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Jensen Beeler

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As Expected, Noale Stuns with Aprilia RS 660 Debut

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One of the most anticipated motorcycles for the 2019 EICMA show, we have been waiting for the 2020 Aprilia RS 660 to set the middleweight twins category on its head, and now that we have the spec sheet, we know that it will.

Try this on for size: 100hp from the 660cc parallel-twin engine, in a package that weighs 372 lbs (dry). Even with the fuzzy math the comes from dry to wet weight conversions, it is clear that the Aprilia RS 660 is going to lead its class on power-to-weight ratios.

But the Italian aren’t stopping there with their twin-cylinder assault. The 2020 Aprilia RS 660 also comes with the brand’s robust APRC electronics suite, which means IMU-powered traction control, wheelie control, and cornering ABS, along with an up/down quickshifter, cruise control, and switchable power modes.

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Bikes

The All New BMW S1000XR Debuts at EICMA – More Power, Less Weight

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A bike that we knew we would see at the 2019 EICMA show, it didn’t surprise us when the BMW S1000XR rolled onto the stage in Milan, but we are certainly glad that we saw it.

Based off the new BMW S1000RR platform, the 2020 BMW S1000XR takes that superbike DNA, and puts it into an adventure-sport format.

This means long-travel suspension, plenty of wind protection, all the damn farkles, and the horsepower to get it all there with a smile on your face.

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The Honda CB4X Concept Is Drop Dead Dead Sexy

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Every year at EICMA, we can look forward to some intriguing concepts from Honda’s design team in Europe.

Now in its fifth year of showcasing work, there are two things that we can say about Honda’s Rome R&D work: the concepts will likely be dead sexy, and they will likely be based off the venerable Honda CBR650 platform.

Today is no different, as we can see from the striking lines of this light blue crossover, which is complete with the iconic sweeping four-pipe CB header.

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Bikes

MV Agusta Rush 1000 Surprises with Unique Styling

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A little surprise landed in Milan today, courtesy of the folks at MV Agusta. We thought that the Italian brand had already shown us everything for EICMA this year, but now we get to see the new MV Agusta Rush 1000.

Based off the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR that was released this past weekend, the MV Agusta Rush 1000 is the naked bike taken to the extreme.

The folks at MV say that the Rush 1000 is an homage to the drag racing scene, but to our eye, it looks like the design team was let loose to make a truly unique streetfighter.

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A&R Pro

A Quick Analysis of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade

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The new Honda CBR1000RR-R is finally out in the wild, and while Honda was able to keep this machine under wraps for the bulk of its development, there was a lot about the new Fireblade that we knew going into EICMA.

We knew that it would have winglets. We knew that it would make 215hp and weigh around 440 lbs at the curb…and from that we knew it would have the best power-to-weight ratio in class.

We also had a rough idea on what the bike would look like, thanks to an automotive photographer that was at the Suzuka circuit.

We even knew what the new name for this superbike would be. But yet, the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade was very much a suprise when it was unveiled at EICMA on Monday night.

Certain to be the talk of the EICMA show throughout the week, here are some quick thoughts and bullet points, now that we have had time to process this new superbike.

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Bikes

The All New Honda CBR1000RR-R Superbike Finally Debuts

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It has been a long time coming since we have seen a properly new superbike from Honda, but that day has finally come. The all-new 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R has been talked about a great deal before this year’s EICMA show, and now it is here.

As we predicted, the new Honda CBR1000RR-R earns that extra “R” with a 215hp (160 kW) four-cylinder engine, that makes 83 lbs•ft of peak torque.

Unlike the outgoing model, this is a truly new machine. The twin-spar aluminum “diamond frame” chassis is a fresh design with increased vertical and torsional rigidity, and the total wet weight of the bike tips the scales at 443 lbs (201 kg) .

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Bikes

Yamaha TMAX 560, The Pinnacle Sport Scooter Gets a Boost

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You might be wondering why the words “sport” and “scooter” appear together in the headline of this story. And, you might be asking yourself why we are covering the launch of a new scooter here on Asphalt & Rubber. Those are fair questions.

No, we haven’t lost our minds, and the Yamaha TMAX is no normal scooter. While we may be into our flashy sport bikes here at A&R, there is a whole world that revolves around the TMAX, which gives way to a rich tuning culture and cult status in markets outside of the United States.

Try this on for size, now in its seventh generation of production, Yamaha has sold over 275,000 TMAX scooters in the last 20 years, and now for the 2020 model year, the Yamaha TMAX 560 counts itself as the most powerful version ever produced.

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Bikes

You Will Probably Never See the New Yamaha Tracer 700

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Debuting just before this year’s EICMA show in Milan, we see one of the Tuning Fork brand’s few exciting bikes for next year.

What will surely continue to be a European model only, the Yamaha Tracer 700 gets refreshed for the 2020 model year.

Based off the Yamaha MT-07 platform, this parallel-twin sports tourer boasts a new full-fairing design that is strangely eye-catching.

Beneath that fairing though is where the real changes reside, as the big highlight feature for 2020 is that the 689cc engine gets tweaked for Euro5 emission homologation.

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Bikes

Ducati Teases Two Intriguing Scrambler Concepts Ahead of EICMA

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While the Ducati Streetfighter V4 was the crown jewel of the Ducati unveiling event in Rimini last week, the items that everyone seems to be still talking about after the media launch are something else, they are the two concept bikes for the Scrambler range.

For those that didn’t watch the live stream, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali presented two different Scrambler models that have the potential to go into production, an ADV bike and a supermoto.

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Bikes

MV Agusta Adds Three “Rosso” Models at Cheaper Price Points

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I am going to be real honest with you right now. For a story touting a cheaper price point for three of MV Agusta’s most popular models, we were a little disappointed to see that the actual pricing information wasn’t included in the press package. Just saying, it seems kind of important.

That being said, if we take MV Agusta at its word, the Varesini brand just made it easier to put a Brutale 800, Dragster 800, or Turismo Veloce 800 in your garage, with the company’s new “Rosso” lineup of bike.

As the name implies, the big new feature for these models is their all-red paint jobs, though the keen eye will notice some other changes to help ease them into a lower price point.

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