICMA.
Harley-Davidson
The Milwaukee giant has taken a bold new direction in the recent past, and this is most strongly signified in the Pan America 1250 – Harley’s heavyweight ADV, designed to take on the likes of the BMW GS, Ducati Multistrada and Triumph Tiger 1200. You can see why the company did this; adventure bikes are all the rage at the moment. And furthering its efforts, Harley seems all set to introduce a smaller, more accessible version of the Pan Am, powered by a smaller 975cc engine.
This liquid-cooled V-twin motor is a downsized version of the Revolution Max motor that powers the bigger Pan Am, and it already does duty in the recently launched Nightster. Paperwork recently filed by Harley with the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests the existence of a smaller Pan America 975, suggesting that Harley is gearing up to launch a smaller version of its ADV. If this is the case, EICMA presents an ideal stage for the global debut of such an important machine.
Suzuki
The biggest news on the two-wheeler front at Suzuki is the company’s new parallel-twin 700cc engine that’s currently under development. It’s slated to replace the hugely successful 650cc V-twin that currently powers popular models like the SV650 and V-Strom 650, so we will very soon see a new V-Strom 700 adventure bike and perhaps an SV700 naked roadster. Whether or not any of the new models will be ready in time for EICMA this year is still a question mark, but there is a chance we could see one of them at the Suzuki stand.
Honda
Honda is another Japanese manufacturer developing an important new middleweight ADV at the moment, and its contender is much more likely to make an EICMA debut. Almost certain, in fact. And there’s a good chance Honda will bank on nostalgia to help its cause and revive an old nametag for this new bike, calling it the Transalp 750. It will share its 755cc parallel-twin engine with the recently launched CB750 Hornet, but house it in a more off-road ready chassis. The bike has already been spotted out in the open, not as a test mule, but as a fully finished production bike, on a TVC shoot. Expect to get a clearer look at it at Honda’s EICMA stall, where the Hornet is also certain to be showcased.
Ducati
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll see an all-new motorcycle for the very first time at Ducati’s EICMA stall. These days, the company unveils its new models digitally through its World Premier series each year. And the 2022 edition has seen updates to the Monster, Multistrada, Panigale and Streetfighter lineups, as well as an all-new Diavel V4 and Scrambler. And all these are likely to be showcased at EICMA, giving us the first opportunity to see all these new bikes in the flesh, before most of them make their way to India next year.