At the Milan Bike Show, the Triumph Street Scrambler brought the scrambler style from the dirt into the city.
Best Motorcycles of the 2016 Milan Bike Show
Every year, the motorcycle world descends on the fashionable northern Italian metropolis of Milan as bike manufacturers, builders and specialists show off their new lines and tantalizing concepts at the EICMA Milan Bike Show.
This year’s edition featured plenty of both, from playful entry-level bikes to gorgeous superbikes that will shatter lap times at your local track or mountain road.
The Best Motorcycles of the Milan Bike Show
Having recovered after this year’s incredible EICMA – the motorcycle equivalent of the Detroit auto show – there’s a few bikes that stand out from the rest. Without further ado, here’s the best new metal and carbon featured at this year’s Milan Bike Show.
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401
This sweet little Swede takes naked bike minimalism to another level, down to shortening or eliminating the large parts of the front and rear fenders. Husqvarna markets the Vitpilen 401 as an urban bike built for “a wider range of riders,” which tends to be marketing speak for “this is a beginner’s bike.”
Though the 375cc engine and two mode ABS may seem to be aimed squarely at the entry-level crowd, riders with much more experience shouldn’t be disappointed with a bike that shares its basic architecture with the excellent KTM 390 Duke. The Vitpilen 401 won’t be available until next fall, but with a bike that looks this good, place this beauty in your wallpaper rotation.
Kawasaki Z900
Naked street bikes are enjoying the limelight of the current market, something I won’t complain about. Being able to see and touch all the important bits normally hidden away by fairings and body work is pretty exciting. Something about viewing the mechanical bits of a machine is satisfying and enjoyable.
The Kawasaki Z900 slots just below the Z1000, replacing the outgoing Z800 as Kawasaki’s Street Triple and FZ-09 fighter. 126 horsepower, adjustable fork and shocks, and weighing in at under 450 lbs. makes me think the Z900 could go a few rounds with the competition. Arriving in dealerships soon, we won’t have to wonder for long.
BMW G310GS
Another bike aimed at the entry-level rider, the G310GS takes styling cues from its well-regarded adventure bike siblings. BMW wants to lead the lightweight adventure category, saying they’re committed to maintaining Beemer’s level of quality along with this bike’s affordability.
Whether or not this is the case remains to be seen, as even the company mentions this bike is more suited for commuting and country roads. Still, with a 19-inch front wheel, sub-400 lbs. dry weight, and the lively single cylinder engine from the G310R, as long as you’re not looking to take the “Long Way Round” with the BMW G310GS, it’s a winner.
Yamaha T7 Tenere Concept
Adventure bikes are all the rage these days. Even those who aren’t thinking about multi-month, cross-continental road trips can appreciate the comfortable seating and abundance of user-friendly features these bikes offer.
Yamaha is teasing their way back into the field with this incredible looking T7 Tenere concept, shown in Milan with a 700cc engine, weighing in under 400 lbs., and a 21-inch front wheel. I don’t think I’m alone in waiting for Yamaha to pull the trigger and start production, if only to be able to look like I’m ready to win Dakar every time I go for a ride.
Honda CB1100 TR Concept
Disco might not be back, but classic ’70s Honda style sure is with the CB1100 TR. One part modern components plus one part classic superbike design equals three thumbs up. Öhlins forks and shocks, Brembo brakes, and even a GoPro motorcycle mount on the number plate (No. 58, for Marco Simoncelli) makes us want to take it for a spin.
The TR will probably never see a production line, probably for smart, rational business reasons, but the emotional appeal says Honda should build these by the boatload. And the world would be a better place for it.
Triumph Street Scrambler
With the underpinnings of Triumph’s Street Twin, the Street Scrambler looks to bring the scrambler style from the dirt and into the city. The 900cc engine claims to be high-torque, a characteristic that’s great for both fire roads and early morning commutes.
However, the fit and finish, not to mention a catalog of additional accessories, suggest that Street Scrambler owners won’t be experiencing much off-tarmac work, preferring to stick to pavement. Still, style counts for plenty and Triumph is pretty good at the whole street bike business, so this bike looks to be a nice addition to the local coffee scene or Sunday morning twisties.
Ducati 1299 Superleggera
The legendary Italian bike maker set out to make the 1299 Superleggera the most advanced production bike available, and they may have hit their mark. With a carbon fiber frame, subframe, swingarm and wheels, along with other weight-saving measures, this superbike weighs in at 368 pounds… wet.
Pair that with the 215 hp engine, a couple handfuls more than the standard 1299, and the Superleggera plays with an incredible 1.7 lbs. per pony. And with that Ducati superbike style looking like a million bucks, there will be plenty of these attacking the apexes of Mullholland Drive every weekend morning for years to come.
Did I miss anything major? Think there’s a bike deserving to be on this list? Let us know in the comments below your favorite bike from the 2016 edition of the Milan Bike Show.
