Rumors about KTM coming out with a budget-focused, no thrills ADV bike appear to be true, as the 2015 KTM 1050 Adventure has broken cover at the 2014 EICMA show. The 1,050cc v-twin engine makes a modest 95hp, and can be detuned for A2 license uses in Europe.
The European note is important, as the KTM 1050 Adventure won’t be coming to North America anytime soon, as once again KTM leaves American and Canadian riders out in the cold, on the new model front.
For the 2015 model year, the BMW F800R gets a mild re-working. Most noticeable about the 2015 BMW F800R is the revised headlight, which drops the classic BMW “wink” for a more standard light can. Other changes include a peppier motor, which puts out 90hp (up from 87hp on the previous model), while peak torque remains at 63 lbs•ft.
Off-road riders will enjoy the shorter gear ratios for first and second gear, as well as the new suspension components (USD front forks), dual-front brake discs with radial calipers, optimized ergonomics with a lower seat (-10mm), and improved handlebars and rider foot pegs.
The farings, radiator shields, front mudguard, and wheels have also been changed on the 2015 BMW F800R, while BMW Motorrad has added new color options for next year’s bikes.
As with all BMW models, ABS is standard on the F800R, though Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) are optional items.
For the 2015 model year, Triumph is continuing its new trend of offering more premium “x” variations of existing machines, as we saw with the Triumph Street Triple Rx, last month at the INTERMOT show. Getting the x-treatment at EICMA is the Triumph Tiger 800, and first up is the 2015 Triumph Tiger 800 XRx.
A more refined version of Triumph 800cc road-going adventure bike, the big news is Triumph adding traction control as standard, cruise control as standard, and switchable ABS to the Triumph Tiger 800 XRx.
One of the motorcycles we’ve been anticipating at EICMA, the 2015 BMW S1000XR has finally debuted. As the name suggests, the S1000XR borrows from the S1000RR superbike’s 998cc inline-four engine platform, and its derived heavily from the S1000R roadster, thus it makes a cool 160hp and 83 lbs•ft of torque.
Like the Ducati Multistrada 1200 it competes against, the BMW S1000XR is seen more of an adventure-sport motorcycle, than an outright tourer. Built to satisfy the go-fast needs of on-road riders, the 502 lbs (wet) S1000XR still has the chops to go where the sidewalk ends, but is more at home pounding pavement.
Confirming the news we broke last month, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 has been reworked for the 2015 model year, getting a major facelift, along with Ducati’s Testastretta DVT engine with variable valve timing.
The new Ducati Multistrada is also fitted with the Bosch MSC “cornering ABS” package, and thanks to its Intertial Measurement Unit (IMU), the Multistrada can brake more effectively and use cornering LED light (DCL) technology.
The IMU also help reduce wheelies, with the Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) system. Like with the Ducati Traction Control (DTC) there are eight-levels of adjustability to the DWC parameters, helping riders dial-in how high they want the front wheel to loft.
Lastly, the IMU helps improve the function of the Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS). Our last acronym is ECC, for the electronic cruise control system, which has also been added to the 2015 Ducati Multistrada 1200.
Husqvarna has begun its teaser campaign for the three street bikes it will unveil at EICMA. We know that two of the machines will be concept bikes, while the third will be a 2015 production model. We also already know that the production bike will be a large-displacement single-cylinder machine, with premium components and electronics.
Releasing a video of the machine today, Husqvarna doesn’t tip its hand beyond the information we already knew…or does it? Clearly audible in the video is a street-going thumper, but the look and feel of the terrain, rider, and bike, suggests that Husqvarna could be set to release an ADV rider’s dream machine.
MV Agusta has this nasty habit of debuting motorcycles in the autumn trade shows, and then taking a couple years to actually produce the machines for public consumption. Such was the case with the MV Agusta F3, the MV Agusta Rivale, and now with MV Agusta Turismo Veloce.
The Varese company’s challenge to the Ducati Multistrada (which will be a new model for 2015, by the way), the MV Agusta Turismo Veloce builds upon the now exhausted aesthetic of the Italian company, adding a more upright seating position and touring focus to the brand’s lineup.
Yesterday we brought you the first official photo of the Yamaha FJ-09 tourer, which had been accidentally added to the Yamaha FZ-09 gallery on the Yamaha NA press site. Today it seems that leaks in Yamaha continue for the FJ-09, as our Dutch friends at Nieuwsmotor have discovered a bevy of press images, ahead of the 2015 Yamaha FJ-09’s debut at EICMA next month.
Based around the FZ-09/MT-09 platform, the FJ-09 uses a similar three-cylinder engine as the sport nakeds, though looks to have more suspension travel and other touring elements. Picking up where the Yamaha TDM left off as a middleweight sport/adventure-tourer, the Yamaha FJ-09 could be a very interesting addition to Yamaha’s lineup.
With the FZ/MT line showing great value for the performance, Yamaha could be set to release a very adorable machine for ADV and sport-touring riders. With the name trademarked with the USPTO, we can expect to see the Yamaha FJ-09 in the American market. Get excited.
Someone at Yamaha is going to get a stern talking to today, as it seems a photo of the still unreleased Yamaha FJ-09 made its way to Yamaha’s press site accidentally, and didn’t yank it down before our friends at Common Tread caught a glimpse of it.
Mixed in with photos of the Yamaha FZ-09, the photo of the 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 doesn’t really give too much away from the machine, as we’ve seen the same shot in black & white already.
Triumph seems set to debut four more variants of its Tiger 800, as CARB filings filings show a Tiger 800 XCA, Tiger 800 XCX, Tiger 800 XRT, and Tiger 800 XRX models for the 2015 model year. The news seems to show Triumph spreading out its middleweight ADV offering, giving on-road and off-road riders a bit more to choose from the British brand.
Helping us understand how Triumph sees the four added variants, Motorcycle.com has publish a chart (above), which Triumph sent to Tiger 800 owners as a part of its market research. That chart breaks down the various models’ spec, and which features that would come with as standard.
Noticeable across the board is that the three-cylinder gets a 15% MPG boost (the CARB document also show fewer hydrocarbon emissions), as well as ABS and traction control as standard features.
At INTERMOT, we just saw the KTM 1290 Super Adventure — a model that KTM is calling “the safest motorcycle in the world” thanks to the machine’s use of the Bosch MSC “cornering ABS” module, and KTM’s robust traction control system.
Basically a 180hp off-road couch, the 1290 Super Adventure is the pinnacle of KTM’s ADV offerings. But, it seems another Adventure model is coming from zie Austrians.
Spotted by one of our readers on KTM’s website, the Austrian company makes reference to a KTM 1050 Adventure model in its owners manual download page. A KTM 1050 Adventure model has been rumored leading up to the INTERMOT show, so the reference is likely to be more than just a typographical error.