#Intermot2018

Another show season, and another year for that matter, is screeching to an end after exciting announcements from plenty of manufacturers. Intermot delivered the unveiling of notable models such as the 2019 Indian FTR1200 and the 2020 Suzuki Katana, while EICMA, as is usual, showcased new models from 15 major OEMs, making it the show to watch for new models releases. Between the two European shows, the US’s own AIMExpo was used to release new iterations of Kawasaki’s ZX-6R and ZX-10R as well as Yamaha’s revamped R3.

Did you hear it? That sound was the U.S. motorcycle industry show season clicking into first gear. Today, in Las Vegas, the season starts off with the with the AIMExpo in its debut visit to Sin City. While mostly an industry show, motorcyclists in the Vegas area will have the opportunity to take a look at what the show has to offer on Saturday and Sunday. Today and tomorrow, however, are industry days where manufacturers of all stripes try to catch the eye of the individual dealerships. So, in the same venue as many of the major motor manufacturers, you’ll also find the booths for people with a good idea (and a shoestring budget) who are just waiting for their big break.

For a couple months now, Triumph has been teasing a new 1200cc Scrambler model, so it was a bit of a surprise when the British company announced an update to the 900cc Street Scrambler and Street Twin as well.

The Triumph Speed Twin has only been around for a couple of years, but it’s already getting an update, including a substantial 18% increase in power.

The Suzuki SV650X, a retro-ish cafe racer version of the SV650, is coming to the U.S., along with some minor updates to the regular SV. The SV650X has actually been available in other markets as a 2018 model, but the extra wait gives U.S. consumers a new black and white color scheme and upgraded brakes.

In other news, we mostly knew about a couple of weeks ago if not longer, excitement in the Suzuki encampment revolved around the 2020 Suzuki Katana. A design three years in the making by Italian designer Rodolfo Frascoli, the new bike’s cutting-edge bodywork (there was a lot of swordplay and big drums in Suzuki’s hip video) looks like it’s built on top of mostly the preexisting GSX-S1000.

Kawasaki revealed two small-displacement models for Europe’s A1 entry-level licensing tier. The 2019 Kawasaki Ninja 125 and Z125 share a 125cc engine, a full-size chassis with 17-inch wheels and similar styling to the larger Ninja and Z models. Unfortunately, neither model is likely to come to North America where there’s no equivalent to the A1 class to create enough of a market. It’s a shame, though, as these two look like they could be a lot of fun.

Four years ago, said Claudio Domenicali the CEO, Ducati launched its first Scrambler at Intermot here in Koln, which was really like starting a new brand for Ducati. A brand to make Ducati more accessible, and a really successful one so they say, with more than 55,000 units sold since 2015.

Okay, the days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are staying lower. Perhaps even the leaves have started to turn in your neighborhood. That’s great news! Why? Because the Model Year 2019 show season is kicking off today in Cologne, Germany, at the bi-annual Intermot convention. That’s right, in even-numbered years, we don’t have to wait until the EICMA show in November to begin seeing what all the international motorcycle manufacturers have up their collective sleeves. While your actual riding season may be drawing to a close, we hope to keep you daydreaming about motorcycles with a list of new temptations.

Indian Motorcycle finally unveiled not one but two highly interesting motorcycles today, inspired by their highly successful FTR750 flat tracker: FTR1200 and FTR1200 S. Adding the “S” on the order sheet, when bikes become available in the spring, will get you, in addition to the 1203cc V-Twin-powered basic street tracker: fully adjustable front and rear suspension, a 4.3-inch Ride Command Bluetooth-equipped LCD touch screen, lean-angle sensitive stability control, ABS, traction control, wheelie mitigation control – and three ride modes.