The Milan Motorcycle Show 2010 Round Up..

Well, a little delayed I know but we got there in the end..

Here’s a round up of news from last week’s Milan Motorcycle Show…

First up was a few details of Rieju’s new RS3 sports 125, a replacement for Rieju’s old RS2 Sportster.

It’s designed in partnership with the UK-based Xenophya Design, and while looking good owes a little more than a nod to Honda styling.

Powered by a Yamaha-Minerelli 125cc engine set in a composite steel/aluminium perimeter frame it has some great specs and parts list. Pricing TBC

Ducati, Ducati, Ducati… Italy’s finest had an unfair home advantage in Milan and boy did they make the most of it. They launched the undeniably hottest new thing, its Multistrada 1200 (though the 200 mile at best tank range is still bugging me) amongst several other new machines.

A new 1100 Hypermotard Evo and Evo SP, which are high class variations of the popular standard specification 1100 model. According to the company these posher versions are 7kg lighter and with a 5bhp power increase it should bring the new bikes to 95bhp.

Deep breath, and there’s more… The 1198r Ducati Corse, which while you could say it’s just a tarted up 1098, it’s more of a high class call-girl version of the drool inducing sports bike.

As mentioned in a previous post BMW launched their incrementally updated GS and RT models. Not enough to steal the Multistrada’s thunder but perhaps enough (barely) to keep the legions of BMW fans happy.

The company also revealed a concept bike which appeared to only be there to showcase the engine, an across the frame 6-Cylinder 1600, which according to sources within the company will power a new tourer designed to compete with other mile munchers from Victory, Harley Davidson, and Triumph.

Oh and speaking of Triumph they revealed factory fitted big bore kits on a limited run for the new Thunderbird giving torque and bhp a boost. Also mentioned were new paint finishes for some of their range, with the Thunderbird getting a metallic shimmer to add some more class to an already great looking bike.

Moto Guzzi showed off its new V12 concept at the show, with its eight valve 1200cc engine. Built to a design by Pierre Terblanche, the concept has a cast aluminium frame, and apparently is the base from which a number of bikes can be built upon. Keep your eyes peeled for a series of production machines in 2010!

KTM had a small but significant showing for its new 125cc learner bike. Hopefully the UK economy can support the growing number of ‘learner’ bikes out there in the face of falling sales and a huge drop in bike test registrations.  That’s the update for this year’s show, phew!  Roll on 2010 as it looks like we’re in for some amazing new bikes…. start saving now!