Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1483118
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 44 NOVEMBER 1, 2022 P115 The Ducati Premier series started in 2019 and it's seen over 25 new or revised models released in that time, everything from Panigale superbike variants to Multistradas, Streetfighters, Scramblers, Desert X's, even e- MTBs. The number of bikes over the last three years show just how much Ducati is pushing, and it's an effort that takes a considerable toll on the various manufacturing, distribution, marketing and dealer networks the company employs. BMW is a similar story, al- though it hasn't been quite as prolific. Next year will see the debut of a new S 1000 RR and M 1000 RR superbike range, the new M 1000 R naked bike, new R 1250 R naked bike, and we've seen the R 18 lineup (First Edi- tion, Transcontinental, Bagger), F 900 R and F 900 XR. KTM shouldn't be left out, either, as the Austrians have brought the new 890 Duke R and 890 Adven- ture R, 1290 Super Adventure R and S, 1290 Super Duke R EVO, new RC 390, 450 SMR, 390 Duke, not to mention the mouth- watering RC 8C, all, like BMW and Ducati, within the last three years. Triumph and Aprilia have also been hard at it. Triumph's new Speed and Street Triple range, and new Tiger Adventure bikes have hit a sweet spot, as have the new RSV4 and Tuono 1100 ranges, the RS 660/Tuono 660 and the new Tuareg ADV steed done so for Aprilia. Here's where the reading gets a little glum for lovers of Japanese motorcycles. No two ways about it, Japan is being left behind by Europe when it comes to the de- velopment of, and the bringing of those motorcycles to, the market. Japan hasn't entirely sat on its hands. In those past three years, Suzuki bought a legend back with the Hayabusa and debuted the excellent GSX-S1000 GT+ and the half-baked GSX-S1000, and Kawa- saki debuted a new ZX-10R, Versys 1000 LT and the fantastic H2 SX. Yamaha has been a bit more active in that they gave their YZF- R1 a touch up for 2020. Then we saw the YZF-R7, the new MT-09/ SP, XSR range and Tracer 9 GT, and in a couple of weeks we'll see the new MT-10 SP to go with the base version we rode a few months ago in North Carolina. Honda, the biggest one of them all, has also been the quiet- est. We got a new CBR1000RR- R SP last year, a revised Gold Wing, CB1000R Black Edition, and a new Africa Twin Adven- ture Sports ES—don't forget Honda is still the only company that will give you the option of a DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) gearbox on selected models, so that's something to think about. One part of this year that was massive for racing that I think flew under the radar for just how significant it will be for the rest of the industry, is Suzuki leaving not just MotoGP but all forms of factory-supported road racing. The change in thinking away from "what wins on Sunday sells on Monday" of the Suzuki hierar- chy will have a gigantic effect on what, if anything, the company rolls out in the future. Suzuki is in the slow process of rebranding itself away from motorcycles to "re-allo- cate resources on other initiatives for sustainability" to roll out one of the most overused catchphrases around, so the next few years will be make-or-break for the company that we as motorcyclists could count on like a big brother. However, all of the manufactur- ers are being left in the dust by Ducati. The Italians, flush with Audi-ownership cash, are charg- ing out new model after new model, and it is quickly banishing the notion that Ducatis will break down at the drop of a hat, like they used to. Getting rid of the no- tion that Ducatis are overpriced, that's a whole different argument. The Japanese industry does have some good things coming, however. Honda recently said it plans to introduce "at least 10 new bikes" within the next three years, and these bikes will indeed be electric. Kawasaki will also release 10 new electric or hybrid- powered bikes by 2025, so it appears the sleeping giants from the Land of Rising Sun may be starting to awake from their slumber. We need Japan to re-emerge as the ones who led the tech- nological charge, the ones who made bikes kids like me had on their bedroom walls. We do in- deed live in interesting times. CN