Cologne's Intermot Motorcycle and Scooter Fair was, reports John Wheeler, dominated by bikes from the best-known makers BikeTest: Intermot Motorcycle and Scooter Fair
The bikes on display at the recent Intermot Motorcycle and Scooter Fair in Cologne, which seemed set to generate the most interest, inevitably come from the best-known manufacturers.
Aprilia unveiled the Tuono Factory, a faster, flashier looking version of their Tuono 1000R, essentially a sportsbike with street fighter attitude.
Aprilia's Atlantic 500cc scooter has proved popular and price-competitive, there is now a thinner, leaner and somewhat more sporty Atlantic 500 Sprint version.
The Aprilia influence, if not the name itself, was evident in BMW's G650X featured in this column recently. The genes of their Pegaso Strada are evident. BMW's K 1200R Sport is the naked K 1200R with a half-fairing, otherwise it is the same as the K1200R.
Ducati's S4R now comes with the Testastretta engine from the 999 series. Their Multistrada has been upped from 992cc to 1,078cc giving a 70kW power output. Interestingly it now has a wet clutch.
Ducati, perhaps at last realising that not everyone is an aficionado of track days, has a delightful looking, totally sensible and usable GT 1000 complete with panniers and screen.
Honda's GL 1800, the doyen of the flagship bikes, now comes with GPS as standard and the new, impressive, airbag system. I know of one accident this summer where such a system would undoubtedly have saved a life. The pity is that at present this system needs a large bike to house it.
As ever, the latest version of the CBR 600RR drew the crowds. It is, Honda claims, "completely new from bow to stern" with a new frame, a more powerful engine, shorter wheelbase, less weight and a different look. The bars are now 10mm higher which could help those of us approaching the onset of the rheumatics. The real eye-catcher on their stand was the Fireblade, now available in the Repsol colours.
Honda, possibly realising the popularity of the Deauville owes much to the fact that it has luggage capacity, showed several more machines with luggage. A CBF 1000, by way of example, with luggage added now becomes a CBF 1000 Travel. You will see more of the Travel tag on other models.
Particularly interesting was Honda's SH 300i. This is a rather modern looking version - a sort of grown up Honda 50 with a screen and a topbox but with a 300cc engine. Given that ancestry it should appeal rather more to the many who need the versatility of two wheels but do not like small wheeled scooters or out-and-out motorcycles. It would seem to be the perfect machine for that 25 to 50 km commute.
The hugely popular CB600F Hornet is another "completely new" machine from the Honda stable. Now with an engine from the fuel-injected CBR6090RR, a lighter alloy frame, optional linked brakes slightly longer wheelbase, optional ABS coupled with a new, modern look suggest it could again become one of the most popular Hondas.
The cosmetically enhanced Kawasaki Z 1000 looked as fast stood still as it will be on the road. But it was Kawasaki's 1400GTR that caught the imagination. It has taken its awesome ZZR1400 and made out of it a serious contender in the ranks of Trans-Continental tourers. The frame, forks, radial brakes and engine are all ZZR1400. The engine has been given variable valve timing. That gives good torque at low revs and maximum power at high revs. Final drive is by shaft, essentially a must in the serious tourer market. On paper this machine, complete with panniers, ought to have a top speed of around 290 km/h.
This puts the 1400GT alongside Honda's ST1300 Pan-European, Yamaha's FJR1300, BMW's R1200RT and K1200GT in the very serious sports touring stakes.
Kawasaki's new Versys is a tall all-rounder which employs the ER-6n frame, wheels and engine tuned for more torque. The name is meant to imply versatility. With its tall riding position and bikini-type cowl it gives at least some weather protection. It should be a first-rate commuter bike with enough pazzaz for weekend spins.
KTM's 690 Supermoto was drawing in the crowds. KTM are also promoting a huge range of adventure tours. Eight days in Tunisia, including bike rental, for €1,940.
Suzuki, as ever, takes its GSX-R1000 further into the future each year. Now with on-the-move, rider adjustable settings for the prep-programmed fuel maps, the bike can be tuned for a wide variety of conditions. One setting gives the full, 137kW power, the second gives 115kW but more torque, the third gives just 88kW, rather more suitable for day-to-day riding. A new electronic steering damper increases its force as road speed rises.
Stunningly eye-catching is its new B-King. Essentially it is the GSX1300R Hyabusa engine dropped into a new, really aggressive looking chassis, with outrageous styling and all the street-cred of a charging bull. Word has it that you will have to be patient because it is still several months away from the shop floor.
Less new in the Triumph range; the Tiger 1050 is now much more of an on-road machine than before. The Bonneville range all now have the 865cc engine and the Sprint ST comes as standard with hard luggage.
Yamaha's R1 now bristles with even more technology and a perplexing mass of acronyms, we spotted GENICH, YCC-T, YCC-1. It all adds up to even more cutting edge performance.