#Euro4

EICMA is a week away, so motorcycle enthusiasts around the world are preparing for the deluge of new 2020 model announcements coming out of Milan.

Today MV Agusta announced its 2018 model updates with changes to meet the more stringent Euro 4 environmental certification. The Italian manufacturer has clearly invested a ton of time, effort, and capital into the changes since it claims a 50% reduction in exhaust gas emissions and a 48% reduction in noise compared to the Euro 3 regulations. MV claims that it maintains the performance-oriented character of the models despite the previously mentioned mandated reductions.

A couple of weeks ago, Yamaha announced several U.S. models returning for 2017 with minor updates (i.e. Bold New Graphics) including several scooter models. While the SMax, Vino Classic and Zuma scooters were confirmed, Yamaha’s range-topping TMax was conspicuously absent from the announcement.

Kawasaki’s jaw-dropping Ninja H2 and H2R are back for 2017, and joining them is a third member of the family, the Ninja H2 Carbon. While Kawasaki are calling the Carbon a third member of the Ninja H2 family, the title is slightly deceiving as the bike is essentially a standard Ninja H2 with a carbon fiber upper cowl, bringing it visually closer to the Ninja H2R. The carbon cowl will also be available as an accessory from Kawasaki, able to retrofit onto prior H2 models.

The first Vespa to bear the name Primavera, that’s “springtime” to you and me, made its first appearance in 1968 and was revolutionary: small, agile, powered by a brilliant engine. Primavera placed wings on several generations and was produced without interruption until 1982, making it one of the widest commercial successes in Vespa history. Its new incarnation is a star in its own time, says Vespa: Youthful, innovative, technologically ground-breaking, agile and dynamic, with an eye to the protection of the environment, inheriting all the freshness and joy of living from its predecessor.

Victory is reducing its European market product line-up to just four models for 2017 because of new Euro 4 regulations kicking in next year. We’re not sure Euro 4 was supposed to stand for “four European models,” but here we are.

Piaggio has filed a trademark application for a new logo, suggesting a new line of Moto Guzzi V7 models is on the way. The trademark application, filed July 20 with the European Union Intellectual Property Office suggests Moto Guzzi is preparing a V7 III lineup, which we’ll likely see announced this fall at either Intermot or EICMA.