In a surprising move, KTM is bringing back the 790 Duke, returning “the Scalpel” to its lineup in select markets after a very brief absence.

The 790 Duke was introduced in 2017, but it was quickly supplanted by the 890 Duke R in 2019 as KTM’s top middleweight naked. The 790 was dropped completely for the 2021 model year, replaced by a new non-R 890 Duke.

There was never anything wrong with the 790 Duke. KTM says it managed to sell 29,000 units despite it’s very short run. The main impetus for change was the introduction of Euro 5 emissions standards. Like other manufacturers opted to do, KTM tackled the stricter standard by increasing the displacement of the Duke’s LC8c Parallel-Twin from 799cc to 889cc, hence the introduction of the 890 Duke.

A small displacement Harley-Davidson model developed with Chinese manufacturer Qianjiang may finally be nearing production. The prospective 350cc model has been in the works since 2019, and despite design filings of the bike and a look at the Harley-branded engine, we haven’t heard any official statement on when it will go into production.

Honda announced a new 125cc Minimoto for Europe, reviving the Dax model name for a new generation of riders. The name was originally used in Europe in 1969 for Honda’s ST-series in 50 and 70cc models, and last produced from 1995 to 2003 in Japan. The name comes from “Dachshund”, as its distinctive T-shaped frame resembles the weiner dog breed, helping it stand out from Honda’s other minibikes like the Monkey and Cub.

Things get a little confusing in North America where the Dax was sold as the CT70 and, in 1973, when Honda offered the ST90 as the Trailsport. Today, Honda offers the Trail 125 in the U.S., but the new Dax is a very different vehicle.

As we had previously reported last month, Ducati is introducing a new Panigale V4 SP2, a numbered series production model it bills as “The Ultimate Racetrack Machine.” Internationally, the SP2 is a 2022 model, but for North America, it will arrive in dealerships in the fourth quarter as a 2023 model.

A follow up to 2021’s SP model, the SP2 takes all the updates the Panigale V4 and V4 S received for 2022, and adds a number of upgrades to make it worthy of the “Sport Production” label and $39,500 price tag.

Yamaha Motor Europe outlined its plans for electric two-wheelers, revealing a range of scooters, bicycles and a moped. The announcement confirmed our report last week that it would include an electric scooter called the “NEO’s”, but the 50cc-equivalent model was only scratching the surface.

In 1997, Bill Clinton started his second term, nobody was sure if the Titanic had sunk or not as the Leonardo di Caprio film had just debuted – along with the Toyota Prius in Japan. Love was in the air, the median California home price was $186k, and what the hell was Motorcycle Online? What could possibly go wrong?

Honda’s first CL72 250 Scrambler was lashed to the bumper of many a Conestoga wagon as it made its way westward, and I’m pretty sure it was a Kawasaki KLX300 that I wheelied over backwards, circa 1997, that really dampened my enthusiasm for stunting. At least Honda’s had the decency to change its nomenclature over the years to give the impression of evolution. Kawasaki is standing pat with the 292 cc Single that’s powered its KLX since 1996, along with its KLX nomenclature.

2021 Honda CRF300L & Rally Review – First Ride

2021 Kawasaki KLX300 Review – First Ride

Sort of. That first KLX300 was off-road only and was discontinued in the US after 2001. KLX250 then appeared circa 2006 as a dual-sport, went in and out of production, re-emerged updated and fuel-injected in 2018 – which set the stage for the boring-out and re-introduction of a new KLX300 for 2021. It uses the same 78 x 61.2mm bore and stroke as the original ‘97 thumper and looks just like it too, from the outside at least. What’s old is new again.

Yamaha Motor Europe is teasing a new product launch for March 3. While the teasers don’t provide very many clues, we believe the announcement will be for an electric scooter called the Neo’s. And it may not be limited to just one.

Honda announced it will introduce a new roadster called the Hawk 11 on March 19. Teaser images show a café racer-styled fairing with a round LED headlight and underslung mirrors.

According to Honda (translated from Japanese), “the HAWK 11 was developed with the concept of a large motorcycle that provides new values ​​and a fulfilling bike life to customers, mainly experienced riders. The body package that brings light driving is combined with elegant styling to express the depth of taste as a motorcycle that is not bound by specifications alone. We will meet the diverse needs of our customers as a model that proposes the enjoyment of manipulating in winding while fully feeling the heartbeat and exhaust sound of the engine.”

Once upon a time, Honda’s mighty V-fours ruled the road. Now, they don’t even make one anymore. In the case of the last Magna 750, that’s maybe not such a bad thing. Maybe have a look at a Rebel 1100 DCT instead? Take it away, old Billy Baroo.

Kyle Wyman knows a thing or two about superbikes. Having ridden quite a few over the years as a MotoAmerica rider, and having built some himself as a MotoAmerica team owner – including the Ducati Panigale V4R he campaigned most recently – the 2021 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers champion didn’t mince his words when describing the synergy between himself, Harley-Davidson, and the Road Glide he took all the way to the title.

“We’re developing superbikes,” he said. “We’re just starting from a different platform.” 

GasGas is preparing to introduce its first street legal motorcycles with a new ES 700 enduro and a SM 700 supermoto. Motorcycle.com can confirm those two models will be coming to the U.S.

[UPDATE: We’ve gotten our hands on a price list from two separate GasGas dealers in Spain confirming the SM 700 and ES 700. Prices in euros added below.]

The confirmation comes from vehicle identification number (VIN) decoder information submitted to the U.S. by KTM. The VIN decoder was recently amended on Feb. 16, with a cover letter noting the only changes were to add the “GG ES 700” and “GG SM 700” for 2022 and 2023, with both models marked specifically as being street legal. The decoder includes the two new bikes with models dating back several years from KTM, and its sister brands GasGas (labeled in the document as “GG”), Husqvarna (“HQV”) and the shuttered Husaberg (HSB).

Earlier this year, Harley-Davidson revealed a new Low Rider ST featuring a FXRT-inspired fairing. Initial reaction to the Low Rider ST was very positive, with Jochen Zeitz, Harley-Davidson chief executive officer, claiming in Harley-Davidson’s Q4 earnings call “demand was so high for this bike that we sold out our first consumer allocation in 10 minutes.”

While the retro fairing might not appeal to everyone, one other critique about the FXLRST (and a few other bikes in the 2022 lineup) is the rather drab selection of colors: Vivid Black and Gunship Gray.

If you’re looking for a more vibrant Low Rider ST, you may want to wait a bit longer, as Harley-Davidson will be introducing a new variant to be called the “Low Rider El Diablo.”

The name appears in vehicle emissions certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Germany’s Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (Federal Transport Authority), confirming the El Diablo will use the same Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine as the Low Rider ST and Low Rider S. The certificates don’t tell us what color it will be, but we can assume from the name it will be some shade of red.

Your new-for-2022 Indian Pursuit unleashes the next generation of American V-Twin touring performance, says Indian. Basically, what’s going on is turning the Challenger bagger into a full-on tourer mit trunk, and adding some new twists like electronic rear-shock preload adjustment and driving light lowers (on the Premium models).

Packing the excellent, liquid-cooled 108-inch PowerPlus engine, a big chassis-mounted fairing, the latest in electronic assists and all the touring amenities we’ve come to expect in modern $30,000 motorcycles – Indian slaps the gauntlet in your face by calling the Pursuit “the most capable and refined American touring machine on the road.”

The Pursuit lineup consists of two models with two trims each:

Harley-Davidson has the fortunate position to stand atop the perch that is its popularity and loyal following to see where its customers take their motorcycles. Yes, the folks at Harley hear all the time about the different places their motorcycles have taken them. But Harley designers and engineers also have the advantage of reading the pulse of their customer base by seeing what these people decide to do to customize and modify their bikes. Need I remind anyone of the unfortunate custom chopper craze of not too long ago…?

One thoughtful stop if you were traveling back in time 25 years, would be Rimini, Italy. You could pop into the Bimota workshop and tell Signores Bianchi, Morri, and Tamburini, NO, for the love of God, DON’T DO IT! IT’S NOT GONNA WORK!!

You would’ve saved them and the whole motorcycling world a lot of grief. When the V Due finally arrived not long after this April, 1997 article, it was clearly not ready for prime time. The production version of the revolutionary two-stroke V-twin would barely run. After years in development and millions of lire spent, the entire run of motorcycles was recalled. While it was working through that fiasco, sponsor money Bimota had been counting on for its 2000 World Superbike effort failed to appear. Not long after that, bankruptcy beckoned. Doubly a shame, really, since Australian wild child Anthony Gobert won a Phillip Island WSBK race on the Bimota SB8. 

Bimota has, of course, bounced back, most recently with a little help from Kawasaki. Let’s hope the Kawasaki H2-powered Tesi works out better than the V Due. 

Ducati revealed a new limited edition XDiavel produced in conjunction with Italian furniture and interior design house Poltrona Frau. The 2022 Ducati XDiavel Nera will be available in a numbered run of 500 units, priced at US$29,795. That’s a hefty $4,200 premium over the XDiavel S.

An interior design studio may seem like an odd choice to collaborate on a motorcycle. Ducati’s actually working with Poltrona Frau’s Interiors in Motion Business Unit, a division that focuses on leather interiors for automotive, aviation and rail vehicles, which makes a bit more sense.

Making less sense is what the extra 42 Benjamins get you: a black-on-black livery plus a special leather saddle.

Yamaha Motor Europe announced the production version of the 2022 Ténéré 700 World Raid, a new Ténéré variant with a larger fuel tank and longer travel suspension. It joins Yamaha’s European lineup alongside the regular Ténéré 700, plus a Rally Edition version which we don’t get in the U.S.

We first saw the World Raid at EICMA as a prototype equipped with a number of Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing (GYTR) performance parts. Last month, designs for the production model popped up on the European Union Intellectual Property Office, so we figured an official announcement was imminent.

Today’s announcement confirmed some of the upgrades we expected for the World Raid to separate it from the base model Ténéré 700. The most notable change was swapping out the T-700’s 4.2 gallon fuel tank with two side-mounted tanks that combine for a 6.1-gallon capacity.

Last fall, Ducati revealed nine new models over a series of online “World Première” events. That’s an impressive slate of new models, but it looks like Ducati isn’t done yet, announcing three more presentations to come, on Feb. 17, March 3, and March 10.

Ducati hasn’t provided any clues about what to expect from the three World Premières, or even how many models will be part of each episode. Motorcycle.com can confirm that two of the models will be a new Panigale V4 R and a Panigale V4 SP2. The proof comes from Ducati itself, or more specifically, the owner’s manual download page on Ducati’s official website. Though the manuals themselves aren’t available, the selection menus include options for a 2022 Panigale V4 R and a 2022 Panigale V4 SP.

KTM is teasing a collaboration with German tuning house Brabus, with a new naked bike based on the 1290 Super Duke EVO. According to the teasers, 2022 Brabus 1300 R is due to be announced on Feb. 11, but the bike briefly popped up on KTM’s official website. Those pages were quickly taken down, but not before we were able to get our paws on the official details and images.

Brabus, for those who are unfamiliar, is a high-performance automotive tuner, probably best known for its work on Mercedes-Benz cars. With the 1300 R, Brabus moves into the motorcycle space, with its take on the Super Duke EVO. Brabus gave the 1300 R a number of handcrafted components, plus nine-spoke forged wheels. New carbon fiber air intakes and a circular headlight give the Super Duke a new look, though the 1300 R’s front does give us a bit of a Ducati Diavel vibe.

C’mon, you knew it was going to happen. How could we not put the newcomer to the ADV scene head-to-head with the long standing heavyweight from the Fatherland? Our comparison of the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special and BMW R 1250 GS kicks off a series of monthly two-bike tests for 2022. Look out for a new scorchin’ comparison from MO every month. Spanning the smorgasbord of genres, your favorite kooky MO characters will ride, review, and bicker about some of the spiciest meatballs on the market today. To kick things off though, America versus Germany! 

With COVID still rearing its ugly peplomers, travel to far-off lands remains on hold for most of us. But that doesn’t mean your raging wanderlust must be shamefully tucked into your proverbial waistband. No. Let your passion loose! There are, no doubt, exciting opportunities to be had locally, too!

Harley-Davidson delivered its Q4 2021 earnings report this morning, providing a look at how the first year of its Hardwire plan fared. We’ll have more on that in a separate post (spoiler: H-D did very well), but for now, we’ll focus on one interesting portion of the earnings call: an update on the separate LiveWire brand.

As we reported in December, Harley-Davidson is taking LiveWire public, merging the electric motorcycle brand with special purpose acquisition company AEA-Bridges Impact Corp. (ABIC) and partnering with Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco. The Q4 earnings call provided an update on the ABIC merger, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2022.

Speaking on the earnings call, Jochen Zeitz, chief executive officer of both Harley-Davidson and LiveWire, announced the next electric model will be introduced in the second quarter. The new model, which will be called the LiveWire Del Mar, will be the first to use LiveWire’s scalable, modular ARROW platform, adding a lighter, less expensive model to the lineup, slotting in below the LiveWire One.

Pierer Mobility confirmed it is working on an electric KTM streetbike as part of its push towards electro mobility. The news comes from a presentation of preliminary revenues and earnings for the 2021 business year, confirming that an E-Duke is in development.

While this is the first official confirmation of an E-Duke, its development comes as no surprise, especially after KTM’s sister brand Husqvarna revealed an E-Pilen concept last April. A PDF provided to investors confirms that the E-Duke will share the same 5.5 kWh fixed battery as the E-Pilen, and delivering a claimed nominal power output of 10 kW (13.4 hp).

The PDF lists the E-Duke alongside the E-Pilen, as well as a KTM E10 youth dirtbike and a new Freeride E LV model as projects currently under development. The image of the E-Duke was intentionally pixelated to hide it’s appearance, but we managed to get our hands on an earlier draft of the file which shows a clearer glimpse of the E-Duke.

With no US publications invited to Barcelona for the BMW CE 04 introduction (that we know of), we enlisted Friend of MO Bertand Gahel to give us his thoughts on BMW’s second generation urban electric scooter. He didn’t disappoint. —Ed.

Hardly a week goes by without another headline about some car company phasing out its internal combustion engine development or some new electric car being launched. Large motorcycle OEMs, however, definitely don’t seem overly pressured to replace fuel by electricity. Sure, from Yamaha to Triumph to KTM, everyone regularly mentions some electric project in the works. But in terms of actual production models, when it comes to those big brands, the reality is not even a handful exist. Even more impressive, then, that BMW is now introducing its second generation battery-powered maxi-scooter, the futuristic 2022 CE 04. Just as remarkable is the fact that it’s a genuine redesign vs the first-gen C Evolution.

Taking inspiration from its championship-winning King of the Baggers factory race bikes, Harley-Davidson introduces new, performance-focused ST versions of the Road Glide and Street Glide.

Like Kyle Wyman’s King of the Baggers Road Glide Special racer, the Road Glide ST and Street Glide ST have been upgraded with some Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts upgrades. Harley didn’t go so far as to install the same Screamin’ Eagle 131ci crate engine, but the new ST models do come with the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin with a high-flow intake, high-performance camshaft and a new exhaust to deliver the same level of performance as its CVO models. Harley-Davidson claims 106 hp at 4750 rpm and 127 lb-ft. at 3750 rpm for the ST models.

When you show up on a CVO, you know you’ve arrived and so do all the peons on lesser machines. “Exclusive and hand-crafted paint and designs are executed to a level of intricate quality that is unmatched in the motorcycle and automotive categories,” says H-D, to “represent the pinnacle of style and design.” For 2022, a new CVO Road Glide Limited replaces the CVO Limited, with CVO Street and CVO Road Glides returning, along with the CVO Tri Glide. 

Each CVO gets a burly Milwaukee-Eight 117 powertrain, H-D’s biggest and most powerful factory-installed motor. 

Perhaps no other manufacturer harnesses the power of its history better than Harley-Davidson. But more than being able to tap into the company history, Harley is equally in tune with the custom scene and unique builds its loyal fan base has pumped out over the years. The 2022 Low Rider and Low Rider ST are perfect examples of Harley blending its heritage with the custom scene, all while adding modern twists.

Both motorcycles share the same Softail platform, meaning you get hidden rear suspension and a more comfortable ride. That better ride is further bolstered by Harley (finally) adding a shock with a respectable amount of travel (for a cruiser anyway) – 4.4 inches! It’s the same one found on the Heritage Classic 114 and Fat Bob 114. 

When you see Yamaha’s MT-09, your gaze doesn’t go away very quickly. You end up staring at it. Granted, there’s not much to look at, but what is there is eye-catching. From the hunched shoulders of the gas tank to the creases and natural lines of the frame, you can’t help but look at it. But what keeps your vision stuck on it is the face you see staring back at you when you look at it head-on. 

Harley-Davidson is expected to announce more 2022 models on Jan. 26, including its top-of-the-line Custom Vehicle Operations models. While the full list of 2022 CVO models remains to be determined, we expect a new Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Limited will be part of the announcement.

The confirmation comes to us after we got our hands on the installation manual for a secondary amplifier kit, required by Harley-Davidson’s Rockford Fosgate-powered audio systems that use six to eight speakers. The installation manual, dated Jan. 26, 2022, makes multiple references to a 2022 FLTRKSE.

Yamaha has filed designs that reveal what the production version of the Ténéré 700 Raid will look like. The Ténéré 700 Raid was shown at EICMA in prototype form as an even more off-road capable version of the Ténéré 700. While the prototype was essentially a Ténéré 700 modified with Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing (GYTR) performance parts, the designed filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office appears ready for series production.

Last month, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) provided the first look at  the new “ Supersport Next Generation” models that will redefine middleweight racing class.

Starting with the 2022 season, the World Supersport class (and their equivalents in various national racing series such as MotoAmerica) will add new models such as the Ducati Panigale V2, MV Agusta F3 800, MV Agusta F3 Superveloce, Triumph Street Triple RS, Suzuki GSX-R750, and the 636cc Kawasaki ZX-6R. The primarily 600cc models that previously represented the class will continue for one more season, before the Supersport Next Generation models take over completely in 2023.

It turns out, however, that at least one traditional Supersport model will live on in the Next Generation category: the Yamaha YZF-R6. According to a list of FIM-approved parts eligible for competition, the R6 will be classified as a Next Generation model for the 2023 season, continuing to be eligible to race in the World Supersport class along with the new, larger displacement models.

Dear Concerned,

Good question. I was just reading another post from a guy who says he’s been riding Harleys mostly for the last 30 years, largely for the peace of mind the huge dealer network gives him when he’s on the road. He went on to say that, during that time, he’d only needed the network twice – once for a flat tire, and once to bleed his brakes. 

Last summer, KTM got us excited with a new RC 8C sportbike, but our interest waned when we realized it was a limited production track bike that was not street legal. Still, that didn’t stop interested customers from scooping up all 100 units less than five minutes after the pre-order window opened. Not that we were surprised about the strong demand, as it has been years since KTM produced a large-displacement sportbike.

We may not have to wait too much longer, though, as spy photographers have spotted a new 890 Duke-based KTM sportbike prototype out for a test in Spain. The test bike was clad in fairings resembling the bodywork on the RC 8C and KTM’s RC16 MotoGP racer, but the headlights and license plate make it clear this sportbike will be street legal.

Last week, Harley-Davidson announced its first batch of 2022 models, listing several models that are returning mostly unchanged, except for new paint and graphic options. A few models were conspicuously absent from the announcement; most of them, like the Iron 1200, were discontinued. The lone exception was the Low Rider S, which we reported would be announced on Jan. 26 with some updates.

Well, it didn’t take long for information to leak out, confirming that the Harley-Davidson Low Rider S will indeed return for 2022, with some changes including a larger 117ci (1923cc) engine. The news was first broken by Brazilian blogger Dan Morel, and further corroborated by German blog HarleySite.de, which published an official-looking spec sheet.

While we don’t know the source of these two leaks, Motorcycle.com has been able to verify that the Low Rider S is indeed coming back, and it will be offered for 2022 in the Vivid Black and Gunship Gray colors depicted on the two blog posts. We have also uncovered social media posts from a Harley-Davidson dealer in Thailand who claims to have already sold a 2022 Low Rider S.

Still no score and twenty years ago, yours truly came to work at MO for the first time (where I apparently found it my duty to insert a lot of parentheticals signed Ed). I think the 2002 Triumph Speed Triple was one of the first bikes we reviewed upon my arrival. That’s me resting on the couch after performing the horn mono for Minime’s Kodak Brownie, which took a lot out of me. Calvin “Clavin” Kim moved onward and upward, and now does something important at Porsche North America. Those were the days my friend.

Today, Harley-Davidson announced its first batch of 2022 motorcycles, with models already arriving at dealerships across the U.S. These models return mostly unchanged from 2021, save for updated colors and, for some, new wheel designs. If you’re looking for any new models, CVO models, or motorcycles getting more significant changes, you’ll have to wait until Jan. 26, for Harley-Davidson’s “Further, Faster” world premiere event.

Before we get to that, let’s look at which models have returned, and which have not. These are the models coming back for 2022: Pan America 1250, Pan America 1250 Special, Sportster S, Iron 883, Forty-Eight, Softail Standard, Heritage Classic 114, Street Bob 114, Fat Bob 114, Fat Boy 114, Electra Glide Standard, Road King, Road King Special, Road Glide, Road Glide Special, Street Glide, Street Glide Special, Ultra Limited, Road Glide Limited, Tri Glide Ultra, and Freewheeler.

This V4 Pikes Peak version is the sporting Multistrada, says Ducati, getting back to the pavement performance of the original Pikes Peak via a beautiful set of 17-inch forged Marchesini wheels – the rear one spinning on a one-sided swingarm. The Marchesinis, Ducati says, remove fully 8.8 pounds of spinning, unsprung mass compared to the other Multis’ 19-/17-in. wheelsets. Apart from that and a few other electronic and ergonomic differences, the PP is pretty much the same Multistrada V4 as the base and S models. That’s in no way a bad thing, since the Multi V4 S was just named our Best Sport-Touring Motorcycle of 2021. 

2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Review – First Ride

Compared to the Streetfighter V4 S that won the street part of our Heavyweight Nakeds comparison the other day, the Multistrada is almost soothing to ride. It’s about 60 pounds heavier than the Streetfighter, and its 1158 cc Granturismo V4 isn’t trying to send you into 14,000-rpm low orbit all the time. In fact, the big round digital tachometer says it’s game over at 10,500 rpm, right where Ducati says our max 170 horsepower resides (same as the base Multistrada and the S). You’re definitely riding a powerful motorcycle, but not a ridiculous one: The 1158 is torquey and tractable, in addition to revvable and lovable, and the PP gets a sweet Akrapovič muffler for just the right level of gruffness. Why not let’s ride out into an atmospheric river atop a 5800-foot mountain to get an idea how it all works? More details on the pixellated page from a few weeks ago, to be found here.

VIN information submitted by Indian Motorcycle confirm it is set to add a new Scout Rogue model to its 2022 lineup. The Scout Rogue will be based on the Scout Bobber and will be available with either with the larger 1133cc engine or the 1000cc “Sixty” engine.

We first reported that Indian filed trademarks for the Scout Rogue name last April, but we had few firm details about what to expect, or when it will be revealed.

You’ve read our weeks long tribute to 2021 in the form of the MO Best Of awards. You’ve had your chance to debate the validity of our selection of the Harley-Davidson Pan America as the Motorcycle of the Year. Now that 2021 is almost completely in our rear view mirrors, it’s time to shift our gaze to the future. As is tradition, the Motorcycle.com staff has put together our list of the bikes that we are most looking forward to testing in the upcoming year. We’ve explained which 2022 models have caught our eye and why. But this doesn’t just have to be about us and our desires. Take a moment and share the bike(s) that you are most excited about for 2022. 

Well I’ll be. Triumph doesn’t even make a sport-tourer anymore; they’ve all been phased out in favor of adventure bikes, looks like. The Honda VFR1200F that was supposed to be its competition is also long defunct, and the BMW K1300S has also left the building. What happened to big sport-tourers like the Triumph Sprint GT anyway? We must’ve evolved while nobody was looking.

Moto Guzzi is preparing a new special edition model based on the V7 but with modern styling. Spy photos of a camouflaged test bike were first uncovered by Moto.it in late October, leading to speculation that it would appear at EICMA along with the V100 Mandello. That obviously didn’t happen, but Motorcycle.com can confirm that the bike is on the way, and will be called the Moto Guzzi V850X.

The spy photo (shared in Moto.it’s Facebook post below) was reportedly taken by Oscar Malugani, an announcer for the Italian Trial Championship. The single photo offers a few details, such as the V7’s version of the air-cooled 853cc V-Twin engine, wire-spoke wheels, bodywork on the tail unlike current V7 model, and an unusual-looking front fairing that covers part of the upper forks. Thankfully, we’ve been able to uncover more information about the mystery model, including its name.

Ducati today dropped a minor bombshell with the press release below, announcing testing for its prototype MotoE racer had already begun. For those unaware, Ducati is set to become the sole manufacturer for the MotoE World Cup starting in 2023, replacing Energica, whose contract as the sole – and so far only – manufacturer for MotoE expires at the end of the 2022 season.

We can see that the overall shape and design of the bike aren’t far off from the design sketches first shown back in October when Ducati made its initial MotoE announcement. To these eyes, the nose section isn’t too dissimilar to the Energica Ego Corsa race bikes being used currently.

This sweet Honda lost out to the Triumph Speed Triple ten years ago, mostly for a deficit of horsepower. But now that all ten-year old motorcycles are archaic compared to the current crop, we like it even better than we did then. The Honda CBR1000R was  light-handling, easy-riding and even nice to look at.

As I observed to my Ducati host just before we started up the mountain toward Idyllwild (elevation 5,800 feet) from Palm Desert, California (220 ft) – this is either going to be one of the greatest rides ever or one of the worst. Pity the poor new model launch planner: If it rains hard more than a few days a year around Palm Springs I’d be surprised. But logistics have to be laid out weeks ahead of time, and as the day for our ride drew nearer, the weather forecast for last Tuesday had evolved from 20% to 40% to 100% rain, to “atmospheric river.”

Harley-Davidson announced plans to take LiveWire public, making the brand the first publicly-traded electric motorcycle company in the U.S. The transaction is expected to raise net proceeds of $545 million which will be used to fund new product development.

Along those lines, Harley-Davidson also announced LiveWire’s second-generation electric powertrain, a proprietary scalable modular system to be called “Arrow“. We’ll go into more detail on Arrow in a bit, but first, let’s look at the business side of the transaction.

When I got the call from Motorcycle.com asking if I’d be available to fly over to the Circuito de Jerez in Spain to test the new 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S, not only did a certain grin return to my face, but also I was especially intrigued by two things: One, I had just finished participating in a seven bike heavyweight naked shootout with MO (see Battle Royale) with the 2021 Ducati Streetfighter V4 S finishing right up near the top of my personal list. But two, I got the opportunity a few years back to evaluate the 2019 Panigale V4 S Corse at both Laguna Seca and Pirelli’s test circuit, the Autodromo di Pergusa in Sicily. To ride Ducati’s latest Panigale V4 flagship once again, but some two and a half years later, might reveal a few of the special ingredients the Bologna factory has unearthed to help explain this seemingly magic formula they’ve cooked up in both MotoGP and World Superbike.

With all due respect to its Multistrada models, Ducati‘s current adventure bike offerings are better suited for paved streets with the occasional sojourn on fire roads. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. After all, we did just pick the Multistrada V4 S as our MOBO winner for the best sport-tourig motorcycle of 2021. If you were looking for a more off-road performance from Ducati, you now have a better option in the new 2022 Ducati DesertX. With long-travel suspension, a 21-inch front wheel and a large fuel tank (plus an optional second tank), the 2022 DesertX is Ducati’s new entry to the highly competitive middleweight adventure bike segment.

Ducati originally presented the DesertX as a concept model at EICMA in 2019, with the air-cooled Scrambler providing the platform. The production model keeps the concept’s rally-inspired styling, but with Ducati’s liquid-cooled 937cc Testastretta 11° Desmodromic engine as its powerplant.

Visually, the DesertX is styled after enduro motorcycles from the ’80s. The Cagiva Elefant is an obvious inspiration with the white color scheme, dark lower section to the windscreen and twin circular LED lights, but Ducati doesn’t mention the bike by name, perhaps because of a similarly-inspired upcoming new model from another Italian manufacturer with stronger claims to the Cagiva brand.

Triumph has finally spilled the beans on its thoroughly redesigned Tiger 1200. A substantial reduction in weight and an emphasis on power and handling is the name of the game for 2022. Bringing its big ADV into line with the 900s, the Tiger 1200 will be offered in five trims: GT, GT Pro, GT Explorer, Rally Pro, and Rally Explorer which follow the same naming scheme with the GT trims being more road-focused while the Rally versions offer off-road accoutrement such as larger wheels and more suspension travel. The Explorer models also hold 7.9 gallons of petrol with the other trims utilizing a 5.2 gallon tank.

The T-plane crank has made its way to the 1160 cc Triple with Triumph claiming 147.9 horsepower and 95.8 lb-ft of torque from the big Tiger. Showa semi-active suspension is equipped with the rear shaft drive using what Triumph is calling its “tri-link” suspension set up. Electronics are now thoroughly modern with the 1200s now equipped with much of what we saw on the 900s with the addition of blind-spot monitoring on the Explorer trims.

For a thorough overview of the new models, we’ve included Triumph’s press release below. To say we’re excited to test the Tiger 1200 line would be an understatement. If our time on the Tiger 900s is telling at all of the improvements to the new 1200s, the big adventure bike segment is showing no signs of cooling down any time soon. We’re told Spring 2022 for arrival in dealers, but we hope to get our grubby mitts on one as soon as possibly to bring a thorough ride review to MO’s digital pages.

In Triumph’s modern classic line it has the Thruxton, a contemporary interpretation of the classic cafe racer that mimics styling from the golden era of when those machines were quite literally raced from cafe to cafe in search of “the ton.” For 2020, the British manufacturer took that machine a step further with the Thruxton RS, sprinkling on top-shelf components to give the “modern classic” modern performance.

2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS Review – First Ride

Now, for 2022, Triumph has proposed an entirely different view of what a modern “cafe racer” can be. Heavily based on the all-new Speed Triple 1200 RS, the RR delivers performance in a more sport-focused package that Triumph says it built to be the “ultimate sports bike for the road.”

The 2021 EICMA show was a lot more subdued than previous iterations, without very many big surprises. Most of the bikes that were shown were expected to some degree, and many were evolutionary updates to motorcycles that have been around for a few years.

But there was one reveal that seemed to come out of nowhere, and left us with more questions than answers: the Honda Hornet concept. Honda’s display featured a space dedicated to the new Hornet, with a light show projecting onto a white sculpture in a darkened room.

Ducati revealed new Panigale V4 and V4 S models for 2022, announcing updates to the aerodynamics, ergonomics, chassis, engine and electronics. These evolutionary changes represent the most significant update since the V4’s debut in 2018, and the result of input from Ducati’s racing program.

Visually, the 2022 Panigale V4 looks similar to its predecessor. The most obvious difference is in the aerodynamic winglets. The new double profile wing design is thinner and more compact than the previous design while offering the same vertical downforce of 37 kg at 300 kph (81.6 pounds at 186 mph). The lower fairing has also been updated with new vents to help improve the cooling system. There’s also a small extension to the bodywork just ahead of the exhaust.

Twists. Turns. Suspense. Being the track portion of our mega 7-bike Heavyweight Naked Bike Shootout you’d think we’re talking about the sinuous nature of racetrack testing. No, sir. This is the plotline that would come to define this test! After conducting the street portion, some would say the outcome basically worked out as expected. Which would mean the track portion would follow suit, right? Well, as the late, great Nicky Hayden once said, “That’s why we line up on Sunday.” 

Just as Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri, and Massimo Tamburini started doing in Rimini in 1973, Bimota is still cranking out exotic motorcycles to make us swoon, clutch our pearls, and check our 401k balances. If it starts with “K,” then this one must contain an inline Kawasaki engine, and that the KB4 does. This 77 x 56mm, 1043 cc Four is lifted from the current Ninja 1000 SX, which churned out 124 rear-wheel ponies and 75 lb-ft of torque when we had the pleasure of testing one last year. These two, really, since, there’s a standard KB4 and a “Vintage-Inspired” KB4-RC (RaceCafe’).

The timing couldn’t have been better with the 2022 Ducati Streetfighter V2 introduction. As frequent Motorcycle.com readers know, we’ve just spent the last five months testing every class of the ultra-hot naked motorcycle market. What we’ve learned from those shootouts is that, no matter the displacement, naked bikes are more fun than humans should be allowed. However, for this tester, nothing compares to the combination of practicality and fun of the bikes in the 900(ish) cc category. With the torque to easily handle the everyday urban bump-and-grind, these bikes also have the power and handling to peg the Fun O Meter when the going gets twisty – on both the street and the track. And now Ducati has stepped in to reshuffle the class with a motorcycle that allows the Ducati Monster to be the roadster it always wanted to be, by giving it a sibling that takes a more bare-knuckled approach to the category thanks to the company’s “fight formula” first revealed with the Streetfighter V4. 

2021 Lightweight Naked Bike Shootout Smackdown Comparo Review

2021 MO Middleweight Naked Bike Shootout – Six Bikes!

2021 Six-Way, 900(Ish)Cc Naked Bike Shootout!

Battle Royale: 7-Way Heavyweight Naked Bike Shootout – Street

Fans of Moto Guzzi V85 TT who want to ride something special should take a look at the Moto Guzzi V85 TT Guardia d’Onore. Produced to honor the 75 year collaboration between Moto Guzzi and the Cuirassiers’ Regiment, the special Carabinieri unit responsible for the honor guard and security of the President of the Italian Republic, have worked together, the limited and numbered edition will be produced in a limited number of only 1,946 units. Although the modifications of this limited edition are small in number, they are distinctive. The black paint receives a decorative white stripe running from the front fender and across the tank to the side panel. The oversized touring windscreen also receives this striping – and an Italian flag displayed front and center. Other niceties include a center stand, engine guards, and auxiliary LED lights. Matching saddlebags are also available.

Read on for the story behind the motorcycle.

Fans of Royal Enfield’s Continental GT and Interceptor 650 owe it to themselves to take a long look at the SG650 Concept. This neoretro interpretation of the platform sure turned our heads. [UPDATE: Eicher Motors, which owns RE, had previously filed trademark applications in multiple markets for the name “Royal Enfield Shotgun”. We can surmise that may end up being the production name for the SG650 concept.]

For starters, the frame gets slammed with a bobbed rear fender with a solo seat cantilevered covering over it. The subframe rails look quite different from the one used on the Continental GT and Interceptor. The side panels covering the airbox are much more bulbous, too. The low-slung look is highlighted by beefy tires, front and rear, mounted to disc wheels that feature dual cutouts. To further accentuate the austere styling, the brake discs have color-matched carriers and a hole-free swept area.

Well the seat was a little high, at 34.6 inches, but that didn’t stop the Yamaha Ténéré 700 from doing very well in last summer’s blockbuster middleweight ADV comparison. Keeping it simple and keeping the weight down was a great recipe for success, and now Yamaha is fixin’ to take it to the next level with a Ténéré 700 Raid, for which this machine it showed at EICMA serves as prototype.

You already know Kawasaki’s lovable and affordable KLX230 dualsport/playbike. For 2022, the KLX230 SE – as in Special Edition – packs on popular accessories at the factory, saving you the heartache and trauma of having to deal with dangerous hand tools yourself. It also comes in non-green colors, and best of all the price barely budges: The 2022 KLX230 SE is available in Oriental Blue and Firecracker Red with an MSRP of $4,999. The 2022 KLX230 is available in Lime Green, with an MSRP of $4,799.

Kawasaki Press Release:

2022 Kawasaki KLX230 SE Dual-Sport Motorcycle

GET OUT AND PLAY

KTM isn’t officially at EICMA, but that didn’t stop the Austrian manufacturer from getting in on the fun, announcing an updated 1290 Super Duke GT for 2022.

The GT receives a number of updates first introduced on the current Super Duke R, including its  Euro 5-rated 1301cc V-Twin engine that claims a peak output of 175 hp and 104 lb-ft.

Anybody who’s not playing in the ADV sandbox isn’t really playing in 2022, and that’s why MV Agusta is now dipping an exploratory toe. Two toes: Lucky Explorer 5.5 and Lucky Explorer 9.5. The 5.5, which at some point may inherit the Elefant monicker, is to be powered by a 554 cc DOHC parallel Twin to come from MV’s Chinese partner, QJ. “Despite being a mid-sized bike,” says MV, “its appearance is that of a higher displacement travel-oriented motorcycle, capable of seducing European riders looking for a sturdy and unstoppable companion.”